Intersections
A Public Art Exhibition
Edmund Harriss
Edmund Harriss is a mathematician, artist, teacher and maker at the University of Arkansas, with a joint position in both Mathematics and Art.
The aim of his work is often to corrupt people into mathematical thinking and experiences through toys, coloring images and more – to provide alternative pathways into finding a love of mathematics beyond the worthy utilitarian mathematics presented in school.
Edmund has created two adult coloring books, a construction toy (Curvahedra) and a counting book all aimed to introduce anyone interested to the joy of playing with mathematical ideas.
His academic position enables him to explore the fascinating spaces between mathematics and art. On one hand, Edmund asks how artistic methods can be used to reveal the beauty, power and mystery of mathematical ideas for research and to wider audiences. On the other hand, he inquires how mathematics can serve art, and how craft traditions and considerations of tool use can be applied to digital manufacturing techniques.
His research has appeared in journals including Nature, and the proceedings of the National Academy of Science, and his artworks are installed internationally, including the Gearhart Courtyard Curvahedra, a 12' spherical metal sculpture at the University of Arkansas.
Artwork
Gradient of Grain, 1 of 17
CNC-carved oak
15” x 14” x 2”
$5,000
The growth rings of a tree tell its story, they also provide a natural geometry to the wood. Each ring represents a particular time in the tree's life, and mathematically these can be considered the level sets, thus at right angles to the grain are lines along which the tree grew through time, mathematically the gradient curves. Those curves are used to carve into wood revealing patterns both natural and geometric, a conversation between mathematics and the tree's story. The slice of wood used here was taken from a tree that lived and died just yards from my workshop where the piece was carved.