Bronna Butler
My early interest in both the Arts and Sciences/Math resulted in two rotating careers, one in art and another in finance/science. My current artwork - multifaceted glass, mirror and metal sculptural studies of mathematicians, physicists, recreational mathematics and science in general - unites my two passions. Stylistically, my glass and oil painting techniques are derived from the Baroque and Renaissance periods. During these two periods of art, artists were involved in the “science” of the arts including the chemistry of their paints/materials, precise anatomy and perspective, architectural principles and scientifically-based observations. The content and purpose of art, during these periods, frequently included science and mathematics.
"Reflected Tessellation" includes two clear panels of glass on which I painted (and fired in a kiln) my tile design of fish. In order to "add depth" to the tiles, I painted the green fish on the front of the glass, and the alternating blue fish on the back of the 1/8-inch-thick glass. The two identical panels of fish were also meant to suggest additional dimension. Three glass cuboids, painted with fish and a puzzle, surround the glass panels. There are five reflecting surfaces, in which the images of the painted glass fish can be seen. The puzzle-text asks: "Number of reflected fish minus glass fish equals....?". An observant individual will not need to add the reflected fish. The answer contains a non-number symbol.
My portrait of M. C. Escher was drawn in charcoal on paper and then printed on glass. There are six images of Escher. The positive black and white image at the bottom gradually changes into a negative image at the top. This transition is meant to "echo" the dark to light transitions found in some of Escher's work. M. C. Escher's initials surround each section of the hexagon. Escher's phenomenal work inspired me to draw this portrait. However, Escher's own work is the only way to adequately capture such a remarkable artist.