Some Initial Ideas for Institutional Math Sculptures

Carlo H. Séquin

Previously executed large sculptures

Here are three medium to large-scale sculptures that I have designed with one of my programs and then helped to implement
in collaboration with wood sculptor Brent Collins of Gower, MO,   and Steve Reinmuth, Bronze Studio in Eugene, OR.

"Pax Mundi II" (January 2007) (With Brent Collins and Steve Reinmuth);
10-foot tall bronze sculpture, H&R Block Headquarters, Kansas City.
More installation pictures here -- and Pax Mundi II six months later.
Specific data:
Outdoor sculpture; no railing needed.
Pedestal height 4ft; top of sculpture 10ft; diameter 6ft.
"Hyperbolic Hexagon II" (February 2009) (With Brent Collins and Steve Reinmuth)
bronze, 30" diameter.
Reception lobby of CITRIS headquarters at UC Berkeley.
More pictures here; Some installation pictures here.
Specific data:
Indoor sculpture; no railing needed.
Table height 3ft; top of sculpture 7ft; diameter 3ft.
"SolarCircle" (November 2007) (With Brent Collins and Steve Reinmuth);
10-foot diam. polyester and glassfiber ring.
Hung in an atrium in a housing development near Kansas City.
Some installation pictures here.
Specific data:
Indoor sculpture, hung high; no railing needed.
Diameter 10ft.

Other ideas for mathematical sculptures

The following examples illustrate some other suggestions I have for possible medium to large-scale sculptures.
What is shown here are small desk-top bronze sculptures, or plastic maquettes.

The relative ease/difficulties of mold making and casting of the various shapes at full scale will have to be evaluated
in consultation with Steve Reinmuth; and we will do so, for those shapes that fall among possible finalists.

Based on:
"Scherk-Tower" (September 2007) - bronze, 11" tall.
Five Stacked and twisted 3-way saddles on a flat cylindrical or prismatic platform.
This should be an out door sculpture, at least 10 feet tall;
ideally it would stand in a reflecting pond.
The flanges could be about 1-2 inches thick and would be cast hollow.
Water could then be pumped through the hollow interior to the top edges,
where it would emerge and overflow and run down the sides into the pond.
Diameter of pond should be about equal to height of sculpture.
Based on:
 "Totem4" (December 2007) - bronze, 11" tall.
A stretched toroidal arrangement of 4 saddles, on a small conical stand.
Ideally the center of the sculpture would be at eye level of the observer;
the supporting (conical) stand should be fit to match the size of the sculpture.
To be implemented in thin, solid bronze with a rich patina, and polished edges.
This could be an indoor or outdoor sculpture; it can be touched.
Reasonable sizes: from 3ft to 8ft tall.
Based on:
"Figure-8 Knot" (December 2007) - bronze, 9" tall.
Concave knotted ribbon on a flat cylindrical or prismatic platform.
(Winner of 2nd prize at the AMS exhibit of Mathematical Art, 2009).
A large-scale version of this sculpture (6-12 feet tall) would be re-designed
with a thinner more graceful ribbon cross section.
This could be an indoor or outdoor sculpture; it can be touched.
Reasonable sizes: from 3ft to 6ft tall, probably best on a cylindrical pedestal
that is about half as tall the sculpture itself.
Based on:
"TorusKnot5_3" (November 2008) - FDM model, 6" tall.
Concave knotted ribbon forming a (5,3) torus knot.
I see this as a bronze ribbon as in "Pax Mundi II" above.
This could be an indoor or outdoor sculpture.
Since its ribbon will be rather springy and flexible, touching (and climbing!)
should be discorouged by a tall enough pedestal with some plants around its base.
Reasonable sizes: from 3ft to 6ft in diameter, probably best on a conical pedestal
that brings the center of the sculpture at or above eye level of the observers.

Some images that show the consistent high quality and the wide variety of patinas
by bronze artist Steve Reinmuth: