A crocheted coral reef in Davenport, Iowa?! Yes, the Putnam Museum and IMAX Theater is borrowing the Smithsonian Community Reef and installing it near the live coral reef tank in their Ocean Experience gallery. It will be on view starting August 26.
We here at the Natural History Museum are thrilled, because it means that this spectacular crocheted piece – created out of 4,000 contributions by over 800 participants and assembled by 88 volunteers who donated 8,500 hours of their time – will be on public view for another five years. While it’s on display, the Putnam will incorporate the reef into programs that teach thousands of school-aged visitors about the importance of ocean conservation.
We’re excited that the important messages of the reef will reach brand new audiences at the Putnam and hope that the reef continues to inspire awe and awareness of the beauty and the fragility of coral reefs around the world. And we hope that the Smithsonian Community Reef’s many contributors and fans will go visit their old friend in Davenport.
The Smithsonian Community Reef is a satellite of the worldwide Hyperbolic Crochet Coral Reef Project created by Margaret and Christine Wertheim of the Institute For Figuring in Los Angeles. It was made possible by the Quiksilver Foundation, the Embassy of Australia, and the Coral Reef Alliance.
Barbara Stauffer, Chief of Temporary Exhibitions, Exhibitions
Not really original but worth sharing. ;)
Posted by: Kitchen Benchtops | 01/29/2012 at 08:21 AM
Nice addition to the Smithsonian gallery.
Posted by: Menachem Lifshitz | 08/19/2011 at 10:43 AM