Textile Messages Symposium

On Friday, April 22, 2011 we held a "Textile Messages" symposium at the University of Pennsylvania, Skirkanich Hall. Yasmin Kafai, Michael Eisenberg, Kylie Peppler, Leah Buechley, Maggie Orth, and Joanne Berzowka all presented, followed by an exhibit of electronic textiles. We showed a range of e-textiles from novice designs to high end art, discussed issues of gender, learning, and crafts, and contemplated what educational technology could be.

A number of people from education, art, hacktory, computer science, engineering, and information studies joined us to discuss recent developments in technology and education.

Kate Hartman, Diane Glosson, Kristin Searle, Corrie Tice, and Deborah Fields were also there displaying, discussing, and wearing e-textiles.

Hyperbolic Crochet Coral Reef

http://crochetcoralreef.org/about/index.php

The Hyperbolic Crochet Coral Reef is a woolly celebration of the intersection of higher geometry and feminine handicraft, and a testimony to the disappearing wonders of the marine world.

Created and curated by Christine Wertheim and Margaret Wertheim of the Institute For Figuring.

"Crochet Coral and Anemone Garden" with sea slug by Marianne Midelburg.
Photos © The IFF by Alyssa Gorelick.

One of the acknowledged wonders of the natural world, the Great Barrier Reef stretches along the coast of Queensland, Australia, in a riotous profusion of color and form unparalleled on our planet. But global warming and pollutants so threaten this fragile monster that scientists now believe the reef will be devastated in coming years. As a homage to the Great One, Margaret and Christine Wertheim of the Institute For Figuring instigated a project to crochet a woolen reef.

...The inspiration for making crochet reef forms begins with the technique of "hyperbolic crochet" discovered in 1997 by Cornell University mathematician Dr. Daina Taimina. The Wertheim sisters adopted Dr Taimina's techniques and elaborated upon them to develop a whole taxonomy of reef-life forms. Loopy "kelps", fringed "anemones", crenelated "sea slugs", and curlicued "corals" have all been modeled with these methods. The basic process for making these forms is a simple pattern or algorithm, which on its own produces a mathematically pure shape, but by varying or mutating this algorithm, endless variations and permutations of shape and form can be produced. The Crochet Reef project thus becomes an on-going evolutionary experiment in which the worldwide community of Reefers brings into being an ever-evolving crochet "tree of life." ...

Large scale anemone with brain coral head by Margaret Wertheim.

Electronic Craft Bags

Toting the myriad supply of needles, conductive thread, LEDs, alligator clips, and so on, then distributing it amongst kids' table and toting it back later can be a big pill to say the least. So we bought these bags thanks to a facebook ad that was actually relevant.

Here are scissors, Lilypads, alligator clips, fashion paint, velcro strips, a mini iron, USB drives, conductive thread, and tape all throw together in one bag. And what do we do with the LEDs?

Look at this delight! Six round trays with 6 snap down slots for stowing batteries LEDs. We simply plop two sets on each table and the kids have access to what they need. And it's relatively easy to clean up. We're *really* going to appreciate this when we start using the red, yellow, green, blue, and white LEDs in combo...

(Bags are by Creative Options and I think we ordered them through AC Moore.)