Following the triumphant debut of the New York Reef in the IFF Crochet Reef exhibition at the World Financial Center, Winter Garden, during the Summer of 2008, this magnificent creation by New York crafters will be on exhibition at SHOW Gallery on Staten Island during Fall 2008. Along with the New York Reef will also be the Chicago Reef, which made its debut at the Chicago Cultural Center in Fall 2007. Both reefs are the result of vast collective citizen energies—in each case more than 100 people have contributed models—and we are delighted that they will be on-show together here in Staten Island, overlooking the water just a hop, step and skip from the world famous Staten Island Ferry.
Here’s what SHOW Gallery impresario Theo Dorian says about the exhibition:
SHOW Gallery presents the Chicago and New York components of the Hyperbolic Crochet Coral Reef to an international audience. Many visitors come up the hill, just steps away from the Staten Island Ferry—the free, world famous ride across New York Harbor. Tourists from around the world have been dazzled by the uniquely beautiful installation, the windows of the exhibit feature a treasure chest and a undersea video that will draw you in. SHOW’S windows contain the Chicago Hyperbolic Crochet Coral Reef, by Chicago area artists, and the mind-boggling seascape of yarn and plastic inside is the New York Hyperbolic Crochet Coral Reef, among whose 100+ creators are over 30 Staten Islanders. The windows were conceived by gallery-owner Theo Dorian, and the reef is interpreted daily by famous on-site artist Mary Bullock whose tropical paintings now share the gallery. Mary, who sits with the reef daily says, “I am continually amazed and delighted by the reef.”
Exhibition installed and arranged by Christina Bliss, Barbara Van Elsen, Arlene Mintzer. Daily visitor interpretation by Theo Dorian and Mary Bullock.
This exhibition is presented in association with the New York Institute for the Humanities and the Steinhardt School at NYU.
SHOW Gallery
156 Stuyvesant Place
Staten Island, NY 10301