2011 Joint Mathematics Meetings

Anansa Green

Artists

Anansa Green

Mathematics Graduate Student

Mathematics and Statistics Department, Stephen F. Austin State University

Nacogdoches, TX

lindseyaj@titan.sfasu.edu

Statement

As both an artist and mathematician, I enjoy the juxtaposition of two seemingly opposite ideas or objects. I try to bridge the gap between math and art in such a way that others can see that the two worlds are not mutually exclusive. I work mostly in small metal sculptures/jewelry. I find the idea of wearable art especially appealing. Metal is not a particularly forgiving medium, but I find it allows for more precision than clay or wood. I usually stick to basic metalworking techniques: piercing, cold connection, married metals, chain weaving, hollow construction, forging, etc.

Artworks

Image for entry 'Circle Brooches'

Circle Brooches

1.5 x 1.5 x 0.25 inches each (2 brooches)

Fine Silver, Copper

2009

These brooches were inspired by my undergraduate graph theory research into the colorability of the map created by a finite tiling of circles in the plane. I was able to prove by mathematical induction that the resulting map is 2-colorable. This result lends itself quite well to the process of married metals. Two pieces of metal were overlayed: one copper and the other fine silver. The design was pierced from both sheets at once, and alternating pieces were swapped to form the two 2-colored designs. The individual components of each image were silver-soldered together, and the sides and back of each brooch hollow constructed to create the final form. The process yields two images, each one the inverse of its partner. To emphasize the complementary nature of each image, I fabricated one brooch with a convex face and the other concave.