Donna Loraine Contractor

“Chinese Pythagorean Proof”

Hand woven, hand dyed fully reversible wool tapestry on cotton warp, 20" x 20", 2006.



After graduating from St John's College in Santa Fe New Mexico, my knowledge was more Greek oriented in terms of ancient mathematics. My discovery of this proof 's graphic diagram and earlier time frame launched my UNIVERSAL LANGUAGE project. Contributed to Chinese mathematician Chou Pei from possibly 1200 BC, the Chinese Pythagorean proof is pre-Greek.The key to this is algebraic.The triangle madeof black, white and light gray is THE triangle, a and b are the short sides, c is the long and THE triangle equals the dark grey and light grey triangles.

Donna Loraine Contractor,. Studio Tapestry Artist

"Behind the Art that inspires us ,and the beauty of the Natural World that enthralls us, are the ordering principles of mathematics. These tapestries from the 'UNIVERSAL LANGUAGE' series attempt to not only be illustrative of geometrical principles and the beauty of mathematical ideas but also to enhance the viewers appreciation of the same through bold color and graphic, dynamic forms that can hold their own as works of art; graphic constructs of pure color."

donnaloraine@comcast.net

Another work by the artist

“'Derivation of Dynamic Ractangles' Universal Language Series”