Lindsay Lindsey

full time student
University of Alabama
Tuscaloosa, AL

Art is in the eye of the beholder. To me, the most significant aspect of art is its connection to the artist and the viewer. All of my sculptures reflect the passions and interests of my life. The sculptures are a product of my passion for art, but they are driven by my interests in science and math.

One of the most fascinating aspects of the natural world is the Fibonacci sequence. Nothing quite compares to the connection the Fibonacci sequence has to all aspects of our lives and art especially. The sequence is rooted in math but can be seen nautical shells, sunflowers, and galaxy arrangements. It also found its way into modern architecture, such as the Eden Project in the United Kingdom.

My sculpture, The Fibonacci Project, is based off the spiral seen in the Nautilus shell. The sculpture is a three dimensional representation of the spiral. It is constructed out of cast aluminum to take advantage of the highly reflective qualities of the metal.

The Fibonacci Project
The Fibonacci Project
18"x18"x16"
Cast Aluminium
2010

The sculpture is based off the mathematical concept of the Fibonacci sequence and the spiral found in the Nautilus shell. In order to accurately construct a three dimensional spiral that has the specifications of the Fibonacci sequence, special attention had to be paid to the size of the sculpture. At specific intervals along the sculpture, the diameter of the sculpture accurately increased with respect to the Fibonacci sequence. The intervals along the sculpture were also planned out using the sequence as a guide to the ever increasing segments. The turns of the spiral were calculated using the Nautilus shell as a guide. Their increasing diameters are directly proportional to the diameter of the shell. Throughout the construction process, various checks were made to insure that the sequence was being preserved. The sculpture has truly become an accurate three dimensional representation of both the sequence and the spiral.