2021 Joint Mathematics Meetings
Elaine Wolfe
Artists
Statement
I design paper models which integrate art, architecture, engineering and mathematics (retired math teacher). I use a Silhouette Cameo to create scale drawings and to cut out my paper model parts. I post my free designs and how to assemble them on my blog, papercraftetc.blogspot.com. I am a collaborator for the MakeToLearn.org website which brings the art of making to learning.
Artworks
Inscribed Platonic Solids
8 x 8 x 8 cm
Card Stock Paper
2020
In the style of Leonardo DaVinci's "Divine Proportion" drawings, I created 20 inscriptions of the five Platonic solids. Some of the inscriptions were easy to do while others perplexed me. With some investigation, I discovered that the maximal size calculations of six of the polyhedra were in the annals of unsolved geometric problems for many centuries. They were just calculated in 2018 by Moritz Firsching. Using his calculations, I was able to complete the set of inscribed Platonic solids.
A description of this work can be found at https://papercraftetc.blogspot.com/2020/08/a-stem-project-inscribing-da-...