07.29.2008 | Posted by Tea

Math and beaded beads

Although I am no scientist or mathematician, I have a high level of fascination for people who adroitly combine their left-brain skills with their right-brain creativity. I’m not alone in my admiration, either — this capability is one that educators and employers value as well.

A few weeks ago, mathematician Gwen Fisher posted an update in our forum about the baseball bat tetrahedron she’s building in her back yard. It’s basically a ginormous beaded bead. She’s armed with a Ph.D. in curriculum and instruction, mathematics education, but in her spare time, she’s a big-time crafter. Gwen applies her spatial reasoning methods to constructing beaded beads with her beading partner and fellow math teacher Florence Turnour. This week Zoya Gutina interviewed Gwen for her blog, Gem and Beaded Jewelry.

If you’re looking for a fascinating read to ignite both sides of your brain, I encourage you to check out our forum, Zoya’s blog, and Gwen’s Web site. For more topics about left vs. right, read Ann Dee’s blog post about Creative-‘handedness’ in beading.

Tea Benduhn Associate Editor Bead&Button Magazine 

 

Comments

  • OriginalSin said:

    Very interesting read! Both Gwen and Florence are amazing artists, and the math twist on their work is really worth a more indepth read on the subject. I am exclusively left-handed for writing and I hold a needle in my left, but am ambidextrous in almost everything else - the best of both worlds? I don't know, but I'm off to click the links on the blog entry to find out if I have a genetic head-start on the rest of the world!

    July 29, 2008 1:17 PM
  • twolls said:

    Hi Tea

    For those who really enjoy this subject, download a copy of "Hyperseeing" Jan 2007 from

    www.isama.org/.../07-01.pdf.

    This is the Journal of the International Society of the Arts, Mathematics, and Architecture.  This particular issue has a short article about Laura Shea and at the end a list of web resources.  I haven't explored these sites yet, but they're on my to do list.

    Happy Beading

    Allison Causey

    twoll5

    July 29, 2008 1:45 PM

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