Berkshires Satelite Reef

'62 Center for Theatre and Dance

By: Williams - Apr 08, 2026

 

The Berkshires Satellite Reef, part of the global Crochet Coral Reef, opens at the ’62 Center for Theatre and Dance at Williams College with a celebration on Saturday, April 18.

The Crochet Coral Reef was created in 2005 by the artists and sisters Christine and Margaret Wertheim to raise awareness to the beauty and plight of coral reefs worldwide. The Berkshire iteration features hundreds of corals crocheted by community members in the Berkshires and beyond over the last year. The corals, made of a variety of colors and textures, are being assembled into a vibrant reef in the CenterStage Theatre, where lighting and sound will immerse visitors in an underseas wonderland.

The opening celebration on April 18 from 2 to 4 p.m. will include a dance and puppetry activation. After that, the reef will be on view through May 12 every day from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Wednesday through Saturday evenings from 6 to 8 p.m. The celebration and installation are free and open to the public.

The Berkshires Satellite Reef is “a work of hope,” according to Amy Holzapfel, Chair and Frederick Latimer Wells Professor of Theatre at Williams College and the Gaudino Scholar who spearheaded the project.

“Our reef has emerged from the creativity, enthusiasm, and support of over 500 participants from Williams College and the greater Berkshires community, as well as places as far afield as Kansas, Oregon, and Canada,” Holzapfel said. “Over the past year, we have crocheted together in schools, senior centers, libraries, farmers markets, churches, backyards, artist studios, and museums. With the help of our instructors, we have taught over 400 people to crochet a coral form. What began with a local yarn drive and weekly crochet circle has grown into a collective act of defiance against a culture of climate doom that instructs us to wallow in despair instead of getting down to work.”

The project was a collaboration among many departments across Williams College, including the Gaudino Fund, Williams College Museum of Art (WCMA), Zilkha Center for the Environment, Center for Learning in Action, Williams-Mystic, MakersWeb / FabLab / Makerspace, ’62 Center for Theatre & Dance, Department of Theatre, Department of Dance, The Science Center, College Archives, Sawyer Library, Schow Library, Williams Crochet Club, Faculty Club, Human Resources, Dean of Faculty’s Office, President’s Office, and On the Log. Partner community organizations include the Berkshire Art Center, Bennington Senior Center, Milne Public Library, Adams Free Library, Lenox Public Library, Upstich (Albany), The Mystic Seaport Museum, Old Stone Mill, and the Williamstown Cultural District.

The ’62 Center for Theatre and Dance is located at 1000 Main Street on the Williams College campus. Ample parking is available in the deck behind the building, which is fully handicapped-accessible. The Center Stage Theatre can be accessed by stairs or elevator. If entering the building from the back entrance, an elevator is located to the right of the stairs. For more information, call 413-597-2425 or visit the website.