Friday, April 11 at 12 noon
ILC 120
 

Helaman Ferguson, artist and mathematician
Claire Ferguson, author

Helaman Ferguson's mathematical sculptures in stone and bronze celebrate ancient and modern mathematical discoveries, melding the universal languages of sculpture and mathematics. Using slides and video, Helaman and Claire Ferguson will trace Helaman's creations from initial conception through mathematical design and computer graphics to their final form. The Fergusons will discuss the innovative computer technology used to create tori and double tori, trefoil knots, wild and tame spheres, Moebius strips and Klein bottles. Their lectures have fascinated audiences worldwide, frequently stimulating dialogue between multiple disciplines.

Helaman Ferguson is both a sculptor whose work is located in institutions and collections worldwide and an internationally known mathematician one of whose algorithms has been listed among the top ten in the twentieth century. Claire Ferguson has written extensively on Helaman's work, including the Gold Ink and Ozzie Award winning book "Helaman Ferguson: Mathematics in Stone and Bronze". She is a graduate of Smith College where she was an Ada Comstock Scholar.

• Helaman and Claire Ferguson are the recipients of the prestigious Joint Policy Board for Mathematics (JPBM) Communications Award (2002). The citation for the 2002 award states: “The JPBM Communications Award is presented to the Fergusons, who together have dazzled the mathematical community and a far wider public with exquisite sculptures embodying mathematical ideas, along with artful and accessible essays and lectures elucidating the mathematical concepts."
• Claire Ferguson, an artist in her own right, has won scholarships and prizes for her work. More information about Claire's book about Helaman's work can be found here.
• Helaman Ferguson's website has pictures of his work.