Richard & Louise Guy Lecture Series: Doris Schattschneider

Imagery in M.C. Escher's graphic works not only makes obvious use of geometry, but often provides visual metaphors for abstract mathematical concepts. Again and again Escher strived to capture the concept of infinity. He was also fascinated by and a master at depicting symmetry, duality, reflection, relativity, recursion, dimension, and topological change. This lecture (which assumes no mathematical background) will illustrate these mathematical concepts implicit in several of Escher's works, outline the transformation geometry that governs his interlocking figures, and reveal how this "math anxious" artist actually did pioneering mathematical research in order to accomplish his artistic goals.

Speaker biography: Doris Schattschneider is Professor Emerita of Mathematics at Moravian University in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Combining her dual interests in mathematics and art, she has become internationally known for her work on tilings of the plane and her exposition of M.C. Escher’s art. Her book M.C. Escher: Visions of Symmetry explores how Escher made and used his drawings of tessellations. In collaboration with graphic designer Wallace Walker, she designed polyhedral forms covered with Escher tessellations that have been published as M.C. Escher Kaleidocycles. She has been active in the Mathematical Association of America, serving as Editor of Mathematics Magazine, and received their national award for distinguished teaching. She is especially interested in making mathematics visual, and served as Geometer on the project that produced the software The Geometer’s Sketchpad. She is a Fellow of the American Mathematical Society.