Sam Norgard

Cycle Hat proposal scales up the more often explored smaller kaleidocycle by reinterpreting the form in larger perler beads. The kaleidocycle is an engineering linkage discovered by French mathematician Raoul Bricard. It was interpreted in origami by the mathematician Doris Schattscheneider and the graphic artist Wallace Walker, their cycles used tessellations by M C Escher. Our (Contemporary Geometric Beaders group) beaded cycles are also linkages of tetrahedra (created by joining four beaded triangles together). The decision for either 6 or 8 tetrahedra in the final ring creating the Cycle Hat form will come in the fitting of the piece to the body. Cycle Hat brings the kaleidocycle to the millinery world, placing the art where the crown rests: a place of honor. Worn as a runway piece Cycle Hat is made to be explored over time. The model will stop, rotate the cycle and continue on for four steps, repeating four times to complete the cycle. This sequencing in time will mimic the repetition in design in form and pattern, carrying relationships from 4-D to 3-D to 2-D. I have created several kaleidocycles in smaller scaled beaded form. One is attached for your review; in form it will act as a maquette for the Cycle Hat. The palette and patterns will be changed to enhance contrast between each side of the tetrad so the audience will be able to read the change in the form as the model rotates the Cycle Hat. Thank you for reviewing.

For 25 years I’ve created sculptural dresses. I welcome opportunity to create a wearable interpretation honoring contemporary geometric beadwork using math ideas to generate form and design. My current sculpture, "The Butterfly Dress" explores a collaboration with women in the Dominican Republic who have been sex traded. Through the process they learn technique; jewelry is sold to build homes. I've coupled the making with the Coastal Bead Society, Savannah GA. I find meaning brought to the work through process. I propose to interpret The Butterfly Dress' skirt into beaded geometric forms, informed by math and modular concepts, organized through the Fibonacci series. The representational images of nature will be translated into geometrics: triangles and warped squares. The use of ABC modular thinking (form A repeats to make B, repeat B to make C) will create variation in forms ultimately used to make the skirt. This process yields discovery. It is a process I teach at the Savannah College of Art and Design and is related to fractals. I recognize this kind of thinking in the Sierpinski Triangle. I will follow the process, not the product, to create the forms for the skirt. The smaller range of the Fibonacci sequence will be used for inspiration for scale and placement. The opportunity to create this work with members of the Contemporary Geometric Beadwork team will doubtless lead to more layers of meaning. Thank you for your review.