Photo: Natasha Edwards
THE URCHINS IN AUSTRALIA
FABRICATION & INSTALLATION
2018 Commonwealth Games, Festival 2018
Gold Coast, Australia
Design
Jin Choi and Thomas Shine
Curator
Engineer
Om Engineering
Steel Fabrication
Modern Metal Solutions, Concentric Fabrication
Installation
Swell Sculpture, Theatre Safe Australia
Maclift Crane Services
Special Thanks to
The City of Gold Coast
Kate Fell, Creative Director, Festival 2018
Julianne Pierce, Producer, Festival 2018
Natasha Edwards and Ruth Della , Swell Sculpture
Crocheters
Photo Credit: (from top)
Jeanene Hyles, Kelli Rogers, Merran Tippett, Leah King
Jin Choi
Barbara Argent
Sandra Bale
Sharon Barrett
Leighann Behrns
Rachael Birks
Vicki Browning
Amanda Buckley
Ann Bui
Shona Campbell
Jennifer Campbell
Justine Casey
Kim Cherie
Shannon Close
Melissa Coles
Judy Crosswell
Carlene Douglass
Yiota Drakos
Lizi Drysdale
Kerry Egan
Michelle Ehmann
Laura Fleming
Camellia Ford
Karen Greaves
Rose Grosser
Tenille Hibberd
Tracey Hopper
Jeanene Hyles
Kate Jefferay
Wendy Kammin
Kay Kennard
Leah King
Kim Lambert
Kay Lawrence
Elva Layton
Jacobi Leaver
Carol Manager
Sarah Hudson
The design of motifs started with a figure/ground study of natural elements reconstructed to associate culturally symbolic elements. Once the visual study was complete, Jin Choi then used it to form the basis of the crochet pattern. Began with the computer generated geometric diagrams, she slowly crocheted each motif, adjusting the type and number of stitches and the paths, keeping the original concept intact.
Once each motif was completed, she wrote detailed instruction and created a technical pattern for all of the volunteer crocheters to follow. Each of prototype motifs were duplicated by the other crocheters who made a total of 100 motifs. Each motif is hand crocheted and consists of a single, continuous yarn, which is broken only for changing spools.
Prudence Mapstone
Annette Markey
Alison Martin
Natalie Maurer
Rene McKay
Deb Mclachlan
Narelle Mercer
Narelle Mitchell
Joanne Moore
Judy-ann Moule
Treena Muir
Diane Newkirk
Katinka Niemeijer
Kerri OConnell
Michelle Paterson
Robyn Penfold
Carryn Pimm
Lisa Rafferty
Shawtima Rakovsky
Kelli Rogers
Josephine Romeo
Deborah Rossow
Jenny Sanzaro-Nishimura
Simone Seeger
Lucy Silveira-Marquez
Tricia Smout
Karen Stevens
Amber Stevenson
Beverley Streater
Kimberley Sweeney
Merran Tippett
Lena Tisdall
Herta Vasiloudis
Julie Watson
Aida Whyte
Sharon Wicking
Cass Zervos
Margaret Denman
Assembly
Jin Choi
Thomas Shine
Edward Shine
Suzi Lucas
Adrienne Kenafake
Clayton Thompson
Tessa Bergan
Kate Clarke
Dev Lengjel
Dion Parker
Jean Anderson
Cathy Beard
Nicky Bennett
Judith Blain
Ann Bui
Lurline Campbell
Trish Coombes
June Cremin
Rebecca Cunningham
Ruth Della
Natasha Edwards
Anne Esposito
Angela Fisher
Camellia Ford
Rachel Ford
Sarah Hudson
Catherine Hyland
Whitney Jakubus
Wendy Kammin
Adrienne Kenafake
Alison Martin
Caelyn Martin
Rene McKay
Julie Merryfull
Meryl Mollross
Treena Muir
Bobby Napier
Kerry O'Connell
Lisa Rafferty
Sarah Rawding
Ann Rowding
V Roche
Simone Seeger
Photo Credit:
Meryl Mollross
Ruth Della
Mellissa Coles
Camelia Ford
As the Lace motifs were completed, they were assembled on the floor of a gallery space in Benowa, near to the site. Many crocheters and local volunteers worked together to join the completed lace pieces. Each piece was joined into large segments, then each segment joined to create the complete skin of the Urchin.
Part of the beauty of the Urchins comes from the illusion of levitation. Achieving this illusion required the use of modern high strength fibers, effective lighting scheme and a structural framing capable of holding the heavy lace membrane and yet visually minimal. Thomas Shine engineered the structural framing system that is light-weight and collapsable, but rigid and easy to assemble. He also devised the simple and time saving method of installation to accommodate the tight construction schedule and efficient lighting scheme.
Special Thanks to Artist Suzi Lucas and Sculptor’s Society
Old craft brought back and elevated into fine art.
Skills learned from generations before connected us with the memories from the past and also with the people from the area whom we have never known.
The images and design copyright 2018-2022 Choi+Shine Architects, LLC. All rights reserved.
Contact: Choi+Shine Architects for written permission for image use.
Working with people who share a single goal to achieve the same vision under a tight schedule brought people together, creating incredible bonds through support, encouragement and care for each other. The shared web page dedicated to the volunteers participating in the project reveals surviving the crisis of material shortage, urgent meet-ups for help, brilliant solutions for complicated patterns, the appreciation and support they received from their families, their pride from achieving something bigger than life and precious laughter shared with everyone. Truly, it generated a sense of community, empowering everyone involved. The process of the formation of art became significant as the creative journey or pure expression itself. Each element is identifiable and legible as they were created by different individuals, but contributing to the whole under a coherent creative direction.
Installation
Jin Choi
Thomas Shine
Ruth Della
Natasha Edwards
Adrienne Kenafake
Clayton Thompson
Dev Lengjel
Dion Parker
Photo Credit:
Natasha Edwards
Julie Merryfull
Jin Choi
Special Thanks to
Artists
Tessa Bergan
Adrienne Kenafake
Clayton Thompson
Dion Parker
If you would like to participate
in our future crochet projects,
please send us an email to:
skim [at] choishine.com
The design and images of The Urchins are copyright 2017, Choi+Shine Architects and may not be used without written permission.
“The Urchins” is a trademark of Choi+Shine Architects.
