Crocheting Adventures with Hyperbolic Planes

We went to hear and see the artist and mathematician, Daina Taimina at a Talk & Book Signing. She delivered a fascinating presentation at the Lion Brand Yarn Studio on West 15th Street NYC.






We were invited to "Enter the amazing world of Hyperbolic Crochet. Come be inspired with the sculptural beauty of what a little yarn & a little math can create."

Daina Taimina: “I thought if something can be made out of paper, it can also be crocheted, so I made my first crocheted hyperbolic planes in June 1997 by increasing stitches in constant ratio – after every two stitches I did an increase by one stitch. The number of stitches in each row grew exponentially, so after finishing my first small, very ruffled one I realized that to explore the hyperbolic plane I have to change the ratio of increase.”

The Land and the Sea

Her work is quite beautiful. In addition to illustrating the mathematical concept, these hyperbolic creations are just a pleasure to regard. I love the colors of this one, and the way she placed it in a nature setting.

Cairns

Birch bark from the Adirondack forest, pebbles from the beach at Blue Mountain Lake, glass beads and a crocheted cairn and crocheted growth of some kind. Combo Cairns!

Cairns for my mushroom creations

A cairn is an intentionally laid pile of rocks, carefully stacked without mortar (but with hot glue guns!). Cairns are thought to have some meanings associated with marking property ownership or control, such as a landmark, a territorial marker, or a grave marker. Or the meaning can be purely aesthetic, created merely for the sake of beauty.
... some of this info from http://archaeology.about.com

Long Lake items collected for compilation creations to be considered back in New York City

Camera case goes with my new shoulder bag

Real Lichen in Long Lake forest

So much different growth going on here in one place. Its not my intention to try to reproduce this with crochet, but its just so rich and fertile.... an inspiration.

Beautiful Long Lake in the Adirondacks in upstate NY

Can Picasso BE a muse for a woman?

Antique Gold-Finish Metal Typewriter Key Charm Mix from Oriental Trading (that I got ages ago.)


Still Life with a Bottle of Rum, 1911

Went to the Metropolitan Museum the other day and dug this Picasso "high cubist" painting. The letters painted here have confused experts. The Met Museum notes:
"This is one of the first works in which Picasso included letter forms. It has been suggested that the ones shown at the left, LETR, refer to Le Torero, the magazine for bullfighting fans—Picasso being one of them—but they might simply be a pun on lettre, French for 'word'."
Another maven says they are the letters on the rum bottle.
Doesn't matter because their presence works. Shall I be inspired and include these typewriter keys in one of my compositions?

Gorgeous colors

These hand dyed crochet thread are going to become some very groovy fungus and lichen, created in Long Lake, NY. Two weeks by the lake, coming up!

A river runs through it

buggy beads

Purple with new addition of moss and real lichen

Lichen piece featured in on-line newsletter

http://www.underthemicroscope.com/stories/summer-science-stories-merging-art-craft-and-science

Under the Microscope is the online component of the Women Writing Science project at The Feminist Press.

My "Yarn Talk" at Knitty City Last Night

My darling friend, Cynthia showed up, Goddess Bless her.
That was it. Showed her my prepared powerpoint slide show.
No promotion yields no audience.
But I don't care. My work is my play is my work - the ideal combination!

My crochet creations featured at Knitty City

Knitty City, the yarn store on West 79th Street, NYC, declares that July is Crochet Month. I have been invited to give a talk about my crochet mushrooms, etc. and about yarn bombing. Thursday July 8th, 6-8 pm. Here is the window display of my work. I'm delighted.

What's not to lichen?

I'm lichen it!

Irish phone commercial features yarn bombing

click on image to get to video

Mushrooms in Central Park

I'm in love with another crochet artist

Joana Vasconcelos

"The nature of Joana Vasconcelos' creative process is based on the appropriation, decontextualisation and subversion of pre-existent objects and everyday realities."

More at: http://www.joanavasconcelos.com/english/home.html

Piano Dentelle, 2008 and Netless '07, 2007

matching accessories

One side and the other.

"They're hooked on baseball!" - corny quote from Daily News

Over 400 Mets fans set Guinness World Record for most people crocheting in the same place.
Well, at least they have something fun to do while at the ball park.

Read more at: www.nydailynews.com

Gifts for a baby

Whose baby? The baby of my boss, Dr. Gupta and her husband, my friend and colleague, Cheech.