Ceramic Reef Installation Represents the Need for Coral Conservation

The hyperbolic crochet coral reef post a while back seemed to interest many readers because of the combination of art and science to represent our endangered coral reefs. But crocheting is not the only way to creatively take a stand. Brown University student Courtney Mattison created a large scale ceramic coral reef wall installation with hopes of inspiring marine conservation.

This ceramic installation is 10 feet wide and 15 feet in height. That's a large representation to match the large problem of coral reef destruction!

In her loft Mattison created a compilation of ceramic pieces that are 10 feet wide and nearly 15 feet in height. Unlike Mattison who has snorkeled and dived in Thailand, Hawaii, the Virgin Islands, and the Great Barrier Reef, most people don’t have the opportunity to explore the reefs first hand. This leads to the reefs being out of sight, out of mind which is a reason coral reef advocacy and spreading the word about conservation is so important. Mattison’s project hopefully will bring attention to marine conservation while simultaneously allowing people to view a vivid representation of the reefs to learn about their troubles and what they can do to help. What is really amazing about this project is the artful representation of the two main threats to reefs, coral bleaching and algae overgrowth. The ceramic sculpture depicts a healthy and colorful coral system on the bottom and as the sculpture climbs the destruction to the reefs are shown through white, bleaching coral. The very top is green and the overgrown algae symbolically suffocates the coral. Mattison said she created a small healthy red branch of coral amongst the dead coral to show that there is hope for the recovery of our worlds reefs. This inspiring art installation will be displayed in the Herbert C. Hoover Building in Washington D.C. this spring until June 15th.