marine life

This scene would take mountains of wool to recreate. (Image from NYPL Digital Gallery.)

I have lately been admiring the crocheted coral and other sea creatures designed by jpolka. But I did not know of the application of crochet to the hard science of the sea until I read about hyperbolic crochet, a means of creating complex models of hyperbolic planes using the basics of crochet--hook and yarn. The resulting works can be gorgeous as well as enlightening. Cabinet Magazine (available online and at the Library) featured in its Issue 16 Margaret Wertheim, director of the Institute for Figuring, Daina Taimina, and David Henderson, three leading thinkers in this field. The article provides a friendly introduction to hyperbolic crochet, and it is illustrated with examples of the crocheted works by Taimina. Wertheim is currently at work curating a woolly New York Reef, and contributors are invited to take part.

And, on Tuesday, April 8th, at 7:00pm, craft will collide with science at the American Museum of Natural History, when Wertheim talks with Kate Holmes, a marine biologist at the museum. As described on the museum's site, the evening's topic will be "the plight of coral reefs and the art of 'hyperbolic crochet,' a fusion of handicraft, mathematics, marine ecology, conservation activism, and collective artistic practice." Entrance fees will be $15.00 per person, or a reduced $13.50 per member, student, or senior citizen. You can read more about the evening on the museum's events page.

I hope to see you there! In the meantime, you can get tips on creating your own hyperbolic creatures at the the Institute for Figuring's website.