Bridges 2020 Live Workshops

Hands-on workshops are always stiumlating and inspiring sessions at Bridges conferences, but they are truly best experienced live. For that reason, we've decided to host a small selection of live workshop sessions from this year's workshop papers. We will host four 90-minute sessions: one per day of the originally scheduled 2020 conference, 1–4 August 2020. They will all take place over the Zoom videoconferencing platform.

You can participate in any of these four workshops for free, but you must register for one or more of them by July 30th. Registrants will be emailed the Zoom meeting links for the workshops they select on July 31.

If you wish to register, please fill out this form by July 30th.

Schedule and Materials

Each of the workshops below is listed with its time in the EDT (Eastern Daylight Time) timezone, as well as the presenter's local timezone. You can use Google to convert to your local timezone (if you're in Lisbon, for example, perform a Google search on "10:30am EDT in Lisbon").

Some of the workshops will require you to acquire your own materials in advance, so that you can follow along with the hands-on activities. Any needed materials are listed below.

Click on each workshop's title to read the contributed paper that gives full details about the workshop activity.

1. Exploring Symmetry Using Aestheometry in Classrooms and Beyond
Stephen Erfle and Katherine Erfle
01 August, 10:00am EDT (10:00am in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, USA)

This workshop has concluded. If you like, you can view a recording of the event.

Abstract: This workshop shows how to use the 4ColorAestheometry Excel file to teach students various geometric notions involving symmetry in a smart classroom. The file allows open exploration of a variety of geometric and algebraic topics and may be used from the late primary through secondary levels of the mathematics curriculum.

Materials: You will need to be able to run Microsoft Excel, and you will need the supplementary Excel file available at http://archive.bridgesmathart.org/2020/bridges2020-547.html.

2. A Two-dimensional Introduction to Sashiko
Carol Hayes and Katherine Seaton
02 August, 6:00pm EDT (8:00am in Canberra, Australia)

This workshop has concluded. If you like, you can view a recording of the event.

Abstract: Through the hands-on creation of two sashiko pieces of work – a counted thread kogin bookmark and a single running stitched hitomezashi sampler – participants will explore not only the living cultural history of this traditional Japanese needlework but will also experience the mathematics of sashiko in a tangible form, and will take away with them items of simple beauty.

Materials: This activity can be done by sewing fabric or drawing on graph paper. For sewing you will need a coaster-sized piece and a bookmark-size piece (say 12x12 cm and 3x8 cm) of hessian or even-weave linen or Aida cloth - any fabric suitable for counted-thread embroidery will work, thread in contrasting color (of suitable thickness for your fabric), a needle (preferably a tapestry needle), scissors. For drawing you will need graph paper (or dotted grid paper) - the lighter the line, the better, 1/2 inch to 1 cm grid (downloadable graph paper can be found online), a pen or pencil, straight edge or ruler.

3. Organizing Children and Youth Mathematical Art Exhibits and Interpreting MathArt-works through a Collaborative, Transdisciplinary Practice
Kristóf Fenyvesi, Christopher Brownell, Pamela Burnard, Carine Steyn, Werner Olivier, Pallawi Sinha, Zsolt Lavicza, Saara Lehto and Kirsi Peltonen
03 August, 10:00am EDT (5:00pm in Helsinki, Finland)

This workshop has concluded. If you like, you can view a recording of the event.

Abstract: This workshop will build upon a process developed by some of the authors for interpreting the mathematical and artistic knowledge demonstrated in MathArt-works created by children and youth. The participants will be separated into small groups and be given a MathArt-work to interpret. Each group will develop their own “Rhizomatic” representation of their interpretation which will be shared with the whole group during a “Gallery Walk” exhibition. Finally, all participants will discuss the creation of a network of practitioners interested in organizing children and youth mathematical art exhibits.

Materials: No materials needed.

4. Dürer Machines Running Back and Forth
António Araújo
04 August, 10:00am EDT (3:00pm in Lisbon, Portugal)

This workshop has concluded. If you like, you can view a recording of the event.

Abstract: In this workshop we will use Dürer machines, both physical (made of thread) and virtual (made of lines) to create anamorphic illusions of objects made up of simple boxes, these being the building blocks for more complex illusions. We will consider monocular oblique anamorphosis and then anaglyphic anamorphoses, to be seen with red-blue 3D glasses.

Materials: Paper, pencil, eraser, straight edge or ruler.

Discussion

Do you have comments on any of these workshops? Did you attend one and have feedback for the presenters? Please share it here!