Madhuri Bapat
Physics Instructor, Eastern Arizona College, Thatcher, AZ 85552 U.S.A.
"I use mainly rangolee -flint-powder. Occasionally I have used acrylic paints, colored lentils or beads. I learned this art as a child in India. Back then I had no idea about mathematical nature of this art. I did it as it was fun and made me feel good. Recently I got involved in analyzing the mathematics involved in this art. As a result I have started understanding the educational value of this art. I find great potential in this art as a teaching tool. One finds many of the NCTM standards in this art. I am trying to bring this into elementary schools as a teaching tool by training teachers."
“Koyaree ”
2006, Powder, 18" x 24"
Dots in a hexagonal array are connected to form a pattern with 2-fold rotational symmetry.
“ Nabhi kamal ”
2006, Lentils, 18" x 24"
Dots in a hexagonal array are connected to form a pattern with 6-fold rotational symmetry.
“ Contemporary ”
2006, Powder, 18" x 24"
Dots in a square array are connected to form a pattern with 4-fold rotational symmetry.
“ Kolam ”
2007, Powder, 18" x 24"
Dots in a square array are used to guide the drawing of an Eulerian graph design.