Fusing Math and Art

I came across this fundraiser campaign to help a math major - and artist - who wanted to raise money to pay for software to help her convert mathematical algorithms into art.  Sami, who is diagnosed with Asperger's, embarked on this project as a way to communicate through art.  Watch her video here, and discover her unique way of communicating.

Greetings Tellurians, 

Around age fourteen, a number of influences converged upon my thinker to produce the realization that a structure exists hidden inside everything. I was unable to express something as abstract as this awareness was, but I began to see structure everywhere; everything is somehow discretely crystalline.  

I tried to encapsulate my experiences in poetry, but this was not enough. I needed to show people. So I spent four years devoted to studying how to map the world in visual media, i.e. drawing and painting. 

 It then dawned upon me that I needed another language so that I could communicate what I’ve been learning about the world, so I pushed my art practice to the background and began studying mathematics. Now as I continue to study both mathematics and visual arts, I begin to experiment with ways in which I can weave them together. 

 I’ve begun a series of drawings that serve as tiny, quiet, open places in which to think about mathematics while drawing. Right now they are purely experimental, and they feel honest, but my imagination far exceeds my present reach. One thing keeping me back is the need to explore data manipulation and representation through computer programs. My current technology is inefficient and involves burdens that prevent me from embarking on many intellectual journeys of which I conceive. 

 In gaining this initial funding I will be able to begin exploring more of the ideas I have for unifying mathematics and art. Specifically for this project, it will allow me to create a series of carefully planned out and hand drawn pieces, including a set of small drawings (approximately dozens) and four larger, ~14x14 in. drawings that will form a tetraptych, to be completed by the end of the year. 

 I’ve given the title 002303200 to the public manifestation of this and future projects to encourage an unavoidable visual presence. I have a vague dream of it becoming a well-defined system involving research, pure artistic practice, education, and any other relevant entity it may run into. Among many further projects that appeal to me is the creation of distinctly artistic, visual materials to aid students of mathematics, and particularly those with unique learning differences. 

 Your support will be appreciated in a deep, integrated manner, and be a vote for both these artistic and mathematical endeavors and also for individuals with Aspergers, who are everywhere struggling to find the language or mechanism by which they may share with you what they know or find beautiful in the world. 

Sincerely, Sami 

 For more/other information and to see more drawings, visit: 

www.002303200.com 

 To keep up with progress of the project on more mobile planes:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/002303200/364621086905816 

https://twitter.com/#!/002303200 

For You OCD Musicians....

New Documentary Depicts Fan’s Quest to Meet Metallica’s Lars Ulrich

I found out about this new documentary that highlights the life of a man with Fragile X Syndrome, and his siblings' assistance to help him meet his idol fixation, Lars Ulrich of Metallica.  Proceeds from the film will go directly to Mencap, an organization that works with people with learning disabilities and their families.

A new documentary titled ‘Mission to Lars’ centers on Tom Spicer, a learning disabled man who goes on a quest to meet his hero, Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich. Spicer has Fragile X Syndrome, which is a sort of autism, and is helped on his journey by his brother and sister.

Kate and William Spicer hit the road with their brother Tom, traveling from the UK to Los Angeles, Las Vegas and beyond.  “We had this fantasy of hitting the road with Tom and recreating some of the magic of our teenage years cruising around in £100 cars, eating Burger King and listening to heavy metal on the tape deck,” says Kate. “We thought it would be fun, bonding. We wanted to do something good for our brother. We were also sick of him endlessly asking.”

Kate is a journalist and William a filmmaker, so they have experience in the music industry, but still ran across numerous obstacles in trying to fulfill their brother’s dream. Mencap, the British charity who works with learning disabled individuals, were involved in the making of the film.

The movie’s website says ‘Mission to Lars’ tells the story of the confusing family dynamics around learning disability, and portrays Tom as a complex and likeable character, and not as someone one sees first as learning disabled and everything else second.

In addition to entertaining the audience and raising awareness, ‘Mission to Lars’ is also giving all the profits from the film to Mencap. In June, there will be theatrical screenings of the documentary, which will also be used as outreach opportunities. The soundtrack includes music from Bob Dylan, Devandra Banhart and Blur.

Lars Ulrich himself has seen the movie, and according to the Spicer family, he likes it. Sounds like an interesting documentary with a great message for a worthy cause. In addition to some British screenings, the filmmakers plan on taking ‘Mission To Lars’ on the road.

'Tis True!

Color therapy...with "Baker-Miller Pink"

A recent post from Philbrook Museum of Art in my hometown of Tulsa, noted a discovery of Dr. Schauss with a particular color of pink.  This is just one of many color associations on mood.  But I found it very interesting being noted by an art museum!  Thanks, Philbrook!

THE POWER OF PINK: In 1979, Alexander G. Schauss, Ph.D, experimented with the use of a particular shade of pink and its affect on mood and behavior. He called the color "BAKER-MILLER PINK" (seen here). It was found that this pink color was associated with a short-term decrease in aggression. Subsequent experiments also found that this shade of pink could also act as a natural appetite suppressant. Who knew?

World Autism Awareness Day

The fifth annual World Autism Awareness Day is April 2, 2012. Every year, autism organizations around the world celebrate the day with unique fundraising and awareness-raising events. How will you celebrate? To share your events, please "Like" the World Autism Awareness Day page on Facebook and submit your events by posting the information on the wall.

Thank you for celebrating the wonderful people in our lives affected by autism on April 2 and throughout April which was Autism Awareness Month. Learn more about some of the events from April 2, 2012 here!

 There are a few songs that have been written regarding autism, and would like to share a couple here:

"Solitary Shell" by Dream Theater (from Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence, 2002)

   He learned to walk and talk on time
But never cared much to be held
and steadily he would decline
Into his solitary shell
Read all the Lyrics here   "Puzzle Box" by Red Lamb (from Red Lamb, 2011)

   Every child’s mind is…
Like a puzzle box
But what of the mind that stays…
That stays forever locked?
Early intervention’s
The key to it all
Now we lift them up
HE won’t let them fall Read all the Lyrics here 

Here is an interview with Dan and Candi Spitz about their autistic twin sons and using Red Lamb's song "Puzzle Box" to increase Autism awareness: