Central Booking

The Haber Space at Central Booking Gallery on the Lower East Side is currently presenting “Natura Mathematica”, curated by Maddy Rosenberg. This exhibition features the work of 24 artists and addresses the connection between the aesthetics of Mathematics and forms and patterns found in nature.

Erik Demiane & Martin Demaine, “Phylotaxis 959”, 2017
Picture courtesy of the gallery and the artists

Erik and Martin Demaine’s folded paper sculpture titled “Phylotakis 959” explores the Fibonacci double spirals found in sunflowers.

Amber Heaton, “Breakdown”, 2015
Picture courtesy of the gallery and the artist

Amber Heaton’s installation “Breakdown” also utilizes the Fibonacci Sequence. The number of strings in each vertical column increases from the outer edge on each on the perpendicular walls. Starting on each side with one thread, then one thread again, then 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, then 55 near the corner. This work offers the viewer a very direct visual representation of the beauty of this growth sequence that is found in many natural phenomena.

Eva Mantell, “Untitled”, 2016
Picture courtesy of the gallery and the artist

Eva Mantell “microcosm” series presents 3-D geometric line drawings using straws. This example features a series of acute triangles of various sizes radiating out from the center of the form.

“Natura Mathematica” displays a differs collection of work offering a broad exploration of the connections of Mathematical sequences series and formulae and the natural word.

Susan Happersett

There are art galleries that occasionally exhibit art work that is of Mathematical interest, and then there are venues that consistently show work with Mathematical elements. Central Booking located on the Lower East Side of Manhattan is an art space that always provides art work that any Mathematics enthusiast would appreciate. Executive Director and Curator Maddy Rosenberg has created two district galleries with in the space. The front gallery ABG (Artist’s Book Gallery) is dedicated to representing Artist’s Books in all of their forms and functions. Currently on view is an amazing piece by famous MathArt collaborators, Eric Demaine and Martin Demaine. The sculpture “Through the Looking Glass” was made in 2013 and comprises of a folded paper form encapsulated in a blown glass vessel. I have seen their beautiful and complex folded forms before, but the introduction of glass takes their work to another level.

The second gallery at Central Booking is HaberSpace,which is dedicated to Art and Science exhibitions. The close relationship to the visual representation of science and the Mathematics used in the study of science makes this the perfect place to find MathArt. The March exhibition “Time and Again” explores the Physics of time, as well as the concept of linearity.

Miriam Carothers

Illustrator Miriam Carothers draws pen outline drawings of physicists. The the spaces are filled in coloring book style with Mathematical equations that relate to the work of each scientist.

Miriam Carothers. All pictures courtesy of the artist and the gallery.

In 2011 Carothers made 30 portraits in this series using a team of physicists, Physics professors and students to fill in the mathematical formulae. Through this series of drawings Carothers creates a dialogue, not only about scientists as people, but also how society relates to the mathematical numerals and symbols that form the language of science.

Miriam Carothers – Alexander Polyakor (2011). All pictures courtesy of the artist and the gallery.

Christiana Kazakou

Christiana Kazakou explores the connections between science and art through many mediums, including site specific installations, performance art, architecture and what Kazakou refers to as “Science Maps”. Her drawing “The Past, Present and Future” (2010) is both striking and elegant. The white lines on the black paper create an interesting dynamic of positive and negative space.It features three circles with measurement lines ticking off degrees around their circumferences, like on a protractor. They seem to spin like the mechanism in a clock. Around the circles there is a background pattern created from playful angled vectors which connect to form a variety of triangles.