Paul Rotterdam inspired my structure paintings. The Visual and Environmental Studies Department at Harvard exhibited several of the 5 x 5 ft. paintings in the Carpenter Center lobby. Jason Steeves in VES found some of the paintings in storage a basement in Harvard Yard after a few decades in the dark and sent me these snapshots. The casual distortions suggest living with art, the
Photoshop alignments suggest a line-up. Several paintings appear in news clips in the documentary movie, Left on Pear l, shown being carried out of a Harvard building occupied by protestors.
Arthur Loeb invited me to be a teaching assistant in the Design Science Studio in the same Department. For Loebs's studio collection, I hand cut and printed a series of 27 symmetry patterns in a limited edition of
20 with many artist proofs, some appear below, most of the portfolios now in the RISD Nature Collection with Loeb's collections of books, unique models, puzzles and games. I also have a set at my studio.
THE STORY
Design as synergy: Space is not a passive vacuum. Space has properties that constrain the patterns that exist within it - Arthur Loeb
Each is a variation of symmetry as part of the series to visualize all the symmetry groups in 2 dimensions for the students of the Design Science Studio.
I drew the geometry, symmetry, synergetics, patterns, or design science art to make over 700 prints, with pencils, sliding rules, T-squares and triangles and cut the film for silk screens with exacto blades, to within 1/64th of an inch of perfection. The originals are limited editions on Strathmore 100% bond, hand cut and hand printed, 20 x 28 inches.
Designs now available as giclee prints on canvas and fine art papers and more. To inquire, email or call 617-733-5493.
Tropical Heat Wave
Design Science as geometric art analyzes patterns and properties of structure in 2 dimensions (and polyhedra) to inspire architects, artists and designers, botanists, physicists, crystallographers, mathematicians, physicists, chemists, biologists, to re-imagine dimensionality and discover new designs.
Design Science brings together visual mathematics and the inspirations of Bucky Fuller and M.C. Escher, both friends of Arthur Loeb, the patron of the silk screens along with grants from the Harvard Office for the Arts and the Dean's Office program for encouraging innovative teaching materials.
My original symmetry portfolio prints were on exhibition for 20 years in the Design Science Studio at Harvard in Sever Hall and Corbu's Carpenter Center and 5 appeared at the entrance to the International Symmetry Congress in the Hungarian National Gallery. All were exhibited in Currier House. My set is signed by both Holly Alderman and Arthur Loeb.
Arthur brought his friend Bucky Fuller to meet students including Bill Stevenson, Eudoxia Woodward, Marlene Kliman, Dennis Dreher, and more artists and we had the Design Science Group symposia at Harvard, parallel to the Philomorphs.
Later I composed a collage of 48 silkscreens as a stage set for David Mamet and Shel Silverstein at Shady Hill School.
Design Science was thriving in the early 80s, when Arthur had written the last fascinating chapter in Bucky's book, Synergetics. When I was a teaching assistant in the design science course, Synergetics, The Structure of Ordered Space for 3 years, Fuller visited the classes 3 times. We went to the Houghton Library to see the Tetra Scroll. We had lunch at the Signet Society and enjoyed a long dinner at Lowell House where Bucky entertained us. Bill Stevenson was a Special Student in my first class and now has the most comprehensive independent design science collection of books and models. 
I organized a national conference with 4 days of exhibitions, films, dance, field trips and music. Our huge yellow Design Science flag was up for three weeks in Harvard Yard.
With daughter Sarah in the silk screen studio, color chart on the wall. I recently enjoyed Sarah's 30th birthday party with her friends in Brooklyn and she is a grants manager at tcg in Manhattan. Photo by Kim Allis.
The essence of design science is quoted in a note about Arthur Loeb's book, Space Structures, Their Harmony and Counterpoint:
"First published in 1974 and subsequently reprinted four times before being revised and presented in this new edition. "Space is not a passive vacuum; it has properties that constrain the patterns that exist within it." Thus does the author set the stage for a broad presentation of and informal introduction to the properties of polyhedra. For architects, crystallographers, and artists interested in aspects of design science -- as well as mathematicians, physicists, chemists, and biologists. Annotation copyright Book News, Inc. Portland, Or."
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