Beautiful Minds
Category: Snapshot
The conference’s mathematical art exhibition included “The {3,12} Polyhedron Decorated with a Fractal Circle Pattern” (2015) by Doug Dunham, professor in the Department of Computer Science at the University of Minnesota Duluth; “[It] shows that mathematical objects can be beautiful,” Dunham has said about his work, which is inspired by that of artist M.C. Escher. photography: JJ Chrystal
For four days in late July and early August, the University of Baltimore welcomed more than 300 participants—ranging from mathematicians, architects and computer scientists to artists, educators, musicians, dancers and weavers—from 25 countries for the Bridges Baltimore 2015 conference. This annual event, which changes host cities each year, “celebrates the synthesis of math, art and science, [which is] engaging and fun,” says organizer and faculty coordinator Sujan Shrestha, assistant professor in the Division of Science, Information Arts and Technologies in UB’s Yale Gordon College of Arts and Sciences.
Bridges Baltimore’s itinerary included what Shrestha described as the “largest exhibition of mathematical art ever assembled, with more than 150 artists taking part” as well as lectures, a movie festival, poetry readings and musical performances. The conference also opened its doors to the public for a free Family Day, which gave attendees of all ages the chance to experience firsthand the exhibited collision of math, art and science through workshops, games and more.
