The Sydney Hyperbolic Crochet Coral Reef

The show has closed

2009-09-01T02:19:00.000-07:00

The show was so awesome we thank everyone for their contributions and interest.

Thank you so much to the people that helped make and appreciate the Sydney Reef...

Margaret and Christine Wertheim for opening up the project to develop globally by sharing their research.
All the contributors for their, time. passion, materials and forming new groups.
Anna Vo - for donating A LOT of wool - a very generous lady.
Sarah Galvin - for assisting with the patterns and demonstration examples.
Bundanon - for supporting - In Stitches.
Amanda Cole - for workshop and education support.
Annette Conroy - For workshop and education support.
Sally Murphy & Fiona Tchan - donating wool.
Beth and Ted Cook for donating wool.
Powerhouse Museum/
especially Helen Whitty - for her encouragement and advice from the very beginning.
Derek Williams as our point of contact through out the powerhouse experience.
Matthew Connell for being so passionate about the project.

If you missed it - you have a chance to experience a piece of the Sydney Reef at Viva La Gong on the Saturday 7th November. www.vivalagongfestival.org

Cheers from In Stitches, we will be in touch soon.

The Show is Open

2009-08-23T19:34:00.000-07:00

The exhibition has been launched and is open up to the 30th of August. With over 350 contributors the show is really special , thankyou to everyone who made the Sydney Reef.

Network Image
Above : The image created by In Stitches to represent the connections between crochet groups in the Sydney Reef project.
Each name in the image is related to geometry and coral reef degradation. Follow the names and see how groups grew.

The Sydney Reef...

Launch on Saturday the 22nd.

Below: Matthew Connell curator of mathematics and computing reading excerpts of a 1703 edition of Euclids - Elements of Geometry.

Details from the Sydney Reef...

Images by Claire Conroy

Throughout the festival there will be talks related to Maths, Climate Change and Coral Reefs.

Sunday 31 August 2009
2pm - 3pm, Powerhouse Museum, 500 Harris St, Ultimo

Can corals survive humans?
Associate Professor Peter Ralph, Executive Director Plant Functional Biology & Climate Change Cluster (C3)

Corals have existed for millions of years and survived in a wide range of climates; but coral bleaching seems to have pushed corals to the brink. Research in to coral bleaching has been at the forefront of the climate change agenda for many years. It attracts much public interest, but we still do not know why corals die at temperatures only a few degrees higher than their optimum. Will the Great Barrier Reef be dominated by fleshy macroalgae, soft corals or just a film of bacteria covering the dead coral skeletons?

Wednesday 26 August 2009
2pm - 3pm, Powerhouse Museum, 500 Harris St, Ultimo

From certainty to fallibility: an epic tale from the history of mathematics
Matthew Connell, Principal Curator, Science Technology and Industry, Powerhouse Museum

For 2000 years, the geometry of Euclid's Elements was regarded as the pinnacle of human reasoning and the most reliable branch of knowledge. The Sydney hyperbolic crochet coral reef demonstrates a new geometry which, when discovered 200 years ago, led to a great philosophical crisis. How can the shapes seen rendered by crochet have brought the mathematical world to its knees?

Matthew Connell will discuss the crisis started by the discovery of non-Euclidean geometries and how attempts to resolve it led to conception of the defining technology of our age. The Syndey hyperbolic crochet coral reef is on display from 21-30 August.

These special Talks After Noon events are part of Ultimo Science Festival.

Talks After Noon is a series of lectures, held twice a week, with Museum curators, experts and special guests

Talks are free with Museum admission ($10 adults/$6 concession/Powerhouse Members free)
Powerhouse Museum 500 Harris Street, Ultimo
Tel (02) 9217 0509 Email adultlearning@phm.gov.au

Full program online powerhousemuseum.com/whatson

Excellent Reading.....

A Field Guide to Hyperbolic Space: An Exploration of the Intersection of Higher Geometry and Feminine Handicraft by Margaret Wertheim

http://theiff.org/publications/index.html
or at the Museum.

Installation and Opening

2009-08-20T07:28:00.000-07:00

The Science festival and reef open tomorrow and very excitingly we celebrate the reef coming together on Saturday Afternoon 3 - 5 pm - We have been very busy getting the show ready and its looks completely amazing. We will keep the blog updated for those who cant attend. Thanks to everyone for getting your coral in to us. x In Stitches.

Here is a look back at some of the install action.

Charlotte and Michaela Installing Attols on Museum Plinths.

Testing Coral and sorting Colours

Attols
Claire - cutting - Echo pannel (60% recycled PET bottles - 100% Recyclable)

Michaela, Damien and Charlotte in the workshop.

The ariel veiw of our Attols - making a hyperbolic saddle.

Charlotte and Ed in the workshop

Big thanks to all our hosts and contributors from our recent workshops.

2009-08-10T17:57:00.000-07:00

Above Hyperbolic - Pesticide workshop - Castle Hill Discovery Centre Open Day

Above: Hyperbolic - Light Intensity workshop Ultimo Library July 2009

Above: Hyperbolic Sunscreen - Wollongong Workshop in preparation for the Viva La Gong Festival on the 7th November 2009.

Above - Hyperbolic Blast Fishing workshop at the Power House Museum July 2009

Above: Alice Springs Beanie festival - Hyperbolic Rubbish - June 2009.

Photographs by Claire Conroy.

Call Out & Many Thanks

2009-08-05T03:02:00.000-07:00

We are compiling the coral reef at the moment and we are inviting interested contributors to crochet some select forms.

(Some of them not all hyperbolic!)

This is a call for pot pots, toxic reef forms (made of plastic bags, video tape, wire, cassette tape, anything you can turn into yarn), dead coral or the spindley skeletal like shapes.

You can drop into the Powerhouse or post in up until the 16th August. Or email us for further details.

Thanks everyone it's looking great!!

"Black - Pot Pot and Orange Urchin"

Image- Claire Conroy

Coming Events

2009-08-02T04:00:00.000-07:00

Opening Announced & Contributors list

2009-07-20T10:53:00.000-07:00

Opening Announced- There will be an informal gathering and celebration of contributors work at 3pm on Saturday the 22nd of August, where you can meet the rest of the hyperbolic crochet community and see the installation. Entry to the Museum as normal, so bring friends and family along for the day and see the rest of the Ultimo Science festival too.

Contributors Please note: Following is our working list to be included in the exhibition. These names are of everyone who attached name tags in with their coral.

If you have contributed and your name is not on the list (or know of someone whose name is missing) don't worry we wont leave you out - please just email us or make a new comment at the bottom of this entry with your full name and we will update it.

Thank you for all the lovely coral you have been contributing to the project. The installation is shaping up really beautifully.

Current Contributors List

Aanya Roennfeldt-Bongers

Arana Hills Library Knitting Group
Aaron Statham

Aija Neilands
Aileen Francis
Agnes Gal

Alice Crisle
Alison Chan
Alison Collins
Alison Sexton-Green
Amanda Cole

Amanda Graupner
Anahi Castillo Angon

Andrea Burns

Andrea Carew

Andrew Silk

Angela Bellamy
Angela Calabrese

Angus Mahon
Annabel Lines

Anne Atcheson
Anne Conlon
Anne Holder

Anne Mondro
Annette Conroy
Annette Young
Anthea Payne
Awen Davidson

Barbara Allen
Barbara Robins
Barbara Bee
Bea Sochan
Belinda Gamlen
Ben Maloney
Bethel of Bethania
Betty Hassold

Betty Stuckey

Beverly Brandon
Beverly cox
Bill Cruickshank

Birgit Shubert-Kingcott
Briana Green

Carla Ganassin
Carlene Bagnall
Carly Miller

Carmelita Taffa
Carol Chandeley
Carol Faulkner

Carol Lowther
Caroline Atkinson
Caroline Turner
Carolyn Minto
Catherine Fetherston
Charlotte Haywood

Cherie Hingee
Cheryl Cannon
Cheryl Smith
Clara Tenhave
Claire Conroy
Claire Glover
Clare Holland

Clare Lowther
Claire Sives

Claire Pullen

Claudia Mahon

Colleen
Constance Smith

Coralie Turner-Morris

Courtney Walcott

Cybele Shorter
Cynthia Nicklin

Damian Martin

Danuta Chora
Danielle Driver
Dawn Hollyer

Debbie Peterson
Desley Markham
Derek Wiliamson
Dinah Holden

Ding Wei Li

Dorothy Jones

Dominka Bjelobrk

Danna Sgro

Edith Draper
Edric Hong
Edward Horne

Elaine Lally

Elizabeth
Elizabeth Bright
Elizabeth Raymond

Elizabeth Wales

Elizabeth Woods

Ella Murnane

Elly Koeppel
Eremaya Albrecht
Erica Simes
Emma Selamless
Emmeliue Tylern

Eve Glenn

Fei Lin
Fiona O'Beirne

Floria Popoff
Floria Tosca
Flossie Petsch
Frances Ford
Francis Smith
Frankie Pinkerton
Gabrielle Consadine
Gabriel McMurdo

Gai Mather
Georgina Phe

Georgina Yan

Giok May Tjoa
Giovanna Piccoi
Gillian Budden

Gladys Newell
Gloria Muddle
Gloria Zeng
Gwen Benson
Hannah Boyd
Hannah Escano
Heather Davidson

Heather Aspinall

Helen Bowman
Helen Duckworth

Helen Fergeson
Helen Keenan
Helen Lovelock
Helen Martin
Helen McGuire
Helen Noone

Helen Swain
Helen Walters
Holly Fluxx

Hyperbolic crochet club members from IGS

Immogen Semler

Inger Christoffersen

Ingrid Baker

Irene Seeto

Jacklynn Draper
Jacqueline Steffen
Jan Garland

Jan Lucas
Jane Mommsen
Jane Roth
Janet Paterson

Janine Matthews

Jany Garland
Jason Laucher

Jeanette John
Jennifer Porter

Jenny Chang

Jenny Dowde
Jens Germon

Jill Bilston

Jim Orman
Jo Callegari

Johanna Roberts
Jodie O'Leary
Joanne Pedro

Judith
Judith Green
Judy Bourke

Judy Hammond

Judy Jones

Judy Nish

Judy Rainsford

Joyce Scott
Jordan Spence
Julia Jacobs
Julia Stewart
Julia Mather
Julian Berengut
Julie-Anne Skelton

Karen Adams
Karen Purser
Karyn Ridgway

Kate Belfield
Kate Campbell
Kate Fraser
Kate Ratner
Kate Lawrence
Kate Morris

Kath

Kath Daniel
Kathy Watson
Kathryn Davies
Kay Lawrence
Kerin Botha
Kerrie Ninni

Kirsty McCully
Kirsty Stringer

Kim Reilly
Kim Taiki
Kerin Botha

Koby Hagenfelds
Kristy Graham
Kylie Butler

Kylie Gillespie
Kym Palfreman

Leanna McAlpine
Liane Rossler
Lee Wallace
Leslie Lockwood
Lesley Grady

Liane Rossler
Lillian Jaros
Lilly Webb
Lis Mertens
Lisa Garfoot
Lisa Molyneaux
Lisa Nolan
Lise Roberts

Liz Thwaites
Louise Jansen
Lorraine Boomer
Lorraine Stephenson
Lyndell of Newtown
Lyn Lockwood

Lynne McNairn

Lucy Kennedy

Mae Taylor

Maria Pahuta
Maricarmen Po'o
Marie Freeman

Marie Wickens
Mars Hall
Marty Jay
Marg Lanne
Margaret Perkins
Margaret Banks

Margarete Ferris

Margaret Jaffe

Marnie Holmes
Mary Preece
Maryanne Noonan

Maureen Craig

Mhairi McClymont
Meg Bishop
Megan Kalucy
Megan Jack
Mel Darr

Melissa Silk
Melody Caramins
Meredith Duncan
Michaela Davies
Michell Butterworth
Michelle Perry
Michelle Westgate

Mim Reilly
Monica Perry

Morwena Pearce

Myra Cheng
Nancy Langley
Naomi Odean

Naumi Hogan
Nicci Riley

Nicola Scott

Nita Byrne

Norma Warnecke

Norma Warnecke
Odile Berget
Olwen Chung

Pam Hicks
Pat Pillai
Patience Peitsch
Pat Chambers
Perran Costi
Peta Smith
Pilar Angon
Pippa Markham

Popi-Laurel Silk

Pru McCausland
Rachel Bunder

Rae Heaton
Rachelle Balez

Rena Shein
Renee Boustead
Renata Kirkpatrick
Rita Pearce

Richenda Ewen

Robin

Robin Laurie
Robya Williams

Robyn Beeche
Rosanna Ganassin

Rosemary Mahon

Rosey Bridge

Ros Tattersal

Ruth Spence

Claudia Mahon

Angus Mahon
Robin Tuttleby

Robyn Gardner
Robyn Sander
Rowan Phipps

Sabine Parge
Sallie Lin

Sandy Reagan

Sandra Pamplin

Sarah Castor-Perry
Sarah Galvin
Sarah Streatfeild

Sharon Phillips

Sheila Wiltshire

Shi Ting
Shigenlo Newell
Shirley Halton

Simon Azzopardi

Sophie Verrichia

Soo Moy Lew
Stephanie Phillips
Sue Knight
Sue Rogers

Sue Scott
Sue-Anne

Sumugan Sivanesan

Suzanne Dargie

Suzzanne Matkowski

Susan Goode
Susan Handle
Susan Hey
Susan Sands
Suzi Krawczyle
Tamara Kennedy
Tahl Solomon
Teresa Coghlan
Terry Patterson
Tiiu Vanamois
Toni Lea - Howie
Trish Castillo

Trish McAlpine

Trish Sabatier
Trisha Smout
Ursula Harrison
Vanessa Robins
Virginia Hilyard
Vishna Collins
Vivienne Miller
Wendy Diver

Wendy Hanna
Wendy Sheppard

Wendy Xu
Yvonne Lonsdale

Yvette Higgins

Yong Xin Liu
Zacha Rosen
Zena Seliga
Zoe Paull
Zuza Zochowski

Thanks to everyone and please start sending coral into us or bring it along to the next workshop sunday 26th July.

xx In Stitches

Last Powerhouse Museum Workshop July

2009-07-12T23:25:00.000-07:00

Hi All

The exhibition is coming up soon and we are having our final workshop at the Museum on Sunday the 26th of July.

Workshop in Woolongong - At the Wollongong City Gallery - 18th July. 12pm - 4pm

www.wollongongcitygallery.com

We have a workshop and display coming up in Castle Hill - Discovery Centre on Sat 8th August 10am - 2pm. 172 Showground Rd Castle Hill.

Also the Ultimo Library workshop 3 August 11am - come along.

Come along - bring your finished coral along to be included in the exhibition.

Workshop Dates

2009-06-21T15:51:00.000-07:00

Image by Claire Conroy

The Final Workshops before the exhibition.

Powerhouse Museum 3-5pm Sunday 28th June.

In Stitches will be holding workshops at The Alice Springs Beanie Festival http://www.beaniefest.org/

Workshops in Alice Springs at the Araluen Arts Centre on

Friday 26th june 2:00pm - 5:00pm

Saturday 27th - 10:00am 12:00pm and 2:00pm - 4:00pm

Sunday 28th 2:00pm-3:30pm.

Monday 10:00am-12:00pm. at Witchettys.

Workshop in Woolongong - At the Wollongong City Gallery - 18th July. 12pm - 4pm

www.wollongongcitygallery.com

Our final workshop at the Powerhouse Museum in Ultimo will be the 26th July.

We also have a workshop coming up at Ultimo Library on Monday 3rd of August from 11am-1pm. 40 William Henry Street Ultimo

and at Castle Hill - Discovery Centre on Sat 8th August 10am - 2pm. 172 Showground Rd Castle Hill.

Christine's Visit

2009-06-18T17:49:00.000-07:00

Christine Wertheim

It was interesting to have Christine Wertheim out here from LA. She had some really great tips about installation and how the other reef projects have been put together.

Collected Coral

Thank you to all who could to be there.

Reef Forms

The reef forms are evolving and now embody cylindrical bases, branched forms, twisty kelp's and more - people are having fun and exploring the possibilities. We are seeing some beautiful colours and interesting experiments with materials as well.

It is better if the forms tops and bottoms are not stitched together so we have more options for colour arrangement in the installation. Coral can also be stuffed with filling and wired to hold its structure - you can do this at home but if it will inhibit postage In Stitches can do this.

People's work is beginning to come in the post, which is fantastic. We are beginning to see how it will fit together. Its an exciting and time consuming job so if you have finished some pieces don't hesitate to Send Them In, Or bring them into the next workshop on the 28th of June. A reminder to everyone that all donated Coral will be Kept for further showing of the hyperbolic crochet coral reef. The Exhibition is not far off now so put it in your diary. 21st - 30th August.

Examining the Coral

Patterns and Brochure

2009-06-09T17:46:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone -

Here are some patters and an information brochure.

Click on the Images below and print them.

If you want a PDF copy to print out click here this will take you to a public archive - look for the PDF and jpg files - click - then print.

Feel free to print and distribute, not for profit.

Christine Werthiem Talk and Workshop

2009-06-01T00:19:00.000-07:00

Christine Werthiem's mega coral.
Image used courtesy of The Institute For Figuring (www.theiff.org)

Hello Everyone

We are really happy to announce that Christine Werthiem will be speaking about the project on June 10th between 12:30 and 1:30 pm at the Powerhouse Museum

She will also be conducting a workshop on June 13 between 3 - 5pm, also at the Powerhouse.

Please try and come along, bring a friend.

Thanks to every one for coming on Sunday - it was a huge group - good to see you. Also a special thanks for those coming from outside Sydney and NSW.

Hyperbolic - 3 degrees

Join Our Flickr Group

2009-05-25T16:53:00.000-07:00

http://www.flickr.com/search/groups/?q=sydney%20hyperbolic%20crochet%20coral%20reef

Workshop Powerhouse Museum 31st May 3-5pm

2009-05-25T00:52:00.001-07:00

Come along to the workshop this Sunday.

directions to the museum are here:
http://www.powerhousemuseum.com/visit/howtogethere.asp

Also here is the link to the video about the global project.
http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/margaret_wertheim_crochets_the_coral_reef.html

ANCA - Hyperbolic Bloom

2009-05-25T00:27:00.000-07:00

Hello to the new network of The Sydney Hyperbolic Crochet Coral Reef from Canberra.

Workshops and Coral

2009-05-18T18:48:00.000-07:00

Hyperbolic Algae sent a bundle of coral from Huskinson NSW. Thanks and great work for pooling your mailing resources.

Thanks so much to Beth and Ted Cook from Goondawindi in QLD for sending us this package full of potential. We really appreciate it and will be transforming these Spherical planes into Hyperbolic planes in no time.

Anyone ready to post stuff. 7 / 195 - 199 Rochford st Erskinville NSW 2043

WORKSHOPS IN MAY

Jacqueline Bradley - Part of the Never a Cross word Exhibition at ANCA Gallery in Canbera
20 May 2009 - 31 May 2009

HYPERBOLIC CROCHET WORKSHOP - In Canberra. at ANCA Australian National Capital Artists inc.

In conjunction with Never a Cross Word, an exhibition of installations by
Jacqueline Bradley.

DATE: Sunday 24 May
TIME: 1pm
PLACE: ANCA Gallery 1 Rosevear Place, DICKSON ACT 2602
COST: $20 per person including Afternoon Tea
RSVP: by Wednesday 20 May Narelle Phillips, Gallery Development Officer,
ANCA Inc.
02 6247 8736 or anca@iimetro.com.au
www.anca.canberra.net.au

We also Have A workshop coming up at The Powerhouse Museum on Sunday the 31st of May between 3 - 5 pm. $10 for new people - for $10 you will receive a card that gets you into the exhibition and following workshops at the Museum. Bring hooks and yarn - or you can purchase or borrow stuff on the day.

Its very Exciting we have been receiving Coral in the Post - Keep them coming, its great to have the reef growing.

Beautiful Atoll

2009-04-29T16:22:00.000-07:00

This is a New Reef Image sent to us from Margaret from the global hyperbolic crochet coral reef.

Getty Images

Last Thursday Scientists released a report that showed that a section of the reef that was being killed off by global warming has regenerated - Some of the factors assisting the recovery have been isolating this part of the reef from pollution - this was the influuence for our new network name from sundays workshop- hyperbolic pollution.

Have a read of this article about the regeneration as there are interesting new observations on how 'the reef managed "asexual re-growth" from surviving tissue fragments '

http://dsc.discovery.com/news/2009/04/23/great-barrier-reef.html

Hyperbolic Pollution

2009-04-28T16:45:00.000-07:00

Thanks everyone for coming to the workshop on Sunday - its so good to see everyone and your amazing work.

This is a great video of Margaret Weitheim on TED talks - gotta see it its really interesting. Video here.

Workshop Sunday 26th April. 3 - 5pm Powerhouse Museum

2009-04-23T19:21:00.000-07:00

WORKSHOP NEXT SUNDAY! 26th April

2009-04-18T22:24:00.000-07:00

With a few months to go till the Hyperbolic Crochet Coral Reef will be exhibited, there's still time to contribute to the installation.

We're holding another workshop next Sunday, April 26th at the Powerhouse Museum from, 3-5pm, where you can learn how to crochet these amazing hyperbolic shapes, or just hang out and crochet coral with other people who already know how.

Also a reminder that if you have finished any coral you can send it to 'In Stiches' 7 / 195 - 199 Rochford St Erskineville NSW 2043

Power House

2009-04-06T22:02:00.000-07:00

Thanks to everyone who came to our first workshop at the Museum. Hyperbolic- Oil.

We were happy to see everyone and to see some experimentation like using Rope and a crochet hook.

Pattern

2009-04-06T21:23:00.000-07:00

Here are some Hyperbolic Patterns for you to download the PDF. We hope you find them useful. We have put them on a public archive. Go to the Left hand side of the archive under viw - book and click on the PDF. You can see two PDF files, the first one is the pattern the second is an information brouchure.

There are also lots of 'how to' resources out there here is a good general crochet- beginners video.

Also here is really nice stop frame animation created by Annette Young of the Psudosphere on YouTube.

The HCCR Project

2009-03-22T20:20:00.000-07:00

Photo Courtesy of the Institute For Figuring

The Hyperbolic Crochet Coral Reef

The Crochet Coral Reef Project is a worldwide, collective, collaborative installation and community-based experience created by twin sisters Margaret and Christine Wertheim of the Institute For Figuring in Los Angeles.In the interest of contributing to this ever-expanding collection of woolly wonders, In Stiches Collective is facilitating the creation of a Sydney Coral Reef. We invite you to participate in this "celebration of the intersection of higher geometry and craft, a testimony to the disappearing wonders of the marine world."

The Crochet Reef Project was inspired by geometric models of hyperbolic space, originally developed by mathematician Dr Daina Taimina in 1997, using the art of crochet. Until that time most mathematicians had believed it was impossible to construct physical models of hyperbolic forms, yet nature had been doing just that for hundreds of millions of years. It turns out that many marine organisms embody hyperbolic geometry, among them kelps, corals, sponges and nudibranchs. In 2005 Margaret and Christine conceived the idea of crocheting a coral reef by developing Dr Taimina's techniques to make a whole taxonomy of organic, reef-like forms. The Reefs created by using these handicraft techniques not only look like actual coral reefs, they draws on the same geometry endemic in the oceanic realm. The project draws attention to the beauty and fragility of living reefs (the ecosystems system most vulnerable to the effects of climate change), and also links communities through science, mathematics, art & craft.

A full explanation of the project may be seen on the Institute For Figuring's website at www.theiff.org, along with many images of the Core Collection of IFF Reefs and its Satellite Reefs around the world - in Sydney, Chicago, New York, London and elsewhere.

Photo Courtesy of the Institute For Figuring

The following introduction to Hyperbolic Space is condensed from the IFF site.

What is a hyperbolic plane?

A hyperbolic plane is sometimes described as a surface in which the space expands. So as you move away from any point on a hyperbolic surface you get exponentially more space. One way of understanding it is that it's the geometric opposite of the sphere. On a sphere, the surface curves in on itself and is closed. A hyperbolic plane is a surface in which the space curves away from itself at every point. Like a Euclidean plane it is open and infinite, but it has a more complex and counter-intuitive geometry.Why is the hyperbolic plane important historically?Until the 19th century, mathematicians knew about only two kinds of geometry: the Euclidean plane and sphere. The discovery of the hyperbolic plane came from the attempt to prove Euclid's fifth postulate, which is also known as the parallel postulate. For two thousand years, mathematicians accepted this postulate as true, but it had always caused problems. In the 1820s and 1830s Hungarian mathematician Janos Bolyai and Russian mathematician Nicholay Lobatchevsky discovered a geometry in which all of Euclid's postulates held true except for the fifth one. It was a radical shock to their community to find that there existed in principle a completely other spatial structure whose existence was discerned only by overturning a 2000-year-old prejudice about "parallel" lines. The discovery of hyperbolic space marked a turning point in mathematics and initiated the formal field of non-Euclidean geometry. This was of great mathematical and philosophical interest. From the time of the Greeks, it was believed that geometric theorems were such pure and perfect Truth that they did not need to be scrutinized by observations of the real world. In the early twentieth century, Albert Einstein developed The General Theory of Relativity which made extensive use of hyperbolic geometry. Thus, abstract, mathematical philosophy was now firmly in therealm of Science.
A-5 ( Euclid’s Parallel Axiom): Given a line l and a point not on l, there is one and only one line which contains the point, and is parallel to l.
A-5H (Hyperbolic Geometry Parallel Axiom): Given a line l and a point not on l, there are at least two distinct lines which contains the point, and are parallel to l

Photo Courtesy of the Institute For Figuring.

The Network
In the name of exploration In Stitches want to see how The Sydney Hyperbolic Crochet Coral Reef travels through the community. We want to trace our network. If everyone involved in the Sydney Reef uses a word trail we can trace how we connect to our fellow crocheters.
How will we do this?
We begin with the IFF as the central node. This node is given a name ‘IFF Blast Fishing’. The IFF brought the reef to In Stitches Collective, the producers of the Sydney Reef, so In Stitches take the name Blast Fishing and add their unique name Hyperbolic. In Stiches now have the name Blast Fishing Hyperbolic. When you learn to crochet hyperbolic models from In Stiches we give you another name, for example Nitrate, which you will pass on to the people who you teach. So they will become Nitrate plus their unique name- say– Exponential and they then have the name Exponential Nitrate. Through this network of connections we can see how The Sydney Hyperbolic Crochet Coral Reef forms a life form of its own.
What’s in a name?
All the names are organised in pairs- one name is a geometric term (eg. pseudo-sphere), the other aims to draw awareness to the many contributing factors of reef degradation (eg. aquarium industry).
How do we get our names?
The first name you get from the person who taught you about the reef. Then if you email us at sydneyreef@gmail.com we will send you your unique name and more information about the project including meeting dates and patterns and where to send your hyperbolic crochet for the grand installation in 2009.

Network Concept and Visualisation - In Stitches.

Visualisation created by In Stitches from image of Red hyperbolic plane crocheted by Dr Daina Taimina

Exciting News and Workshops

2009-03-18T00:10:00.000-07:00

photo by Claire Conroy.

In Stiches will be presenting the Sydney Hyperbolic Crochet Coral Reef in collaboration with the The Powerhouse Museum. The exhibition will take place in the Museum during Ultimo Science Festival from the 21st to the 30th of August 2009.

We will now be having workshops at the Powerhouse Museum on the last Sunday of every month.

The first being between 3 - 5 pm on Sunday the 29th of March.

http://www.powerhousemuseum.com/

The Powerhouse Museum located at 500 Harris St, Ultimo and is close to Darling Harbour, Chinatown, Central Station (Sydney Terminal), Broadway bus station (Railway Square), and Paddy's Markets Monorail Station.

Hyperbolic Algae - Meroogal House Nowra

2009-03-08T19:35:00.000-07:00

Hyperbolic Algae -

Crochet dolls - Meroogal Collection

Photographs by Claire Conroy

In Stitches welcomes Hyperbolic Algae who are the new pod in the ever branching Sydney Hyperbolic Crochet Coral Reef. We loved meeting everyone and were fascinated by the diverse interests and backgrounds of the group from Mathematicians, Environmental Scientists, Arts and Crafts practicioners. Memebers came from far and wide, Nowra, Jervis Bay, Canberra, Sydney and even Melbourne.

We would like to thank The Bundanon Trust and The Historic Houses Trust for having us, we loved working in the garden and learning the extraordinary history of the women who lived at Meroogal. http://www.hht.net.au/museums/meroogal

It was particularly special on the weekend of International Womens' Day.

We are working on the dates for our next workshop and will let everyone know soon. If your not on our contact list send and email to sydneyreef@gmail.com and we will keep in touch.

x In Stitches
In Stitches: Claire Conroy - Charlotte Haywood - Michaela Davies.

Photo by Loretta Ryan-Krawzyk

Historic Houses is supporting a collaborative project called the bonnet project. Anyone interested in finding out more about this project and wants to contribute to produce bonnets to remember female convicts who came to Australia please email cihenri@iinet.net.au.

Hyperbolic Diving - workshop Saturday 21st Feb 2009

2009-02-24T14:03:00.000-08:00

A new network pod has begun from our Saturday workshop, there were new and old hands to crochet, but everyone got busy and had fun, it was a calamity of crocheters.

Our new network pod is called Hyperbolic Diving and we welcome them to the reef.

Photographs by Claire Conroy

February Workshops

2009-02-08T22:54:00.000-08:00

Hi Everyone,

We are excited to be having another workshop soon, please feel free to come along and bring a friend.

Our next workshop will be held at 2pm on the 21st of Feb at 44 Little Oxford Street, Darlinghurst (behind Taylor Square on the Surry Hills side).

These images are from our last workshop,

Thank you to Miss Death and the Naked City crew at FBI radio for having us on their program on Saturday. Crochet and knitters unite.

*Amanda Cole*

Photographs by Claire Conroy