Month: May 2019

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Wire – – Less

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Wire – – Less, 2019
UV cured inkjet on composite acrylic/aluminum panel
38 x 76 inches, edition of 3

In the past I’ve worked with circles organized as a matrix of dots but a regularized grid (x and y are equal) makes the axis of diagonal rows of dots at an angle of 45 degrees. So, I thought, what would happen if the grid was modified to make the axis at 60 degrees. I further thought, how could I create a further sense of movement. I substituted circles with ovals and rotated them along the long axis at a 30 degree angle giving them some tension.

For a little insight into my process, above is also sketch of mathematical layout in pixels I worked out first. This allows me to place guidelines in photoshop at 300 pixels vertically and 173 pixels horizontally giving me the accuracy I need to construct it.

For this first piece using this grid and rotated ovals, I spell out the words Wire Less. At first glance it could be read as wireless, a nod to the ubiquitousness of wireless technology. But another reading is Wire – Less; a message to metaphorically unplug once and a while.

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Art for the New LBGT Community Center of Greater Cleveland – Test Print

It’s been wonderful working on a commission for the LGBT Community Center of Greater Cleveland. Their new building, by Architecture firm WMF, with lead architect David Thal, in the Gordon Square Arts District in the Detroit Shoreway Neighborhood on Cleveland’s west side, is nearing completion. The building is modern, with its metal, glass and masonry planes. Yet, it also nods in respect to its neighbors, where it feels at home in its historic context.

I’m honored that my work will be part of the life of the building and the people of the LGBT Community Center of Greater Cleveland. I hope the joyfulness this artwork makes me feel, is also experienced by those who interact with it. As a gay man, together with my husband Bruce Baumwoll for 38 years, we’ve lived our life proud; fought for civil rights; cared for each other. So, it’s especially meaningful, to be in a place where the LGBT community is served.

About The Print

TEST PRINT

The type of print is UV cured inkjet on a composite aluminum panel called Dibond. A UV Curing Inkjet Printer cures the ink practically instantly as powerful UV light is applied while the ink is being laid down. The other feature will be that the print will be cut to shape on a CNC Router.

The artwork will be made of of 53 diamonds. The diamond shape was given the name Rhombus by the mathematician Euclid, hence the title of the work Fifty Three Rhombuses. A Rhombus is the geometric name in Euclidean Geometry which says it is a simple quadrilateral whose four sides all have the same length. The most famous Rhombus of all is perhaps the Baseball Diamond. Each Rhombus is divided up into four triangles, each of varying color. For the test print, I did 5 of these Rhombuses at full size (see image above). I used this test print, not only to check color, but also to test the accuracy of the cutting. To my delight, the CNC router cut it with exacting accuracy; important because of the exacting nature of the geometric forms. The overall size of the final print will be 118″wide x 56″high.

Doing the printing is Vista Color Imaging in Cleveland. They do great work. I Enjoy working with them and they enjoy working with artists. Thank you Kim and Scott and the rest of the team!

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Pratt Islamic Studies – Masjid I Jami Mosque – Isfahan

Section through Dome & Geometric Analysis of
the Masjid I Jami Mosque

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The most significant work Of Islamic Architecture that survives is the Masjid-i-Jami in Isfahan Iran. This mosque was initially built by the early Muslims who arrived in the first century after the Hijra. The Abbasids rebuilt it in 840-41 CE . The Buyids, who established the first local dynasty, enlarged it between 908-32 CE.

Above is my drawing of a cross section through the dome with three geometric sketches illustrating the proportion of parts and below are sketches studying the geometric proportional systems that delineate the proportion of it’s parts. Also, using the proportions of the different parts to each other, I prove mathematically that the golden ratio was the organizing principle.

Sketches – Understanding the Underlying Geometric Proportional Systems
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The Masjid I Jami Isfahan

Related to my Islamic studies were explorations of my own geometric ideas influenced by what I was learning about in the Islamic creative tradition. The following are studies of patterns I created using and rotating the square. They were done on a Hewlett Packard main frame computer using an early CAD software program.