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‘Natural History Redux’ (Trailer)

March 3rd, 2014

Coral Morphologic is proud to announce the digital release of the remixed and remastered Natural History Redux this Thursday, March 6, 2014. NHR compiles our original 23 ‘Natural History’ videos (that were previous only available online individually in 720p) into a digital 1080p collector’s edition.

‘Miami Coral Rescue’ Talk @ University of Miami

January 21st, 2014

Seen above is a fluorescence photograph of an ultra rare hybrid staghorn coral (Acropora prolifera) living in Miami’s Government Cut waterway. Colin first introduced this coral to the world at TEDxMIA in 2011. Now the Army Corps of Engineers’ “Deep Dredge” project to expand Miami’s port capabilities will necessitate the evacuation of this and thousands of other corals before their habitat is dynamited. It is Coral Morphologic’s mission to rescue them. Find out more 7:30pm Tuesday January 21st 2014 at the University of Miami Cox Science Building Room 145.

Adult Swim – Off The Air – ‘Nature’

January 19th, 2014

We are psyched to share that our short film Fungia Food was included in the ‘Nature’ episode of Adult Swim‘s show Off The Air. Check out the episode above.

‘The Psychedelic World of Coral Morphologic’ @ Pratt Institute

November 11th, 2013

This Friday, November 15th at 7pm, we are enthusiastic to present ‘The Psychedelic World of Coral Morphologic’ at the Pratt Institute in New York City. The event features a Q + A on the Coral Morphologic ethos, pathos, and logos, as well as the screening of short films, including the debut of our first Google Glass-made fluorescent evening-tour of the Coral Morphologic Laboratory. ‘The Psychedelic World of Coral Morphologic’ is free and open to the public.

‘Spectre In Wire’ – DIM PAST

September 14th, 2013

We are psyched to debut the Coral Morphologic + Dylan Romer-directed video for Dim Past‘s ‘Spectre In Wire’, an aquatic cut off the Black Dolphin EP. Utilizing Google Glass and GoPro devices, we take a trip down the Miami River, through Government Cut, and out to the sea, our destination. There we dive in and illuminate the Corals of Miami, keepers of a magical yet ephemeral realm. Dylan Romer’s reality-augmenting ‘Time Piles’ application treats the exploration, holding the experience together like a glue until we resurface.

The video originally premiered at the Collabo Show via our projection-sculpture ‘Version Key #2’, and online via Dazed Digital.

University of Miami Magazine

September 4th, 2013

We are honored to be featured in the most recent issue of the UM Magazine and have one of our photos featuring a menagerie of our colorful Ricordea florida color morphs grace the cover. The article highlights the contributions of University of Miami alumni (’04) and Coral Morphologic co-founder Colin Foord to the body of science and public understanding of coral reef organisms through site-specific and multi-media artworks. The aquacultural legacy continues with our mentorship of University of Miami marine science students who get hands on experience growing corals within our Overtown laboratory.

MIA X Coral Morphologic Limited Edition Skate Deck Series

May 24th, 2013

We are psyched to announce the release of a series of skateboard decks in collaboration with MIA Skate Shop featuring the photography of three different fluorescent corals that call Miami their home. The collaboration is a logical extension of our view of Miami as the Coral City. A city whose cement buildings are metaphorical monuments to the fossilized remains of an ancient coral reef that once ran through it. Skaters will now be able to skate through a city of coral (recycled as concrete) on boards that reflect its bio-geologic past, present, and future. Miami, a city where vertebrate and invertebrate life-forms are forever bonded through calcium carbonate. Calcium carbonate skeletons that were once enveloped with fluorescent coral tissue now form the foundation for a neon metropolis that mirrors its coral reefs. A metropolis with an Atlantean destiny, where corals will one day recolonize the streets and buildings as their own.

The limited edition decks (3 color-ways, hand numbered editions of 50) will be available starting Saturday, May 25 at the release party, and at both MIA shops in Miami Beach and Sunny Isles, Florida.

‘Tombstone’ @ Swampspace

April 21st, 2013

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Tombstone (close up).

From April 13 – May 4 we will have Tombstone, our new installation, on exhibition at Swampspace in the Design District of Miami. The piece consists of a projection of Colpophyllia natans thrown onto a keystone screen of its own fossilized ancestors, set upon concrete blocks, they themselves comprised of calcium derived from ancient Floridian reefs.

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‘Into The Cosmic Flower Garden’ & ‘Painlevé Remixed’

January 3rd, 2013

At last month’s screening of the FUTUREHISTORY program, we debuted Into the Cosmic Flower Garden, a triumphant ode to the sex cycle of the Phymanthus crucifer sea anemone, as well as a remixed compilation of Jean Painlevé’s seminal aquarium-based films. Enjoy!

FUTUREHISTORY

December 9th, 2012

Join us this Thursday, December 13th for a night of underwater films at the New World Center’s SoundScape Park on Miami Beach. At 7,00 Square-feet, the NWS WallCast is the largest projection wall in North America, and is accompanied by a state-of-the-art immersive sound system. This night will feature the first-ever screening of our ‘Natural History’ series from 2009-2011 in its entirety, followed by the world premiere of a new film, Into the Cosmic Flower Garden. The event is outdoors and tickets are free – bring your sensory perceptions, and enjoy the experience.

‘Species Diversity of Shallow Water Zoanthids (Cnidaria: Anthozoa: Hexacorallia) in Florida’

October 4th, 2012

Four Floridian zoanthids analyzed in our study. Clockwise from Top Left: 1) Undescribed Zoanthus aff. pulchellus 2) Undescribed Palythoa aff. variabilis 3) Zoanthus solanderi 4) Undescribed Terrazoanthus sp.

Recently, we spearheaded a study of the Zoanthids found in our local nearshore waters that has been published in the Journal of Marine Sciences titled ‘Species Diversity of Shallow Water Zoanthids (Cnidaria: Anthozoa: Hexacorallia) in Florida‘ with Dr. James Reimer and Yuka Irei of the University of the Ryukyus in Okinawa, Japan. This is the first comprehensive study of its kind, analyzing DNA to determine the taxonomic authenticity of our local zoanthid species. We discovered that there are as many as four species of zoanthids in South Florida that have been overlooked by scientists until now.

Despite their ubiquitousness in shallow tropical waters, zoanthids have been largely neglected by marine biologists who have otherwise been more focused on understanding reef-building stony corals, leaving the taxonomy of tropical zoanthids vague and out of date. This, combined with the natural morphologic variability of these animals, makes physical identification difficult for the casual observer. The advent of DNA analysis has allowed for an accurate picture to emerge, and it is clear that there is much more diversity than had previously been recorded.

Read ‘Species Diversity of Shallow Water Zoanthids (Cnidaria: Anthozoa: Hexacorallia) in Florida‘:

Colins-Zoanthid-Paper-2012

‘O, Miami’ 5-Poem Split

September 19th, 2012

We are proud to present (in collaboration with O, Miami Poetry Festival) an original 5-Poem split 7″ featuring 2012 Pulitzer Prize-winner Tracy K. Smith and L.A. Times Book Prize-finalist Gabrielle Calvocoressi. A limited edition of 200 records were pressed, with each cover hand-painted as an original multiple by Miami artist Nicolas Lobo.

On Thursday, September 20th, at 8:30 p.m., we’ll unveil the record at Lester’s in Wynwood. Copies will be available for sale for $15. The record is also available to buy via the Coral Morphologic store.

‘Aquacultural Transformation’

August 13th, 2012

‘Aquacultural Transformation’ Installation No. 1 at the Southeast Financial Center lobby, downtown Miami.

In the first installment of our Knight Foundation-funded public art series Aquacultural Transformation, we have been commissioned by the owners of the Southeast Financial Center in downtown Miami to curate the new HD video-wall in the lobby. The video-wall is comprised of twenty-five 55″ screens, measuring 23′ x 14′ in total size, making it one of the largest HD walls in Florida. We have produced a series of coral films for Aquacultural Transformation that will run during the morning hours of 7-10 a.m for the next six months. Our goal was to create a technicolor, aquatic ambiance in the lobby that engages and relaxes workers before the start of a hectic work day – therefore acting as an antidote against the 24-hour barrage of news and financial information that these workers are constantly subjected to. A primary component of the Aquaculture Transformation project is to convey that that the essence of the coral reef is literally infused into the concrete limestone infrastructure of every building in the Magic City. And thus the modern pop-cultural iconography of Miami is ultimately reflective of the neon diversity of our native coral reefs. This can be represented no better than the opening sequence to ‘Miami Vice’, in which the Southeast Financial Center is featured prominently in the last shot.

‘Anemone Spawn’

May 31st, 2012

A fluorescent green flower anemone (Epicystis crucifer) releases sperm into the water column at the Coral Morphologic lab.

On May 24th we observed this fluorescent green flower anemone (Epicystis crucifer) spawning in our lab, and managed to film the event. The anemone continued to release sperm for nearly 30 minutes, while several other nearby flower anemones released significantly smaller amounts of gametes. This was the second time we have witnessed a flower anemone spawning event at our lab this spring. We first observed a synchronous spawn of more than a dozen anemones in an outdoor aquaculture system that receives natural sunlight on April 12th. After the jump are photos of anemones spawning during this event.

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‘Coral: Rekindling Venus’

May 13th, 2012

We are excited to share that Coral Morphologic has contributed film and images to Coral: Rekindling Venus, a full-dome digital planetarium motion picture directed by artist Lynette Wallworth. Coral: Rekindling Venus explores the magnificence of the coral reef and its organisms in a high definition, 360 degree view with a score including Antony Hegarty and Christian Fennesz. The film premieres in twenty-four (24) planetariums around the world on June 5th, which coincides with the Transit of Venus. The movie’s title equates the significance of coral reefs in the 21st century to this historic astronomical event.

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Ocean Drive Magazine

February 3rd, 2012

Coral Morphologic is featured in the February 2012 edition of Ocean Drive Magazine.

Interview @ the Coral Morphologic Lab

January 21st, 2012

During the week of Art Basel-Miami Beach 2011, we opened the doors of our aquaculture lab and welcomed guests to see our work and inspirations up close and personal. Jeff Jetton and Brendan Canty (of the band Fugazi) were two of our guests from Washington, DC, and we were psyched to give them a detailed look at our lab, our ethos, and how we managed to develop a DIY hybrid science-art concept into reality.

Beings ‘Social Creep’ EP

December 9th, 2011

We are proud and humbled to have the opportunity to release the final four recordings from the beloved and now-defunct Miami band Beings. The Social Creep EP is a 4-song, limited-edition run of 100 copies in glow-in-the-dark vinyl with sleeve art by the band, screen-printed in glow-in-the-dark ink by Iron Forge Press. We have rubber stamped our corallimorph logo onto both sides of the center-sticker by hand and numbered the a-side, both in silver ink.

Lester’s in Miami is graciously hosting the listening/ release party this Friday, December 9th as well as Laser Wolf in Ft. Lauderdale on Saturday, the 10th. We will have the record for sale for $15 at the parties. The remaining copies will be available at the Coral Morphologic store.

Miami New Times’ 2011 People Issue

November 25th, 2011

Catch us in the Miami New Times’ 2011 People Issue. Pick up a print edition on November 23rd.

‘A Hybrid Future – The Corals of Miami’ @ TEDxMIA

October 12th, 2011

Check out the video from Colin’s TEDx talk, where he highlights Miami’s urban corals – specifically a rare hybrid “super” coral that may help in future rehabilitation of Florida’s fragile reefs.

‘(How To Grow) A Floating Forest’

October 3rd, 2011

In order to understand what’s going on in the video, you’re going to want to read the post below!

One of the most innovative, practical, and functional coral nurseries on the planet can be found just a few miles off the shores of Key Largo. The nursery consists of thousands of neatly organized colonies of the critically important staghorn coral (Acropora cervicornis) grown by the Coral Restoration Foundation (CRF) for the purpose of transplantation back to the reef. Staghorn corals have been decimated by disease and extreme weather here in Florida over the past 30 years, resulting in a seriously degraded reef ecosystem. Fortunately the CRF has developed methods that maximize the growth potential of these corals in their nursery, demonstrating that coral aquaculture is a realistic and effective way to restore beleaguered wild populations.

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TEDxMIA

August 15th, 2011

We are thrilled to share that Colin will be counted as a speaker at the TEDxMIA 2011 annual conference Between The Lines, September 13th at the New World Center on Miami Beach. He will expound the adaptational prowess of an extremely rare “hybrid” Caribbean stony coral (Acropora prolifera) he discovered while exploring the waters of Biscayne Bay and Government Cut. Click here to read an interview with Colin on the meaning of this find and what it predicts for the future of Florida’s coral reefs.

‘Underwater Worlds’ @ Cairns Festival

August 12th, 2011

From August 19 – September 4 we will exhibit public projections in the city center of Cairns, Australia as part of Cairns Festival 2011. Under the direction of Morphologic collaborator Michael F. McPeake, Underwater Worlds celebrates Cairns’ intimate relationship with the coral reef. Showing alongside our films is Australia’s seminal underwater documentary Invisible Wonders of the Great Barrier Reef, shot in 1961 by Noel and Kitty Monkman off the coast of Cairns.

Adult Swim – Off The Air – ‘Food’

May 31st, 2011

This past week our short film ‘Oyster Vision’ was included in the second episode of Adult Swim‘s new ten-minute mind-boggle of a show, Off the Air. The episode is titled ‘Food’, check it out above.

Coral Morphologic @ ATP Curated by Animal Collective

May 9th, 2011

We are psyched to share that a selection of our Natural History films will screen on ATP TV during this upcoming weekend’s All Tomorrow’s Parties festival as curated by Animal Collective, in Minehead, UK. This will be the first international exhibition of our work; read more about the festival here.

‘Man O War’

May 2nd, 2011

‘Man O War’
Physalia physalis
Film and Aquarium: Coral Morphologic
Original Soundtrack: Geologist

In this special installment of our Natural History film series, Geologist soundtracks a macroscopic view of a Portuguese man-o-war’s beautiful, yet highly venomous tentacles.

The man-o-war is often mistaken as a jellyfish, but this is not the case. It does not swim, but is instead propelled by the winds, tides and currents across the ocean’s surface. In fact, a man-o-war is not even a single organism, but an entire colony of organisms called siphonophores, that live together as a singular unit. They are found floating across all of the world’s tropical and subtropical oceans. Even more impressive is that the man-o-war colony is comprised of four different types of polyps, called zooids, that each serve a different purpose to the overall functioning of the colony.

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Lil Daggers ‘Slave Exchange’ Single

April 15th, 2011

We are proud to announce the fifth release in our South Florida-centric 7″ vinyl series; ‘Slave Exchange’ b/w ‘Sweetwater’, from Miami’s Lil Daggers. The wax is a limited edition run of 100 copies in black vinyl, with a wheat-pasted photo on each individual sleeve affixed by the band. As usual, we have rubber stamped our corallimorph logo onto the b-side of the center-sticker and stamped/ numbered the a-side.

The release party will be held within a party: Saturday, January 16th @ the 2nd annual Sweatstock. Check out the set times for a bigger picture of the event – many amazing bands will perform, including Discosoma’s Lil Daggers, Beings, and Guy Harvey. The 7″ will be available at Sweat Records exclusively Saturday, which is also Record Store Day. After Saturday, you can pick up the record at Sweat as well as the Coral Morphologic store.

ANR ‘Big Problem’ Single

January 11th, 2011

We are psyched to announce the fourth release in our South Florida-centric 7″ vinyl series; the debut 7″ (‘Big Problem’ / ‘Dead Gulf’) from Miami’s ANR. Typical of our 7″ singles, the record is a limited edition run of 100 copies in black vinyl with individually lino-block printed sleeve art by the band. We have rubber stamped our corallimorph logo onto the b-side of the center-sticker and stamped/ numbered the a-side.

Little Munich in Lake Worth is graciously hosting the 7″ release party this Saturday, January 15th, featuring live sets from ANR, Beings, the band in Heaven, and Sumsun. We will have the record for sale for $8 at the release party and at the run of ANR performances supporting Washed Out the following week (including a Miami show). A portion of the remaining records will be going to Rough Trade’s London shop and to Sweat Records in Miami. The rest will be available at the Coral Morphologic store.

‘Artificial Reef’ Retrospective

December 13th, 2010

‘Cassiopeia 2’ | 407 Building | Lincoln Road | Miami Beach – Dec. 2-5, 2010

From December 2-5, we presented Artificial Reef, a series of large-scale video projections of corals, on three prominent buildings on Miami Beach. The concept of Artificial Reef was built around the premise that most of Miami’s infrastructure is comprised of fossilized coral reef limestone. The purpose of the project, (funded with a generous grant from the Knight Foundation) was to highlight this overlooked relationship of the city of Miami with its coral reefs. Our goal was to recolonize the city with a ‘living veneer’ of corals encrusted onto the artificial reef that is Miami Beach.

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‘Artificial Reef’

November 25th, 2010

We are infinitely excited to announce our first public art project: Artificial Reef, a nightly projection series showcasing local coral reef-life in massive scale on prominent buildings across Miami Beach from December second to the fifth. The concrete used in constructing these buildings is largely composed of the pulverized fossils of coral and marine life that once colonized South Florida when submerged in millennia past. The Artificial Reef projections will “encrust” and “colonize” the Wolfsonian Museum, the 407 Building, and the Art Deco Welcome Center facades like rocks of the reef. Artificial Reef has been made possible by a generous grant from the Knight Foundation.

During the week/end we will have an accompanying solo show of of our multi-media works at the Art Deco Welcome Center. Video loops, photography and projections will be shown. The opening reception for Artificial Reef will take place at the Art Deco Welcome Center on Friday, December 3rd from 8PM – 12AM. We are additionally psyched to host special live “soundscape” performances by ANR and Sumsun during the reception, with an accompanying collage of our Natural History films curated and affected by video artist Jamie Harley. The video collaboration will be projected onto the bands as they perform. We will have complimentary Prestige beer at the reception.