Franklin Martin Jr
Rick-Rack and Zig-Zag pieces are representations of frequencies, and
we use them to model everything from music to heartbeats to data.
The way that the waveform expresses itself in the geometry of the
beads is driven by the size and shape of the individual units, and
the stitches used to place them. The resulting fabric of glass is a
balance between tension and energy, and the pieces seem to have a
life of their own.
The Warped Squares are known to mathematicians as Hyperbolic
Paraboloids, and they are energetic saddle forms that come easily to
our beads. Beaded Hypars made in this way (peyote stitch with
Herringbone increases) behave the same way as the origami versions,
except the folds are generated through stitch placement as opposed
to folds placed in the fabric. Chained together like this they form
a cycling linkage that can display a variety of faces based on the
placement of information in each quadrant of each Hypar. These forms
have overlap with both the materials science and communication
science teams that CGB is working with to design morphing surfaces.
The alternate image shows the same piece, showing a different face.
For Talon, I have used a wave form captured in place by crystals to
evoke the claws of a dragon. The dragons talons grip beautiful fresh
water laser cut pearls. The zig-zag of the waveform gives this
necklace an open and airy feel and still the neckpiece is a powerful
statement piece.