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MATHEMATICAL SCULPTURES BY ALBERT CARPENTER

MATHEMATICAL SCULPTURES BY

ALBERT CARPENTER

FEATURED IN GALLERY AT THE CENTER EXHIBIT

 

West Plains Council on the Arts invites everyone to view a distinctive collection of mathematical sculptures by artist Albert Carpenter. The exhibit will be featured in the Gallery at the Center, West Plains Civic Center from February 23-March 15, 2016.  The Gallery, on the mezzanine, is open to the public during regular Civic Center hours.

Carpenter, a resident of Tecumseh, Missouri for over 20 years, initially developed an interest in art and geometry as an undergraduate at the College of William and Mary. It was during this time, while studying under the direction of artist Lewis Cohen, that he combined his burgeoning passions and started making geometric sculptures.  However, it was not until eight years ago that he began constructing novel polyhedra, three dimensional structures, based on the Platonic and Archimedean solids.  Since then, Mr. Carpenter has invented seven classes of polyhedra, and contributed over 200 new shapes to geometry.

From these, one class has been selected for its intrinsic beauty for display here – the crown polyhedral. These objects are of particular interest, not just for aesthetic reasons, as it is speculated that they could also be synthesized as molecules.  Thus conceived, they would open up new avenues of research for chemists.

Two pieces of Carpenter’s art were shown last May at the 2015 Bridges Conference in Baltimore, Md.

Mr. Carpenter says, “It is through art that I hope to not only share the joys of geometry, but also to inspire present and future mathematicians and scientists to study these forms, so that one day they may be created in the laboratory.”

The remainder of his polyhedral models and sculptures may be seen at http://polyhedron100wordpress.com

WPCA will host a Meet-the-Artists Reception on Saturday, March 5, 2016, from 12-2 p.m., in the Gallery at the Center.  All are invited to attend, view and discuss these wonderful pieces

The exhibit is co-sponsored by the West Plains Civic Center and West Plains Council on the Arts, with partial funding provided by Missouri Arts Council, a state agency.