
This is based on the 3,1-Goldberg polyhedron where the edges have been replaced with laser-cut plywood squares.
Background and Inspiration
This was the result of a hands-on mathematical art sculpture construction I was commissioned to lead at the Joint Mathematics Meetings in Atlanta, Georgia on January 5, 2017. Conference attendees, mostly college faulty and students, helped assemble this piece during a community event sponsored by the Special Interest Group of the Mathematics Association of America on Mathematics and the Arts (SIGMAA-ARTS). Following the assembly activity, the piece was donated to the STEM Discovery Center at Piedmont College in Demorest, Georgia.
A total of 390 laser-cut plywood (1/4") squares (4" x 4") were used in the construction. Twelve groups of five squares were connected into pentagonal units. These squares had kerf cuts laser cut to allow more flexibility. Small screws (6-32 x 3/8") and nuts were used as fasteners.
Acknowledgments
I am grateful for the financial support of the SIGMAA-ARTS and all the participants at the Joint Mathematics Meetings who helped assemble this piece!
Related Works
- See the page on Expanded Polyhedral Forms.