Journal for Geometry and Graphics, Vol. 2, No. 2, pp. 161 - 168 (1998)

Form Evolution: From Nature to Polyhedra to Sculpture

Robert A. Wiggs

University of Southwestern Louisiana
private: 128 Hugh Wallis Road, Lafayette, LA 70508-2107, USA
email: wiggle@linknet.net

Abstract: This paper written by a sculptor describes a polyhedral generating process from primitive line units that inspires forms of art: A collection of slides and sketches of natural patterns had its beginning more than thirty years ago as a visual aid for teaching drawing and sculpture. As the collection grew, cataloguing became necessary. Spatial patterns were detected that repeated themselves even though a wide range of materials were represented - a drying mud puddle cracked like a turtle's back - like pine tree bark - like cloud systems. These patterns have become a source of information for generating families of polyhedra and for producing many pieces of sculpture.

Keywords: natural patterns, generating polyhedra, sculpture.

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