Course Description
Summary
This course is an introduction to tessellation, also known as space filling, or packing. Through drawing exercises on various grids (which also happen to be tessellations) we will learn about edges and vertices, moving to regular, semi-regular, and edge tessellation among others, eventually proceeding from planar tiling to packing in three dimensions. Tessellation is a spatial strategy with a wide range of practical uses ranging from patternmaking, scaling, and modular construction to notching, attachment methods, and approximation. The coursework focuses on tessellation as it is deployed by artists, and our engagements with the subject will be mostly visual. Some basic algebra and geometrical concepts will be involved, but we will not cover the topic in great mathematical detail. In addition to reading about the Timurid dynasty Topkapı pattern scroll, we will study more recent work by artists who use tessellation practically, and metaphorically (usually both). This is an introductory drawing and design course, and students with an interest in patternmaking and identifying (in any discipline) are encouraged to apply. There will be a plenty of drawing by hand, reading assignments, and we will practice achieving scale with a combination of small parts.
