The PNW Community Coral Reef
Many years ago I dreamed up the idea of creating a walk through underwater textile exhibit, much like the Crochet Coral Reef through the Institute for Figuring, but also incorporating sea life and making a real attempt at being an immersive experience. I hoped to create a world that would walk visitors through healthy reefs, bleached reefs, and reefs made of discarded plastics. I wanted it to be educational and beautiful.
It didn’t take very long to realize that one person trying to create all of the elements would never finish. Artists that I admired such as Mulyana had an army of talented creatives helping to construct his fantastic underwater installations. I packed away the few pieces that I had created and continued on with creating my coral reefs on canvases and in aquariums.
In 2021, I had the good fortune to attend a fiber art retreat and met Shanna Smith Suttner who had played around with hyperbolic shapes in the past and we started to chat about creating something big. VERY BIG.
Our goal was to create a walk through underwater fiber art exhibition that would feature coral reefs, both healthy and bleached, marine creatures, and items knitted and crocheted with reclaimed plastics to highlight the crisis of plastics in the ocean.
As our reef project grew and we held many installations throughout the state of Oregon, hundreds of people had the chance to experience beauty and heartbreak as we told the story of our oceans and their challenges.
Following our installation at the Coos Art Museum in Spring 2025, we have decided to declare this project complete. Current corals will be sent to new coral reef projects around the world and creatures along with wall hangings will be donated to marine science organizations for their fundraising efforts in the future.
If you are starting your own fiber art coral reef, please let me know!
