Crocheting Isn’t Just For Scarf-Sewing Grannies! A Massive Crocheted Walkway Is Coming to MFA

Crocheting Isn’t Just For Scarf-Sewing Grannies! A Massive Crocheted Walkway Is Coming to MFA

Installation view, Madness is part of Life, Espace Louis Vuitton Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan, 2013.

TRAVERSING THE MUSEUM of Fine Arts, Houston's expansive campus, which now includes the newly inaugurated Nancy and Rich Kinder Building, on foot has always been a bit of a workout. But starting this summer, the museum's patrons will be able to get their sweat on — and find their inner balance — while trapesing through a crocheted monolith suspended high above the museum's more normal lanes of foot traffic.


SunForceOceanLife, a spiraling, structural marvel by renowned Brazilian artist Ernesto Neto made from yellow, orange and green materials that will be hand-woven into several patterns before being sown together in spiral form, will take over the museum's Cullinan Hall from May 30 through Oct. 3 as part of the seventh installment of the MFAH's summer immersive art series.

One of the largest crochet works to date by Neto, the massive immersive art piece, which clocks in at nearly 30 feet by 79 feet by 55 feet, will take a team of a dozen people three weeks to construct — which they will be doing while being suspended 12 feet in the air. The traversable spiral of a structure, which will be filled with soft plastic balls to help cushion the feet of its intrepid explorers, will be suspended from the ceiling of Cullinan Hall with one point of entry and one point of exit.

"A structural feat, this site-specific piece … takes inspiration from the artist's long-term study of and commitment to the art, culture and traditions of various cultures that form Brazil," said Mari Carmen Ramírez, Wortham curator of Latin American Art and founding director of the International Center for the Arts, MFAH, in a statement. "Neto transforms crochet, a popular Brazilian craft, taught to him by his grandmother and typically executed by women on a small, delicate scale, into massive structures that float several feet above the ground."

"SunForceOceanLife is about fire, the vital energy that enables life on this planet," said artist Neto about the work, which he says mimics a hammock by providing people with a joyful and inviting place to relax and uncouple their bodies from their conscious minds. "Every time we complete one crocheted spiral with the polymer string used in this work, we burn both ends with fire in a gesture that evokes meditation, prayer and other sacred rituals.

"I hope that the experience of this work will feel like a chant made in gratitude to the gigantic ball of fire we call the sun," he added, "a gesture of thanks for the energy, truth and power that it shares with us as it touches our land, our oceans and our life."

Art + Entertainment
Leadership in Action: ‘Setting Clear Goals’ Among Secrets of Success for Attorney Jess Bailey

How did you get to where you are today? A few key principles integrated into my life: setting clear goals, maintaining a growth mindset, building strong habits, and surrounding myself with the right people. Goals provided direction, while a growth mindset helped me turn challenges into opportunities for learning. Consistent habits, like disciplined work and effective communication, kept me moving forward. Being surrounded by motivated, supportive individuals has elevated my standards and kept me accountable. They’ve provided advice, encouragement, and sometimes that extra push I needed to stay on track. With these elements, I’ve been able to create a framework that helps me succeed and ensures I continue to grow and evolve.

Keep ReadingShow less
People + Places

IN THE SEVENTH annual portfolio, meet luminaries from all walks of life who have helped make Houston — and beyond — a better place. Sponsored by Valobra Master Jewelers

Keep ReadingShow less
People + Places

THE UPCOMING AIA Houston Home Tour is always an anticipated fall event, a style showcase from some of the city’s best architects, designers and tastemakers. The two-day, self-guided tour includes several custom homes in the area that exhibit design excellence, innovative design solutions, and sustainable features.

Keep ReadingShow less
Home + Real Estate