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seeing... mathematics

updated fri 7 jan 11

 

Janet Price on tue 28 dec 10


I've often thought that what we consider beautiful curves are those that
have simple mathematical equations. It would be interesting to try to
test this.

Janet

--

Janet Price
jmkprice26@comcast.net

Lee Love on tue 28 dec 10


On Tue, Dec 28, 2010 at 4:57 AM, Janet Price wrote=
=3D
:
> I've often thought that what we consider beautiful curves are those that
> have simple mathematical equations. =3DA0It would be interesting to try t=
o
> test this.

Isn't it interesting that potters achieved these with only they
eye. The high point of form in Sung China was mostly related to
beautiful curves.

The thing I noticed what was different in my teacher's work
compared to his teahcer's, Hamada, was that while Hamada depended on
gesture, like Choson Korean work, my teacher depended more on graceful
curves, like found in Sung work.

--
=3DA0Lee, a Mashiko potter in Minneapolis
http://mingeisota.blogspot.com/

=3D93Observe the wonders as they occur around you. Don't claim them. Feel
the artistry moving through and be silent.=3D94 --Rumi

ivor and olive lewis on thu 30 dec 10


Dear Janet Price,
It is claimed by some that Euler's Formula is the most beautiful formula in
all of Mathematics. The description I have states, (Quote), " Thus, the
transcendental number e raised to the power of the product of the imaginary
unit and Pi, also a transcendental number, yields exactly minus 1. "
(from Jan Gullberg, "Mathematics. From the Birth of Numbers". ISBN
0-93-04002-X ).
I wonder if an expression that is based in the imaginary and the
transcendental can be made concrete ?
This may be a proposition you and others may wish to test.

Best regards,
Ivor Lewis,
REDHILL,
South Australia

<<
I've often thought that what we consider beautiful curves are those that

have simple mathematical equations. It would be interesting to try to

test this.



Janet >>

Richard White on thu 30 dec 10


OK Ivor, now you've gone and done it. ;-) Forty years ago when I was
studying mathematics at the university (before I gave it up as a way to
spite my mother in my youthful rebellion) I might have understood exactly=
=3D

what you are talking about. The same as with chemistry, which I still
understand totally and completely, as long as the textbook is open in fro=
=3D
nt
of me. The moment I close the text, it is rendered just as totally and
completely into gibberish.=3D20

It used to be axiomatic that it (whatever "it" may be) was undeniably tru=
=3D
e
if you saw it on television. Now one needs only the internet to discover
absolute truth. Especially WikiPedia. And so that is where I sought an
explanation of Euler's Formula. And magically, it was there, complete wit=
=3D
h
graphs.=3D20

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Euler's_formula

Midway down that page is a 3-D visualization of the formula. I would gues=
=3D
s
that the grey curves are derived from the sine and cosine functions drawn=
=3D

along the X-Z and Y-Z axes, while the red line is a combination of them i=
=3D
n
all three axes. But just look at the red line. Imagine a pot with a surfa=
=3D
ce
that matches that red line through one revolution (the Wiki picture shows=
=3D
2
revolutions of the curve).=3D20

Is there a math wiz in the house who could project that red line onto a
plane that includes the z-axis and give us the coordinates of a dozen or =
=3D
so
points along the side of that hypothetical pot? Then we can sketch in the=
=3D

rest of the curve by eye, cut out a cardboard (or other sheet-good)
template, and throw an actual pot that reflects Euler's curve.=3D20

And then we put that idea up there with the Greek ideal of the golden mea=
=3D
n.

cheers and happy New Year to all,
Dick White

On Thu, 30 Dec 2010 13:43:39 +1030, ivor and olive lewis
wrote:

>Dear Janet Price,
>It is claimed by some that Euler's Formula is the most beautiful formula=
=3D
in
>all of Mathematics. The description I have states, (Quote), " Thus, the
>transcendental number e raised to the power of the product of the imagin=
=3D
ary
>unit and Pi, also a transcendental number, yields exactly minus 1. "
>(from Jan Gullberg, "Mathematics. From the Birth of Numbers". ISBN
>0-93-04002-X ).
>I wonder if an expression that is based in the imaginary and the
>transcendental can be made concrete ?
>This may be a proposition you and others may wish to test.
>
>Best regards,
>Ivor Lewis,
>REDHILL,
>South Australia

Kathy Forer on thu 30 dec 10


On Dec 30, 2010, at 5:40 PM, Richard White wrote:

> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Euler's_formula
>=3D20
> Midway down that page is a 3-D visualization of the formula. I would =3D
guess
> that the grey curves are derived from the sine and cosine functions =3D
drawn
> along the X-Z and Y-Z axes, while the red line is a combination of =3D
them in
> all three axes. But just look at the red line. Imagine a pot with a =3D
surface
> that matches that red line through one revolution (the Wiki picture =3D
shows 2
> revolutions of the curve).=3D20

These are beautiful! That page led me to this, =3D
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/77/Circular.Polariza=
=3D
tion.Circularly.Polarized.Light_With.Components_Right.Handed.svg/2000px-Ci=
=3D
rcular.Polarization.Circularly.Polarized.Light_With.Components_Right.Hande=
=3D
d.svg.png

Why, that's the process of making a braid.=3D20


Kathy Forer
http://kforer.com/sculpture/images/catwoman_b.jpg=3D20=3D

steve graber on sat 1 jan 11


Seeing mathematics, or math you can see =3DE2=3D80=3D93 =3D0A=3DC2=3DA0=3D0=
AThe Steve Too=3D
l is actually a 3D =3DE2=3D80=3D9Cknurling=3DE2=3D80=3D9D tool that is expl=
ained by the=3D
math =3D0Aconcept of hypotrochoids epitrochoids, or hypocycloid.=3DC2=3DA0=
Or wh=3D
at I grew up with =3D0Awe called it a Spirograph toy.=3DC2=3DA0 The long wi=
nded e=3D
quation is shown below and =3D0Ahonestly in 30 years of engineering I just =
do=3D
n=3DE2=3D80=3D99t run those kind of numbers =3D0Aanymore.=3DC2=3DA0 Today s=
o much analy=3D
sis is done graphically I seldom even use my =3D0Acalculator.=3DC2=3DA0 My =
dad fi=3D
rst showed me how to do simple arcs with a compass when I =3D0Awas maybe 5 =
ye=3D
ars old.=3DC2=3DA0 ~ what a cheap toy he found for me!=3DC2=3DA0 hours and =
hours of=3D
=3D0Aplaying with a compass!=3DC2=3DA0 I was an easy kid I guess=3DE2=3D80=
=3DA6=3DC2=3DA0 =3D
=3D0A=3D0A=3DC2=3DA0=3D0AMeanwhile, having released the Steve Tool I wanted=
to releas=3D
e the spirograph =3D0Aproduct idea for clay people.=3DC2=3DA0 =3DC2=3DA0I f=
ound years=3D
ago several online sites that show =3D0Athe designs achieved by the concep=
t =3D
of running around one diameter while =3D0Ascribing onto another.=3DC2=3DA0 =
Have f=3D
un with them!=3DC2=3DA0 =3D0A=3D0A=3DC2=3DA0=3D0AGraphics Calculator:=3D0Ah=
ttp://webspace.s=3D
hip.edu/msrenault/ggb/spirograph.html=3D0A=3DC2=3DA0=3D0Ahttp://www-history=
.mcs.st-=3D
and.ac.uk/history/Java/Hypotrochoid.html=3D0Ax =3D3D (a - b) cos(t) + c cos=
((a/=3D
b -1)t), y =3D3D (a - b) sin(t) - c sin((a/b -1)t)=3D0A=3DC2=3DA0=3D0Ahttp:=
//www-hist=3D
ory.mcs.st-and.ac.uk/history/Curves/Hypotrochoid.html=3D0A=3DC2=3DA0=3D0ASo=
far hav=3D
en=3DE2=3D80=3D99t launched =3DC2=3DA0a spirograph for potters.=3DC2=3DA0 I=
thought the i=3D
dea of a semi =3D0Aflexible thing to be used on tiles, flat or shallow bowl=
s =3D
or plates would be =3D0Acool to have.=3DC2=3DA0 Also something to work on a=
fat o=3D
utside surface as a vase would =3D0Abe a nice design device.=3DC2=3DA0 =3D0=
A=3D0A=3DC2=3D
=3DA0=3D0Amy first two prototypes stunk and I haven=3DE2=3D80=3D99t gotten =
around to =3D
doing a third one =3D0Ayet.=3DC2=3DA0 honestly the pottery market is small =
and re=3D
covery of tooling investments =3D0Ato do such a thing takes a while.=3DC2=
=3DA0 Th=3D
is kind of device is even smaller within =3D0Athe small pottery market so i=
t =3D
may never make sense to actually do.=3DC2=3DA0 I do think =3D0AI=3DE2=3D80=
=3D99ll finis=3D
h it one day for potters but don=3DE2=3D80=3D99t hold your breath.=3DC2=3DA=
0 If the S=3D
teve =3D0ATool for bread use takes off I will do it=3DE2=3D80=3DA6=3DC2=3DA=
0 =3D0A=3D0A=3DC2=3D
=3DA0=3D0AMy first problem was I simply didn=3DE2=3D80=3D99t do the math.=
=3DC2=3DA0 If th=3D
e selected gear diameter =3D0Aand =3DE2=3D80=3D9Cpen=3DE2=3D80=3D9D locatio=
n are arbitrar=3D
y, you=3DE2=3D80=3D99ll be going round and round lots of times =3D0Abefore =
getting =3D
the scribe line to reconnect with its=3DE2=3D80=3D99 start.=3DC2=3DA0 I nee=
d to simpl=3D
y =3D0Acalculate the various scribe locations on a tool.=3DC2=3DA0 One of t=
hese d=3D
ays I=3DE2=3D80=3D99ll do =3D0Ait=3DE2=3D80=3DA6.=3DC2=3DA0 The next trick =
is the semi-flexib=3D
le parts as they bow into a shallow bowl =3D0Achanges the detail calculatio=
ns=3D
and the resulting scribe lines may or may not =3D0Arejoin to make a nice d=
es=3D
ign vs simply a lot of curve lines.=3DC2=3DA0 The use of a fat =3D0Apen hel=
ps hid=3D
e misses.=3DC2=3DA0 Glazing would help blend such mistakes too=3DE2=3D80=3D=
A6.=3DC2=3DA0 =3D
It will =3D0Aneed =3DE2=3D80=3D9Cfat=3DE2=3D80=3D9D gears and I=3DE2=3D80=
=3D99ll likely have to=3D
develop a unique gear profile to work =3D0Ain flat and semi-flat condition=
s.=3D
=3DC2=3DA0 My old professor Dr Shelly will be proud if I =3D0Acan recall ho=
w thos=3D
e details are done and=3DE2=3D80=3DA6=3DC2=3DA0 classic ANSI gears just don=
=3DE2=3D80=3D99t=3D
work =3D0Aon what I=3DE2=3D80=3D99m doing=3DE2=3D80=3DA6.=3DC2=3DA0 =3D0A=
=3D0A=3DC2=3DA0=3D0AAnyway I =3D
wanted to add comments to =3DE2=3D80=3D9CMath you can See=3DE2=3D80=3D9D be=
cause selfis=3D
hly, that=3DE2=3D80=3D99s =3D0Awhat The Steve Tool can do for potters=3D0A=
=3DC2=3DA0Steve=3D
Graber, Graber's Pottery, Inc=3D0AClaremont, California USA=3D0AThe Steve =
Tool=3D
- for awesome texture on pots! =3D0Awww.graberspottery.com steve@graberspo=
tt=3D
ery.com =3D0A=3D0A=3D0AOn Laguna Clay's website=3D0Ahttp://www.lagunaclay.c=
om/blogs=3D
/ =3D0A=3D0A=3D0A

Jeff Longtin on sat 1 jan 11


Funny...I was thinking about the Spirograph the other day. (Wondered if an=
=3D
=3D20
old version was still in the family?)
=3D20
Never really thought it was an effective "toy", or "learning device" for=3D
=3D20
that matter, so I always wondered why my folks bought it.=3D20
=3D20
I too have thought about creating a texture with that quality, concentric=
=3D
=3D20
circles intersecting concentric circles, but decided its too complex to =3D
=3D20
deal with right now.
=3D20
maybe in the new year?
=3D20
Happy New Year everyone! (and you too Steve)
=3D20
Jeff Longtin
Minneapolis
=3D20
=3D20
=3D20
In a message dated 1/1/2011 12:52:53 P.M. Central Standard Time, slgraber
@YAHOO.COM writes:

Seeing mathematics, or math you can see =3DE2=3D80=3D93=3D20

The Steve Tool is actually a 3D =3DE2=3D80=3D9Cknurling=3DE2=3D80=3D9D too=
l that is=3D
explained by the=3D20
math=3D20
concept of hypotrochoids epitrochoids, or hypocycloid. Or what I grew up=
=3D
=3D20
with=3D20
we called it a Spirograph toy. The long winded equation is shown below=3D
=3D20
and=3D20
honestly in 30 years of engineering I just don=3DE2=3D80=3D99t run those k=
ind=3D
of numbers=3D20
=3D20
anymore. Today so much analysis is done graphically I seldom even use my=
=3D
=3D20
calculator. My dad first showed me how to do simple arcs with a compass=
=3D
=3D20
when I=3D20
was maybe 5 years old. ~ what a cheap toy he found for me! hours and=3D2=
0
hours of=3D20
playing with a compass! I was an easy kid I guess=3DE2=3D80=3DA6 =3D20


Meanwhile, having released the Steve Tool I wanted to release the=3D20
spirograph=3D20
product idea for clay people. I found years ago several online sites=3D2=
0
that show=3D20
the designs achieved by the concept of running around one diameter while=
=3D
=3D20
scribing onto another. Have fun with them! =3D20


Graphics Calculator:
http://webspace.ship.edu/msrenault/ggb/spirograph.html

http://www-history.mcs.st-and.ac.uk/history/Java/Hypotrochoid.html
x =3D3D (a - b) cos(t) + c cos((a/b -1)t), y =3D3D (a - b) sin(t) - c sin(=
(a/=3D
b =3D20
-1)t)

http://www-history.mcs.st-and.ac.uk/history/Curves/Hypotrochoid.html

So far haven=3DE2=3D80=3D99t launched a spirograph for potters. I though=
t the=3D
idea of=3D20
a semi=3D20
flexible thing to be used on tiles, flat or shallow bowls or plates would=
=3D
=3D20
be=3D20
cool to have. Also something to work on a fat outside surface as a vase=
=3D
=3D20
would=3D20
be a nice design device. =3D20


my first two prototypes stunk and I haven=3DE2=3D80=3D99t gotten around to =
doin=3D
g a third=3D20
one=3D20
yet. honestly the pottery market is small and recovery of tooling=3D20
investments=3D20
to do such a thing takes a while. This kind of device is even smaller=3D2=
0
within=3D20
the small pottery market so it may never make sense to actually do. I do=
=3D
=3D20
think=3D20
I=3DE2=3D80=3D99ll finish it one day for potters but don=3DE2=3D80=3D99t h=
old your br=3D
eath. If the=3D20
Steve=3D20
Tool for bread use takes off I will do it=3DE2=3D80=3DA6 =3D20


My first problem was I simply didn=3DE2=3D80=3D99t do the math. If the se=
lecte=3D
d gear=3D20
diameter=3D20
and =3DE2=3D80=3D9Cpen=3DE2=3D80=3D9D location are arbitrary, you=3DE2=3D8=
0=3D99ll be going=3D
round and round lots of=3D20
times =3D20
before getting the scribe line to reconnect with its=3DE2=3D80=3D99 start. =
I ne=3D
ed to=3D20
simply=3D20
calculate the various scribe locations on a tool. One of these days I=3DE=
2=3D
=3D80=3D99ll=3D20
do=3D20
it=3DE2=3D80=3DA6. The next trick is the semi-flexible parts as they bow =
into=3D
a shallow=3D20
bowl=3D20
changes the detail calculations and the resulting scribe lines may or may=
=3D
=3D20
not=3D20
rejoin to make a nice design vs simply a lot of curve lines. The use of=
=3D
a=3D20
fat=3D20
pen helps hide misses. Glazing would help blend such mistakes too=3DE2=3D=
80=3D
=3DA6. It=3D20
will =3D20
need =3DE2=3D80=3D9Cfat=3DE2=3D80=3D9D gears and I=3DE2=3D80=3D99ll likely =
have to develop=3D
a unique gear profile to =3D20
work=3D20
in flat and semi-flat conditions. My old professor Dr Shelly will be=3D20
proud if I=3D20
can recall how those details are done and=3DE2=3D80=3DA6 classic ANSI gea=
rs ju=3D
st don=3DE2=3D80=3D99t=3D20
work=3D20
on what I=3DE2=3D80=3D99m doing=3DE2=3D80=3DA6. =3D20


Anyway I wanted to add comments to =3DE2=3D80=3D9CMath you can See=3DE2=3D8=
0=3D9D bec=3D
ause selfishly,=3D20
that=3DE2=3D80=3D99s=3D20
what The Steve Tool can do for potters
Steve Graber, Graber's Pottery, Inc
Claremont, California USA
The Steve Tool - for awesome texture on pots! =3D20
www.graberspottery.com steve@graberspottery.com=3D20


On Laguna Clay's website
http://www.lagunaclay.com/blogs/ =3D20

James Freeman on sat 1 jan 11


On Sat, Jan 1, 2011 at 12:16 PM, steve graber wrote:

Meanwhile, having released the Steve Tool I wanted to release the spirograp=
h
product idea for clay people.




Steve...

Every time I think I have an original idea, I find that it is not so
original after all. I had the same spirograph idea a few years ago, but
decided it was too much work just to make a couple of platters. I had
planned to use gilmer belts, which are toothed automotive drive belts,
mounting them inside stiffening rings as the outer race, then fashioning
some slightly domed gilmer pulleys to hold the sgraffito stylus and to run
the laps inside of the gilmer belt ring. The slight doming of the pulley
was to prevent the pulley edges from gouging the leatherhard clay, and also
to allow the tall pulley to slide down into a dished clay surface while
still remaining straight up and down and sufficiently engaged with the teet=
h
of the gilmer belt, which also remains straight up and down. A second idea
was to employ a similar system to run a cordless Dremel tool with a carbide
burr around a soft bisque piece, thus eliminating the possibility of
gouging.

Great minds think alike, and so do we! Perhaps my gilmer belt idea will
give you even better ideas. If you use it, I should get a free Steve Clay
Spirograph Tool, autographed!

Take care.

...James

James Freeman

"...outsider artists, caught in the bog of their own consciousness, too
preciously idiosyncratic to be taken seriously."

"All I say is by way of discourse, and nothing by way of advice. I should
not speak so boldly if it were my due to be believed."
-Michel de Montaigne

http://www.jamesfreemanstudio.com
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jamesfreemanstudio/
http://www.jamesfreemanstudio.com/resources

<#>
<#>
<#> <#>

steve graber on sun 2 jan 11


james - so true - who knows where ideas come and go from.=3DA0 interesting =
co=3D
ncept =3D0Aof using timing belts.=3DA0 hmmmm..=3D0A=3D0Ayou know, another i=
nteresti=3D
ng math or phyisics concept is the pendelum.=3DA0 years =3D0Aago in physics=
cla=3D
ss we had a sand beaker that slowly poured out onto a black =3D0Amat as the=
t=3D
hing would swing around.=3DA0 stunning sand designs resulted.=3DA0 it seems=
=3D0A=3D
a similar method could be used to help design platters and bowls if a glaze=
=3D
was =3D0Ato slowly oooz out of a bottle as it swings freely.=3DA0 =3D0A=3D=
0A=3D0A=3DA0=3D
Steve Graber, Graber's Pottery, Inc=3D0AClaremont, California USA=3D0AThe S=
teve=3D
Tool - for awesome texture on pots! =3D0Awww.graberspottery.com steve@grab=
er=3D
spottery.com =3D0A=3D0A=3D0AOn Laguna Clay's website=3D0Ahttp://www.lagunac=
lay.com/=3D
blogs/ =3D0A=3D0A=3D0A=3D0A=3D0A________________________________=3D0AFrom: =
James Freema=3D
n =3D0ATo: Clayart@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG=3D0ASent:=
Sat=3D
, January 1, 2011 11:59:33 AM=3D0ASubject: Re: Seeing... Mathematics=3D0A=
=3D0AOn =3D
Sat, Jan 1, 2011 at 12:16 PM, steve graber wrote:=3D0A=
=3D
=3D0AMeanwhile, having released the Steve Tool I wanted to release the spir=
og=3D
raph=3D0Aproduct idea for clay people.=3D0A=3D0A=3D0A=3D0A=3D0ASteve...=3D0=
A=3D0AEvery time=3D
I think I have an original idea, I find that it is not so=3D0Aoriginal aft=
er=3D
all.=3DA0 I had the same spirograph idea a few years ago, but=3D0Adecided =
it w=3D
as too much work just to make a couple of platters.=3DA0 I had=3D0Aplanned =
to u=3D
se gilmer belts, which are toothed automotive drive belts,=3D0Amounting the=
m =3D
inside stiffening rings as the outer race, then fashioning=3D0Asome slightl=
y =3D
domed gilmer pulleys to hold the sgraffito stylus and to run=3D0Athe laps i=
ns=3D
ide of the gilmer belt ring.=3DA0 The slight doming of the pulley=3D0Awas t=
o pr=3D
event the pulley edges from gouging the leatherhard clay, and also=3D0Ato a=
ll=3D
ow the tall pulley to slide down into a dished clay surface while=3D0Astill=
r=3D
emaining straight up and down and sufficiently engaged with the teeth=3D0Ao=
f =3D
the gilmer belt, which also remains straight up and down.=3DA0 A second ide=
a=3D
=3D0Awas to employ a similar system to run a cordless Dremel tool with a ca=
rb=3D
ide=3D0Aburr around a soft bisque piece, thus eliminating the possibility o=
f=3D
=3D0Agouging.=3D0A=3D0AGreat minds think alike, and so do we!=3DA0 Perhaps =
my gilme=3D
r belt idea will=3D0Agive you even better ideas.=3DA0 If you use it, I shou=
ld g=3D
et a free Steve Clay=3D0ASpirograph Tool, autographed!=3D0A=3D0ATake care.=
=3D0A=3D0A.=3D
..James=3D0A=3D0AJames Freeman=3D0A=3D0A"...outsider artists, caught in the=
bog of =3D
their own consciousness, too=3D0Apreciously idiosyncratic to be taken serio=
us=3D
ly."=3D0A=3D0A"All I say is by way of discourse, and nothing by way of advi=
ce.=3D
=3DA0 I should=3D0Anot speak so boldly if it were my due to be believed."=
=3D0A-Mi=3D
chel de Montaigne=3D0A=3D0Ahttp://www.jamesfreemanstudio.com=3D0Ahttp://www=
.flick=3D
r.com/photos/jamesfreemanstudio/=3D0Ahttp://www.jamesfreemanstudio.com/reso=
ur=3D
ces=3D0A=3D0A=3DA0 =3DA0 =3DA0 =3DA0 =3DA0 =3DA0 =3DA0 =3DA0 =3DA0 =3DA0 =
=3DA0 =3DA0 =3DA0 =3DA0 =3DA0 =3DA0 =3D
=3DA0 =3DA0 =3DA0 =3DA0 =3DA0 =3DA0 =3DA0 =3DA0 =3DA0 =3DA0 <#>=3D0A<#>=3D0=
A<#>=3DA0 =3DA0 =3DA0 =3DA0 <#>=3D
=3D0A=3D0A=3D0A=3D0A

James Freeman on sun 2 jan 11


Perhaps a Foucault pendulum. Instead of dispensing glaze, it dispenses
thick slip into a suitably curved plaster form, thus building up the entire
vessel spirograph-style! Set it up in different cities to make vessels
completely unique to the corresponding latitude! Sounds like "art" to me.
Don't any of you steal our idea!

All the best.

...James

James Freeman

"...outsider artists, caught in the bog of their own consciousness, too
preciously idiosyncratic to be taken seriously."

"All I say is by way of discourse, and nothing by way of advice. I should
not speak so boldly if it were my due to be believed."
-Michel de Montaigne

http://www.jamesfreemanstudio.com
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jamesfreemanstudio/
http://www.jamesfreemanstudio.com/resources



On Sun, Jan 2, 2011 at 1:03 PM, steve graber wrote:

> james - so true - who knows where ideas come and go from. interesting
> concept of using timing belts. hmmmm..
>
> you know, another interesting math or phyisics concept is the pendelum.
> years ago in physics class we had a sand beaker that slowly poured out on=
to
> a black mat as the thing would swing around. stunning sand designs
> resulted. it seems a similar method could be used to help design platter=
s
> and bowls if a glaze was to slowly oooz out of a bottle as it swings
> freely.
>
>
> Steve Graber, Graber's Pottery, Inc
> Claremont, California USA
> The Steve Tool - for awesome texture on pots!
> www.graberspottery.com steve@graberspottery.com
>
>
> On Laguna Clay's website
> http://www.lagunaclay.com/blogs/
>
>
> ------------------------------
> *From:* James Freeman
> *To:* Clayart@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
> *Sent:* Sat, January 1, 2011 11:59:33 AM
> *Subject:* Re: Seeing... Mathematics
>
> On Sat, Jan 1, 2011 at 12:16 PM, steve graber wrote:
>
> Meanwhile, having released the Steve Tool I wanted to release the
> spirograph
> product idea for clay people.
>
>
>
>
> Steve...
>
> Every time I think I have an original idea, I find that it is not so
> original after all. I had the same spirograph idea a few years ago, but
> decided it was too much work just to make a couple of platters. I had
> planned to use gilmer belts, which are toothed automotive drive belts,
> mounting them inside stiffening rings as the outer race, then fashioning
> some slightly domed gilmer pulleys to hold the sgraffito stylus and to ru=
n
> the laps inside of the gilmer belt ring. The slight doming of the pulley
> was to prevent the pulley edges from gouging the leatherhard clay, and al=
so
> to allow the tall pulley to slide down into a dished clay surface while
> still remaining straight up and down and sufficiently engaged with the
> teeth
> of the gilmer belt, which also remains straight up and down. A second id=
ea
> was to employ a similar system to run a cordless Dremel tool with a carbi=
de
> burr around a soft bisque piece, thus eliminating the possibility of
> gouging.
>
> Great minds think alike, and so do we! Perhaps my gilmer belt idea will
> give you even better ideas. If you use it, I should get a free Steve Cla=
y
> Spirograph Tool, autographed!
>
> Take care.
>
> ...James
>
> James Freeman
>
> "...outsider artists, caught in the bog of their own consciousness, too
> preciously idiosyncratic to be taken seriously."
>
> "All I say is by way of discourse, and nothing by way of advice. I shoul=
d
> not speak so boldly if it were my due to be believed."
> -Michel de Montaigne
>
> http://www.jamesfreemanstudio.com
> http://www.flickr.com/photos/jamesfreemanstudio/
> http://www.jamesfreemanstudio.com/resources
>
> <#>
> <#>
> <#> <#>
>
>

<#12d48170899bc7b1_>
<#12d48170899bc7b1_> <#12d48170899bc7b1_>
<#12d48170899bc7b1_>
<#>
<#>
<#> <#>

Kathy Forer on tue 4 jan 11


On Jan 2, 2011, at 2:09 PM, James Freeman wrote:

> Perhaps a Foucault pendulum. Instead of dispensing glaze, it dispenses
> thick slip into a suitably curved plaster form, thus building up the enti=
re
> vessel spirograph-style! Set it up in different cities to make vessels
> completely unique to the corresponding latitude! Sounds like "art" to me=
.
> Don't any of you steal our idea!

These would be really cool to watch being made,
http://www.miqel.com/fractals_math_patterns/3d_fractals_mandelbulb.html


Kathy Forer
http://www.kforer.com

James Freeman on tue 4 jan 11


On Tue, Jan 4, 2011 at 1:05 AM, Kathy Forer wrote:

>
> These would be really cool to watch being made,
> http://www.miqel.com/fractals_math_patterns/3d_fractals_mandelbulb.html





What a fascinating and beautiful site, Kathy. Thank you for sharing it.
The mind reels with ideas impossible to realize but wonderful to consider.
You will now be responsible for the hours I will waste exploring this littl=
e
detour!

I often think about how I might incorporate fractals and other mathematical
oddities into my work, prodded by an admonition in one of Richard Feynman's
books. The closest I have ever come was the rather shallow appropriation o=
f
a portion of the Julia Set as a decorative motif (
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jamesfreemanstudio/2744113780/).

Can "art" be the product of the left hemisphere of an ordered mind?

All the best.

...James

James Freeman

"...outsider artists, caught in the bog of their own consciousness, too
preciously idiosyncratic to be taken seriously."

"All I say is by way of discourse, and nothing by way of advice. I should
not speak so boldly if it were my due to be believed."
-Michel de Montaigne

http://www.jamesfreemanstudio.com
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jamesfreemanstudio/
http://www.jamesfreemanstudio.com/resources


<#>
<#>
<#> <#>

Lee on tue 4 jan 11


> These would be really cool to watch being made,
> http://www.miqel.com/fractals_math_patterns/3d_fractals_mandelbulb.html

Kathy, folks are making fractal quilts:

http://www.google.com/images?hl=3D3D&q=3D3Dfractal+quilts&rlz=3D3D1B3GGLL_e=
nUS384=3D
US384&um=3D3D1&ie=3D3DUTF-8&source=3D3Duniv&ei=3D3D7TcjTfO6O8KdnAeIzYXWDg&s=
a=3D3DX&oi=3D
=3D3Dimage_result_group&ct=3D3Dtitle&resnum=3D3D3&ved=3D3D0CDwQsAQwAg&biw=
=3D3D1010&bi=3D
h=3D3D595

--=3D20
--
=3DA0Lee Love in Minneapolis
http://mingeisota.blogspot.com/

=3DA0"Ta tIr na n-=3DF3g ar chul an tI=3D97tIr dlainn trina ch=3DE9ile"=3D9=
7that is, =3D
"The
land of eternal youth is behind the house, a beautiful land fluent
within itself." -- John O'Donohue

Kathy Forer on tue 4 jan 11


On Jan 4, 2011, at 10:10 AM, Lee wrote:

>> These would be really cool to watch being made,
>> =3D
http://www.miqel.com/fractals_math_patterns/3d_fractals_mandelbulb.html
>=3D20
> Kathy, folks are making fractal quilts:
>=3D20
> http://www.google.com/images?hl=3D3D&q=3D3Dfractal+quilts

Very cool.=3D20

My favorite takeaway from fractals is an indirect quote from Beno=3DEEt =3D
Mandelbrot (as heard on PBS show), "Think not of what you see, but of =3D
what it took to get to be what it is."


-- Kathy

Kathy Forer
www.kforer.com

Lee on tue 4 jan 11


On Tue, Jan 4, 2011 at 10:18 AM, Kathy Forer wrote:

>
> My favorite takeaway from fractals is an indirect quote from Beno=3DEEt M=
an=3D
delbrot (as heard on PBS show), "Think not of what you see, but of what it =
=3D
took to get to be what it is.

Yeah, process is important.



--=3D20
--
=3DA0Lee Love in Minneapolis
http://mingeisota.blogspot.com/

=3DA0"Ta tIr na n-=3DF3g ar chul an tI=3D97tIr dlainn trina ch=3DE9ile"=3D9=
7that is, =3D
"The
land of eternal youth is behind the house, a beautiful land fluent
within itself." -- John O'Donohue

Kathy Forer on thu 6 jan 11


On Jan 4, 2011, at 7:01 AM, James Freeman > wrote:
>=3D20
> Can "art" be the product of the left hemisphere of an ordered mind?

Ask Brunelleschi. Any architect or builder will tell you, even the most org=
a=3D
nic design is thought through thoroughly or it will not do. Apparently rand=
o=3D
m structures have order.=3D20

It's difficult for a left hemisphere to act independent of the right, sans =
c=3D
orpus callosum.=3D20


Kathy=3D20


>=3D20

James Freeman on thu 6 jan 11


On Thu, Jan 6, 2011 at 3:55 AM, Kathy Forer wrote:


Can "art" be the product of the left hemisphere of an ordered mind?


Ask Brunelleschi. Any architect or builder will tell you, even the most
organic design is thought through thoroughly or it will not do. Apparently
random structures have order.

It's difficult for a left hemisphere to act independent of the right, sans
corpus callosum.






Kathy...

I shall ask him, next time I see him! I am meeting he and Jim Morrison at
Elvis' doughnut shop in Kalamazoo next week.

In seriousness, though, I have never considered architecture to be "art".
Artistic, to be sure, at least at rare moments (Greene & Greene, anyone?),
but not art (and not speaking about folks like Gaudi, who were artists whos=
e
medium was buildings, rather than architects per se). I think the only
reason that art historians grudgingly include architecture and pottery in
their texts is because they are the closest things to art which have
survived the ravages of time! I say this having studied architecture (alon=
g
with commercial art) in high school, as one of my two competing career path=
s
(neither one of which materialized).

As an aside, anyone interested in why architecture seems not even to be
"artistic" anymore may enjoy architect and critic Jonathan Hale's "The Old
Way of Seeing". Subtitled "How architecture lost it's magic (and how to ge=
t
it back)", it is almost a social history of buildings, and explores why the=
y
are now so lifeless and inhuman. I read this book years ago when I was
designing my current home. I had forgotten about this book until now, and
just pulled it off my shelf and added it to my current reading pile (with
six books ahead!). From the dust jacket notes:

"This fresh and provocative book answers a question that countless people
have asked about our man-made world: How did things get so ugly? We have
all admired the natural grace of old buildings and wondered why today it
seems so hard to create their equal. We live in a time when only a gifted
and dedicated team of designers can build something approaching the beauty
that eighteenth-century carpenters could do all by themselves. What went
wrong?"

Fun digression. All the best.

...James

James Freeman

"...outsider artists, caught in the bog of their own consciousness, too
preciously idiosyncratic to be taken seriously."

"All I say is by way of discourse, and nothing by way of advice. I should
not speak so boldly if it were my due to be believed."
-Michel de Montaigne

http://www.jamesfreemanstudio.com
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jamesfreemanstudio/
http://www.jamesfreemanstudio.com/resources



<#>
<#>
<#> <#>

Lee on thu 6 jan 11


On Thu, Jan 6, 2011 at 2:55 AM, Kathy Forer wrote:
> On Jan 4, 2011, at 7:01 AM, James Freeman > wrote:
>>
>> Can "art" be the product of the left hemisphere of an ordered mind?

the "Right brain" certainly keeps chatter going on this topic. :^=
=3D
)
--
=3DA0Lee Love in Minneapolis
http://mingeisota.blogspot.com/

=3DA0"Ta tIr na n-=3DF3g ar chul an tI=3D97tIr dlainn trina ch=3DE9ile"=3D9=
7that is, =3D
"The
land of eternal youth is behind the house, a beautiful land fluent
within itself." -- John O'Donohue