| Dennis
Acreman, Thompson Rivers University |
"MATH
142-Mathematics for Visual
Arts" This talk will describe a Mathematics course I set up for our Bachelor of Fine Arts degree here at Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada. I will give an overview of the topics covered, describe the strengths and challenges faced in setting up and teaching such a course and, time permitting, show some student art projects produced for the course. |
| M.
P. Chaudhary |
"The
Role of Geometry in Indian
Heritage" [cancelled due to schedule conflicts] In this presentation, we would like to speak on the role of geometry in Indian heritage such as TAJ MAHAL (One from seven wonder of the world), LAL QUILA (Red Fort), HAWRAH BRIDGE, RAMESHWARAM SETU etc, by highlighting their geometrical structure and historical background. We also discuss their importance in present time. |
| Marion
Cohen, University of Pennsylvania |
"Crossing
the Equal Sign" A poetry reading of her own (says Annalisa, "amazing") work. |
| Penny
Dunham, Muhlenberg College |
"Symmetry
and Design Portfolios
Showcase Mathematics" Students in “Symmetry and Shape” produce two portfolio projects to illustrate the connection between mathematics and art. In the first, they create a collection of “real world” examples of symmetry using images from books and magazines, personal photographs, and other media. They organize the collection by symmetry type and give a brief description of each item. The focus is on variety (in both symmetry types and sources) as well as correct classification. The second portfolio is a collection of original designs that illustrate mathematical concepts studied throughout the semester. Design assignments flow from work with geometric topics such as compass and straight-edge constructions, the golden ratio, Fibonacci and Pythagorean spirals, frieze and wallpaper patterns, or one- and two-point perspective. Students create displays for Art Week (an annual campus event) and organize their drawings in a folder or on a poster. Students also submit a short paper to explain how each design reflects underlying mathematical principles and to make a case for meeting the course goals. |
| Laura
Eden, Montclair State University |
"Illuminated
Manuscript" This talk describes preliminary work on my dissertation, which was changed at my mentor's decision to study a piece from an Illuminated Manuscript and explore the astrological symbols in it--another of my favorite topics. |
| Ruth
Favro, Lawrence Technological University |
Projects
from a Geometry in Art class (display) |
| Ruth Favro, Lawrence Technological University |
"Viewpoints
materials in a Geometry in Art class" My math core class for architectural art and design majors uses Viewpoints perspective materials in one part of the course. I would like to discuss the course, and in particular discuss using the VP materials. |
| Steve
Gendler, Clarion University |
"Art
and Mathematics at Clarion
University, What We Did, How it Affected Us." (with Jim Rose) Jim Rose and Steve Gendler taught paired courses in Visual Arts and Excursions in Mathematics in the University's Making Connections program. We will discuss what preparing for and presenting this course meant to us, then and now. |
| Gary
Greenfield, University of Richmond |
"Opportunities
with the Journal
of Mathematics and the Arts" Yes, Virginia, there really is an academic, peer reviewed journal for mathematics and the arts! It is published quarterly by Taylor & Francis UK and is currently in volume 2. It publishes original articles, artist profiles, exhibition and event reports, essays, classroom capsules, book reviews and more. This talk will address how you can become involved and answer your questions. |
| Gary
Greenfield, University of Richmond |
"Algorithmic
Art" (framed prints) |
| Rachel
Hall, Saint Joseph's University |
"Teaching
the mathematics of
music" This spring, I created a course for sophomore-level math majors on the mathematics of music. This course introduced a number of mathematical topics and investigated their applications in the analysis and creation of music. I used the medium of music to (1) explore mathematical concepts such as Fourier series and tilings that are not covered in other math courses, and (2) introduce topics such as group theory and combinatorics covered in more detail in upper-level math courses. Along the way, we discussed the role of creativity in mathematics and the ways in which mathematics has inspired musicians. Students completed a semester-long project that explores one aspect of the course in depth. I plan to discuss the class briefly, then present an activity from the class forViewpointers to try! |
| Kevin
Hartshorn, Moravian College |
"A
Gallery of Mathematics:
Creating an Art Show" As part of the 2008 Moravian Student Mathematics Conference, I put together a Math & Art show in the gallery of our student union building. The show included work of both students and professionals. For my presentation, I will share some images from the exhibit along with thoughts of what went into creating the show (and what I hope to improve next time). |
| Joy
Hsiao, High School for Arts and Business |
A
geometric proof showing that
the horizontal and vertical viewing distances are the same. (a
poster) |
| Premalatha
Junius, Mansfield University |
"Geometry of the art of G.D. Paulraj." (a poster) |
| Jay
Kappraff, New Jersey Institute of Technology |
"Anatomy
of a Bud" For the past forty years Lawrence Edwards, a mathematician and scientist from Scotland, has observed on a daily basis subtle changes in the shape of buds. He has used projective geometry to deduce an invariant parameter that is a measure of the shape of the bud and has observed that every 14 days the bud expresses itself by changing its shape from a flattened to a more sharpened form. He has been able to show that for a particular species of bud the day of maximum expression correlates with the alignment of the Earth, moon and a planet particular to the species. For example the Oak correlates with Mars, the Beech with Saturn and the Knapweed with Jupiter. Furthermore each year the time at which the bud achieves its maximum shape change occurs one day per year earlier than the exact alignment of Earth, moon and planet until after seven years the alignment is again exact. These observations have no explanation within the scientific paradigm. However, the results have been replicated to a limited degree by others. |
| Theresa
Magnus, Rivier College |
"Intuitive
Geometry: Where Mathematics, Visualization, and Writing Meet" Students in this mathematics course for non-majors discover mathematics through geometrical exploration and then write about their findings. They observe patterns of billiard paths, star polygons, tilings, and polyhedra and then make and test conjectures. Finally they develop mathematical and precise writing skills as they explain how they developed and supported their conjectures. |
| Lisa
Mantini, Oklahoma State University |
Origami
and symmetric colorings of the regular solids. (display) |
| Lisa Mantini, Oklahoma State University | "Origami
and symmetric colorings of the regular solids" In this talk we discuss the Platonic solids and their rotational symmetry groups. We use origami models to show how a symmetric coloring of the faces, vertices, or edges of the solid lead to a concrete realization of the symmetry group as a group of permutations. We also indicate how other colorings of the regular solids can give rise to different actions of the symmetry group, that is, different irreducible representations of the symmetry group which correspond to different lines in its character table. |
| Wing
Mui, The Putney School |
"Mathematics
in Traditional Folk
Dances" Many traditional folk dances around the world are based on simple mathematical patterns that dancers can easily grasp. I will talk about the mathematics that can be found in contradances, English country dances and square dances, all of which are traditional dances that are easily accessible in many areas of the US. I will also talk about how I have incorportated traditional dances in my classes, their potential in helping students understand mathematical concepts and how they can be used as springboards for investigative projects. |
| Pat
Oakley, Goshen College |
"The
Möbius Strip Meets the
Hyperbolic Plane" (crocheted display) |
| Pat
Oakley, Goshen College |
"Spinning:
The art and
calculation in designing yarn" In spinning fiber into yarn there is both art and technique. Many factors go into the final product; the thickness of the yarn, the amount and angle of the twist in the yarn, the orientation of the twist. There is rudimentary mathematics underlying the process of designing a yarn. Spinning yarn can be both systematic and beautiful. This talk will discuss the basics of spinning and highlight the mathematical calculations that lie beneath the fiber artist's work. |
| Sharon
Persinger, Bronx Community College |
"Inverting
a projection" Of course you can't invert a projection! But if you have several images of a surface taken under different lighting conditions, you can (approximately) reconstruct the surface. I will show how. |
| Carol
Piersol, F&M College |
"Wall
Hangings" (fabric
art display). |
| Barbara
Reynolds |
"Beauty
in Geometry" I have integrated a series of assignments on “Beauty” into my College Geometry course, and the student response has been very positive. I will share what I’ve done, and hope to generate some interesting discussion. |
| Jim
Rose, Clarion University |
"Art
and Mathematics at Clarion
University, What We Did, How it Affected Us." (with Steve Gendler) Jim Rose and Steve Gendler taught paired courses in Visual Arts and Excursions in Mathematics in the University's Making Connections program. We will discuss what preparing for and presenting this course meant to us, then and now. |
| Amanda
Serenevy, Riverbend Community Math Center |
"Origami
Polyhedra" (a display) |
| Judy
Silver, Marshall University |
"Art
Applications in Projective
Geometry" The foundation of projective geometry has long been supported by the study of perspective problems in art. This talk will present some of the art applications that compliment a traditional course in projective geometry. Topics covered will include Desargues’ Triangle Theorem, shadow drawing, the four-point, the absolute line, harmonic nets, harmonic points, center of involution, conics on a sphere. |
| Sherry
Stone Clifton, Herron School of Art and Design |
"Writing
for Dummies is not for
Dummies" Behind every one of those ubiquitous "Dummies" books, there is a writer who managed to survive writing it. This presentation by one of the authors of "Oil Painting for Dummies" covers how the "Dummies" books are written and produced and their experiences writing and illustrating their own title over one hair-raising summer. |
| Gordon
Williams, Ursinus College |
"Blurring
the Fractal Lines" Inspired by the fractal art of Marc Frantz, I've been experimenting with other ways of generating density plots using fractals to create aesthetically interesting images. I will presenting some of the methods and results of my investigations. |