New exhibit in Grinter probes mathematics and origami

January 4, 2011

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The art of origami transforms the two dimensionality of paper into breathable representations of mathematical concepts. A new exhibit titled “Origami: Folding and Unfolding Mathematical Concepts” explores these ideas through a series of paper creations by University of Florida Honors Program students.

The exhibit opens today and continues through March 4 in Grinter Gallery. A public reception will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday in the lobby of Grinter Hall.

Led by Kevin Knudson, director of the UF Honors Program and a mathematics professor, the students spent a semester folding and unfolding in the course titled “Origami: Math Meets Art.” Students were taught a series of complicated mathematical theories and applied what they learned by building something with their own hands – alone and in groups.

The exhibition highlights some of their elaborate successes, featuring pieces such as “Level 2 Sponges,” which are three-dimensional cubes made up of 2,400 business cards. Other pieces derived from individual creations of modular origami in which students explored various sizes, shapes, colors and complexities.

A special program called “Coffee, Cookies and Conversation” will be held at 3:30 p.m. Feb. 17 in the Grinter Hall lobby. The program will provide the public with an opportunity to learn more about the origami pieces in an informal discussion with Knudson and students.

Grinter Gallery hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. It’s closed weekends and holidays. The gallery is in the main lobby of Grinter Hall, next to the University Auditorium. Visitor parking is available in reserved spaces behind Fine Arts Building “C” on Inner Road. Visitor permits are issued to gallery visitors at the University Gallery. Reserved parking for the galleries during receptions is available at Tigert Hall, just north of the University Gallery on 13th Street.

For more information, contact the University Gallery at 352-273-3000 or visit www.arts.ufl.edu/galleries.