Bronze, 106 x 70 x 70"

This sculpture dates from 1993, when I was in the MFA program at the University of Pennsylvania.  At that time the Laboratory for Research on the Structure of Matter wanted some art to go with their newly spruced-up building, and having little budget for it they came to the sculpture department.  As the only student interested in geometry, I was the natural candidate to do this job for free, and so it was.

Professor Robert Engman, a seasoned geometrical sculptor with many public works to his credit, saw the process through.  Since this was before technology had been invented I designed the piece without CAD, spec'ing it out by hand, crunching a lot of trigonometry on the backs of envelopes and building paper models to verify it.  One of the few times I've used all ten memories of my trusty HP 11-C. 

With the design in hand, we purchased $6000 worth of sheet bronze and had it sheared to shape.  I encamped in the art department's welding booth for several weeks and got the four modules TIG'ed into shape.  Then we dollied all to the chemistry department's machine shop, slung the pieces from pulleys overhead, and got to work on the assembly.  Everything went smoothly – to my immense relief – and once together it was turned over to the union for installation, as students are not allowed to modify the university's physical plant.

There it stands to this day, at the intersection of 33rd and Walnut, an unobtrusive bit of public art.  It has acquired a weathered patina that complements the brick-and-concrete surroundings.  There's no plaque.  It has no estimable value, as I've never worked that way since, but I like to think it provides a bit of mathematical interest, and a coded signal that interesting science lurks within.