Geometric Threads
The Exploritorium in San Francisco will bring some of the math facts you learned as a kid into the world of traditional and contemporary crafts. Their exhibit, Geometric Threads: Artisanal Takes on Pattern, Dimension, and Topology runs until August 22, 2010.

It’s more than just a museum exhibit.
It’s different from many museum exhibits in that a skilled artisan will demonstrate a geometric fiber or craft activity to reveal the mathematics inherent in (among other things) mosaics, origami, and textile arts practiced across the globe. Hands-on opportunities will follow to give you the chance to try some geometric problem-solving of your own. You can experiment with paperfolding, tessellating, and more.

A broad range of activities will be presented.
Among the activities will be: an exploration of tessellation through patterns found in quilts, Hawai’ian kapa cloth design, and Moroccan mosaic tiles; untangling the intricacies of topology looped inside maritime knots and Korean maedeup; moving between dimensions with basket weavers, clothing designers, and upholsterers; and learning how origami artists transform flat shapes into fully realized 3D forms. Discover how similar shapes can give rise to a diversity of artistic expression, from Japanese temari to European lace and crochet.

Launch Gallery