New From Karl Kempton

This is a new little diddy from Karl Kempton. I am not sure if he had a title for it but if I could title this piece, I would title it: "I don't trust language"

Angel House Press - National Poetry Month (March)

I am happy to announce that one of my mathematical poems was selected for National Poetry Month at the Angel House Press. It will be up until March of 2014 -- You can see it at this link

Sunset Sutra

Much of my recent work is inspired by my studies and practice of Korean Zen. Living in the present moment takes practice and the sunset is a perfect tool to notice the power of the present moment - for if not living in the moment you will miss the sunset. The most spectacular sunset that I have ever seen was from the window of an airplane. This photographic image was shot during that sunset. The mathematical poem is in the form of what I call an ‘orthogonal space’ poem - which is always in the form of a = bc (or its syntactical equivalent e.g. b = a/c or c = a/b ). One may notice that the sunset is not as important when the time approaches zero and the phenomena of Dharma approaches infinity. One aesthetic process that excites me most comes from pondering how math functions within the mind and its particular relationship to the spectrum of all mental phenomena. I see math illuminating the logical structure of the mind and poetic metaphor being a wind blowing through that structure.

Units And Their Importance Within Mathematical Poetry

When looking at mathematical poetry one must realize that the variables are such that they provide a connotative type of mathematical unit. While in a physics problem you have units defined – they may not be as clear in a mathematical poem yet they are there if the poem is sensible. You must look at the variables the same as you would for any equation where they (the variables) perform a place for value and unit. In mathematical poetry it is important to think of the terms in the equations as a signifier to the unit.

For instance in the "Orthogonal Space Poem" equation Lucidity = confidence divided by ego we have the sense that the units for Lucidity are defined by the units of 'confidence per units of ego', even though those units in the terms have not been scientifically defined. The poem itself defines them defacto. So units play an important part while reading mathematical poetry. And units can change the meaning of things as we can see by the essay below:


 To show how important units are in our communication concerning statistics please read the following (which is an excerpt from Delancyplace.) In today's selection - people often mistrust statistics under the presumption that statistics can easily be manipulated. And they can. Particularly for those uncomfortable with numbers or unwilling to dig into the issue. (Samuel Clemens is often noted for having said "lies, damned lies, and statistics," which he in turn attributed to British Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli). One form of manipulation is changing the unit of analysis, as in the two examples below: "Is globalization making income inequality around the planet better or worse? By one interpretation, globalization has merely exacerbated existing income inequalities; richer countries in 1980 (as measured by GDP per capita) tended to grow faster between 1980 and 2000 than poorer countries. The rich countries just got richer, suggesting that trade, outsourcing, foreign investment, and the other components of 'globalization' are merely tools for the developed world to extend its economic hegemony. Down with globalization! Down with globalization! "But hold on a moment. The same data can (and should) be inter¬preted entirely differently if one changes the unit of analysis. We don't care about poor countries; we care about poor people. And a high proportion of the world's poor people happen to live in China and India. Both coun¬tries are huge (with a population over a billion); each was relatively poor in 1980. Not only have China and India grown rapidly over the past sev¬eral decades, but they have done so in large part because of their increased economic integration with the rest of the world. They are 'rapid global¬izers,' as the Economist has described them. Given that our goal is to ameliorate human misery, it makes no sense to give China (population 1.3 billion) the same weight as Mauritius (population 1.3 million) when examining the effects of globalization on the poor. The unit of analysis should be people, not countries. What really happened between 1980 and 2000 is [that] ... the bulk of the world's poor happened to live in two giant countries that grew extremely fast as they became more integrated into the global economy. The proper analysis yields an entirely different conclusion about the benefits of globalization for the world's poor. As the Economist points out, 'If you consider people, not countries, global inequality is falling rapidly.' "The telecommunications companies AT&T and Verizon have recently engaged in an advertising battle that exploits this kind of ambiguity about what is being described. Both companies provide cellular phone service. One of the primary concerns of most cell phone users is the quality of the service in places where they are likely to make or receive phone calls. Thus, a logical point of comparison between the two firms is the size and quality of their networks. While consumers just want decent cell phone service in lots of places, both AT&T and Verizon have come up with different metrics for measuring the somewhat amor¬phous demand for 'decent cell phone service in lots of places.' Verizon launched an aggressive advertising campaign touting the geographic cov¬erage of its network; you may remember the maps of the United States that showed the large percentage of the country covered by the Verizon network compared with the relatively paltry geographic coverage of the AT&T network. The unit of analysis chosen by Verizon is geographic area covered -- because the company has more of it. "AT&T countered by launching a campaign that changed the unit of analysis. Its billboards advertised that 'AT&T covers 97 percent of Americans.' Note the use of the word 'Americans' rather than 'America.' AT&T focused on the fact that most people don't live in rural Montana or the Arizona desert. Since the population is not evenly distributed across the physical geography of the United States, the key to good cell service (the campaign argued implicitly) is having a network in place where callers actually live and work, not necessarily where they go camp¬ing. As someone who spends a fair bit of time in rural New Hampshire, however, my sympathies are with Verizon on this one."

Author: Charles Wheelan Title: Naked Statistics Publisher: W.W. Norton & Company Date: Copyright 2013 by Charles Wheelan Pages: 41-42 Naked Statistics: Stripping the Dread from the Data by Charles Wheelan by W. W. Norton & Company

Two New Books

I am happy to announce that I was a part of a couple of new books that was published last summer.

My work finds itself in the intersection of many aesthetics and this is evident by looking at the content of both of these two books.  The first book mentioned specializes in the area where mathematics meets visual art. From my point of view it focuses primarily on the aesthetics of thinking but also approaches the aesthetics of direct sensory experience.  Most of the work.

in this book is done by people trained in mathematics who have a passion for making it visual. The difficult aspect of this genre is that you must have a bit of a math background.  The more background you have the more you will appreciate.

"Experience-centered Approach and Visuality in The Education of Mathematics and Physics."  ISBN 978-963-9821-52-1

Co-Authored by Javier Barrallo, Mateja Budin, Anthony Durity, Fenyvesi Kristof, Slavik Jablan, Klingne Takacs Anna, Ljiljana Radovic, Radmila Sazdanovic  and Stettner Eleonora  

The second book shown here Edited by Nico Vassilakis and Crag Hill is titled “The Last Vispo” an anthology of visual poetry spanning 20 years from 1998 to 2008.   ISBN-13: 978-1-60699-626-3

The primary focus on this book is a confluence of poetics with visual art (Visual Poetry / Concrete Poetry).  Lots of interesting essays as well as a lot of good vispo.  

Vilhelm Ekelund Qutoe:

Quote:

To read fast is as bad as to eat in a hurry. -Vilhelm Ekelund, poet (1880-1949) 

Mathematical Zen Poems By Karl Kempton

Here Are A Couple Of Mathematical Zen Poems By Karl Kempton

Is the Art and Science Movement Hogwash?

Click here for some interesting dialogue on the Art and Science Movement.
Jean-Marc Leblonde criticizes the math art movement with some pretty interesting views. 

2013 Joint Mathematics Meeting Mathart Show

I am happy to be a part of the Joint Mathematics Conference mathart show in San Diego California.

Here is a link to the work in the show

List of Mathematical Museums

Here is a wonderful list of mathematical museums. 

A New Benar Venet Show

Bernar Venet's new show

Thoughts on Craft

I believe that "craft" is a physical endeavor; furthermore, the more you practice it, the better you get at it. That said, "talent" is the ability to accomplish the same physical goal as others with less practice.

Kaz Maslanka - ASCI Featured Artist of the Month

I am happy to announce that I am the featured artist of the month at Art and Science Collaborations INC. You can check it out at this link 

Videos From Bridges

Here is a video compilation of events and aesthetic works at the Bridges Conference on Mathematical Connections in Art Music and Science. You may recognize my piece “Monastic Path” at the 0:40 second mark of the video. If you have trouble watching it here then click on the "YouTube" button in the bottom right hand corner. Thanks!
 

And here is a more official one that I nabbed from the conference website:

Reza Sarhangi Homage

In 2005 I created a homage to Reza Sarhangi, the nucleus of the Bridges Conference on Mathematical Connections in Art Music and Science. I never shared it so I think I will pull it out now that this year's conference is over and I am re-inspired. There are quite a few mathematical properties going on in this thing - puzzle with it.
And thank you Reza for being the special person that you are!

Mathemaku No. 1

I like this poem even though I struggle with the mapping part - but I must say that I love the mathematical metaphor. I think Bob did a great job on the idea of a couple being one.

Prat's Olympics

Here seems to be Toni Prat's answer to the Olympics.

Blaise

The heart has its reasons that reason knows nothing of. -Blaise Pascal, philosopher and mathematician (1623-1662)

I just recently returned from the Bridges Conference on Mathematical Connections in Art Music and Science and was fortunate enough to have Geof Huth shoot this photo while I was giving my reading on Orthogonal Space Poems. 

Math Is A Religion

In a fascinating book entitled "The Mathematical Experience," [Davis and Hersh], I found:

Mathematical axioms have the reputation of being self-evident, but it might seem that the axioms of infinity and that of God have the same character as far as self-evidence is concerned. Thus, ...'Axiom of Infinity: An infinite set exists.' Axiom of God: (Maimonides: Mishneh Torah, beginning):
The basic principle of all basic principles and the pillar of all the sciences is to realize that there is a First Being who brought every existing thing into being.
Which is mathematics and which is theology? Does this lead us to the idea that an axiom is merely a dialectical position on which to base further argumentation, the opening move of a game without which the game cannot get started?" 

Addition Online Collection

My Polyaesthetic work which includes the "Orthogonal Space Poem": "The Monastic Path" was included in the online collection titled "Addition"

A Moment

There are those moments in life when you are terror struck in a situation and
hoping that you are in a dream -- then you slap your face begging, please wake up.

And then there are those moments of pain and solitude that you simply realize that all of this existence IS just a dream and you wonder how long it will be before you wake up.

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Accepted Work To The Bridges 2012 Math-Art Show

I am happy to be included in the Bridges Mathart show coming up this July 25 in Baltimore. At Towson University

See my piece here

See all the accepted works here

Bridges Mathart 

Walt's Word

To have great poets, there must be great audiences. -Walt Whitman, poet (1819-1892)

Mathematical Spam

I just received some spam from a couple of sources - It seems that folks are thinking somewhat in our terms.

The first bit was some political spam from Al Franken:


Kaz ,

I love math. Always have. Sometimes, when I visit schools in Minnesota, I prove the Pythagorean Theorem, right there on the chalkboard.

But here’s some math I don’t love. Democrats have to defend 23 Senate seats this year. Republicans only have to defend 10. And if they take four of ours, they take control of the Senate.

Democrats are facing a real algebra problem.

X = President Romney. Y = a Republican Senate. X + Y = Z. Solve for Z.

The second one is some regular spam:

Higher Salary + New Job = A Happier You 
(there was a link on the text but I removed it)

The Fog

Here is a Polyaesthetic piece titled "The Fog" and within this piece you will notice a Proportional Poem. The original photo was shot at Biro Ahm (Small Temple)that sits on top of a mountain within the Tongdosa Monastery complex in South Korea.

My Apology

 If I were to wait for my art to be good enough, I would never make one piece.

The Monastic Path

Here is a mathematical visual poem titled "The Monastic Path" the mathematical structure used is an Orthogonal Space Poem. The original image was shot at Tongdosa Monastery in South Korea in a room where monks perform their "Kyol Chae" a retreat where they meditate 100 days from 8 to 12 hours per day. The equation describes a full range of concepts but if we were to focus on having the equation express a value of near-infinite Lucidity then the ego would be near zero. The equation was inspired by the Tongdosa monastery monk seen in the imagery who I found to exhibit extreme confidence with no ego. I have never experienced this from anyone before this time.

The Monastic Path - 2012

Fog

Here is a Proportional Poem titled "FOG"

FOG - 2012

Dating

The Monastic Path

This is an orthogonal space poem titled "The Monastic Path" inspired by 천진스님Chun Jin Sunim of the 통도사 Tongdosa Monastery in South Korea.

Thought For The Day

Only those things are beautiful which are inspired by madness and written by reason. -Andre Gide, author, Nobel laureate (1869-1951) 

A word of the day

Robert Fathauer Show in Hungary

My friend Robert Fathauer is having a show in Hungary check it out here

Seems To Me

Morality is not a product of religion. Religion is a product of morality.

Connie Tettenborn's New Website

I would like to announce that Connie Tettenborn has a new site you can access it here

Catalog Page For The Rhythm Of Structure

I had the pleasure to be a part of, "The Rhythm of Structure" poetry event in NYC in the summer of 2010. The John Sims project has had many branches and events over the last three years and is having a closing symposium at the Antioch College in November of 2011. Here is the page for the catalog that I originally made for John. The page shows four mathematical poems of which the bottom one is a substitution poem made by solving the previous two poems for the word "thinking" and setting both of those poems equal to each other and then solving for "Hell."

Warmonger

Here is a "Orthogonal Space Poem" titled Warmonger.

The Celebrity

Here is a polyaesthetic piece with a proportional poem inside it. Yet I have made it to seem like a Orthogonal Space Poem with a ratio of Talent and Stupidity in the denominator.

The piece is titled "The Celebrity"

Don't Think About This

Here is a proportional poem titled "Don't Think About This"

The New Culture

This is a most significant time in human history where cultural identity is rapidly moving from geographic locations to physically disparate cadres bound by beliefs and passions.

Polyaesthetic Mapping

This may be one of the most important things that I have ever done - This is the culmination of ten years of thinking about the aesthetics of math/science and art. I have been working on this project to show how one can map any aesthetic experience into a clear concise system.

You can access it at this link

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Art + Science at the Escondido Municipal Art Gallery

ART + SCIENCE @ Escondido Municipal Art Gallery
August 9 thru Sept. 30, 2011 Join us at the intersection of Art and Science. This two month exhibition allows the collection of data as well as encouraging conversation about the technologies we use everyday. This exhibition is supported by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts and the County of San Diego, Pam Slater-Price 3rd Dist. Supervisor

My Piece "Singularity" will be showing there.

If you are in the area please come to the opening Reception: Sat. Sept. 10, 5:30 - 8:30pm

Bridges Coimbra Portugal

The Bridges conference on mathematical connections in art music and science just finished in Coimbra Portugal. (July 2011) I am happy to been a part of the show where my piece singularity was displayed. There was a lot of beautiful work there and you can see the show at this link.

Kaz at SCRIPT

Here is some of my work at SCRIPT Literature's last frontiers.™

Mathematical Prose

The 2004 image above is a mapping of Potential Energy to Kinetic Energy and addresses the mechanics of changing spiritual belief. Cognitive Behavioral Science is a great example of this process. I admit that the above work is a rough outline and needs more detail for one to fully grasp what I am pointing at. I plan to use this as a template for other work in the future with more detail.

I think a lot of what is on this blog might be considered mathematical prose (as well as the work displayed above) - it is certainly worth thinking about. On that thought - John Sims pointed me at the following link (here). The following quote came from mentioned link and I think it fits in well with this blog.

Quote:
"Another way we might think about potential literature is via an analogy with potential and kinetic energy. If potential energy is stored in an object, then we might say that potential literature is embedded within a language. In the first case, the field of gravity would determine an object’s potential energy; in the case of literature, the field of memory would determine a work’s potentiality. Pushing the analogy further, we can compare the conversion of potential energy into kinetic energy to the conversion of potential literature into real texts. In physics, that conversion is expressed through motion, in literature it is expressed through two related ludic activities, both of them realized at the level of the letter: the crafts of writing and reading with volition."

The quote speaks primarily of Oulipo however I think it can be said of many forms of experimental writing. While I am happy that Ouilpo has so much interest, I am a bit envious due to be believing that there could be a lot more experimentation with "Substitution in Mathematical Poetry" as well. While both are forms of experimental writing the approach language very differently even though I see both being rooted in formal science.

See "Disappearing Context" to add clarity to the images below.

Two similar triangles poems solved for money.

The two equations are set equal to each other

MoMath

I have been proposing this idea for years - I am glad someone is going to make it happen. Check out MoMath's web page here

LitWorld In Celebration Of Poetry Month 2011

LitWorld invites you to add your voice to the Global Poem for Change at http://litworld.org/poem in celebration of Poetry Month 2011. Help our words soar around the world! Writer Naomi Shihab Nye has started off the poem with the first line: I send my words out into the air, listening for yours from everywhere. What comes next?



I contributed see below



Here is my contribution to the poem:

The accelerating Spiritual Tolerance of the world is equal to the change between your radiating atonement, to my radiating atonement divided by the change of continuously smaller increments of time.

14 Holidays Every Math Major Must Know

14 Holidays Every Math Major Must Know -click here