Dive into the library’s crochet coral reef
Looking for something to do over the holidays after you have feasted and opened up all of your holiday presents? You are invited to pop by your favourite branch of the Clearview Public library to meet an octopus or two and to find out more about our crochet coral reef project.
We are also “sea king” contributions from creative and curious crafters to help us build the Ontario Satellite Reef that is being created at the Ontario Science Centre. This global community art initiative is part of the worldwide Crochet Coral Reef Project (CCRP) developed by Christine and Margaret Wertheim of the Institute for Figuring. Participation is 24/7 as this is a free in-home entertainment, education and enrichment exercise which draws attention to the damage caused by global warming to the coral reefs around the globe and to the decaying health of the oceans.
The library is providing yarn, crochet hooks and instructions for the coral and animal creations that can be found in our sample fish tanks. Our octopuses are certainly thriving as we now have an octopod in various colours of camouflage lurking about thelibrary branches. Look for a minimum of seven octopi “swimming” about in the Creemore branch and the Stayner branch (Wednesday, Jan. 5 to Saturday, Jan. 15) and in the New Lowell branch (Wednesday, Jan. 19 to Saturday, Jan. 29). Answer the questions on our cephalopod scavenger hunt and then deposit the completed form at the circulation desk for a chance (random draw on Monday, Jan. 31) to a win a sea chest of wonderful literary prizes.
The CCRP Fish Tanks located in the Stayner branch are revitalized every Saturday with the newest donated creations made by our artistic crocheters. Discover critters ranging from a sea slug to a sea serpent to a shark floating about in our versions of a healthy and unhealthy coral reef. We even have our very own resident mermaid who is requesting your help in coming up with a solution or 10 to clean up and cool down our global briny world of wonders!
At this time, we are highlighting our great selection of library materials, both fiction and non-fiction, about healthy environments, ocean awareness and other related topics that affect the inhabitants of the world’s aqua environments. We can guarantee that there is always something to “sea” and learn at your library. If you have any questions or queries about this project, please call 705-428-3595 and ask for Michele, or public programming.
Our first shipment of patron-made coral has been sent off to the Ontario Science Centre Satellite Reef. The next one will go by Monday, Jan. 31. Donations of yarn and crochet hooks are cheerfully accepted at this time. Please help us create this colourful coral reef and be a part of this international initiative inspired by art, science and environmental activism.
