At Frasier, creativity, curiosity, and care for the world brings us together in unexpected ways. This spring, residents launched Art for the Ocean: A Coral Collective, a hands-on project that brings attention to the urgent environmental crisis facing our oceans. In partnership with the Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art (BMoCA), residents invite makers of all skill levels to crochet or knit coral for an immersive art installation planned for 2026.
It all started when residents Martha, Deborah, and Diana were inspired by a New York Times article on a global movement to raise awareness about dying coral reefs through community-made art. They reached out to David Dadone, Executive Director and Chief Curator of BMoCA, who is also a longtime friend of Martha’s. They proposed their vision of Frasier becoming a hub for coral art and activism, sparking a powerful partnership.
The Coral Collective officially launched April 9th with an evening of education and inspiration. Colleen Ryan Mallon, Chief Growth Officer, introduced the project’s origins, and attendees watched a TED Talk by science communicator Margaret Wertheim about the loss of coral reefs. Wendy, a resident member of the Coral Collective committee, then invited everyone to take home either a crochet or knit starter kit. And from there, our own coral reef began to grow!
Coral Circles now meet every Tuesday in Mayme’s market. Residents gather to create, socialize, and to get help from more experienced crocheters. The finished pieces collected so far are as unique as coral itself, as participants grow their skills and experiment with different yarns. Staff and friends of residents have also contributed, and plans are underway to expand the project to include the broader boulder community.
The final exhibition in 2026 will be a collective coral reef, composed of hundreds of hand-crocheted and knitted pieces from across the community, with about 40% made using white yarn to represent bleached, or “stressed”, coral. This fall, the committee plans to offer educational events and film screenings about marine ecosystems, climate change, overfishing, and all things coral.
The Coral Collective exemplifies what makes Frasier special, a collaboration of creativity, accountability, and community. This project acts as a great excuse to learn a new skill, or to master an old one, as art can be therapeutic for the mind, the community, and the ocean! Everyone is welcome to be a part of this living, growing reef.
