Anita Chowdry, John Baez and David Chudzicki

Bridges Lecture Series, St. Jerome's University

February 26, 2016

The Harmonograph

A harmonograph is a drawing machine powered by pendulums. It was first invented in the 1840s — the heyday of the industrial revolution, whose sensibilities are now celebrated by the "Steampunk" movement.

In this presentation, artist Anita Chowdry recounted her fascinating journey into this era, culminating in her creation of a two meter high harmonograph crafted from brass and steel: "The Iron Genie". Then, using computer simulations, mathematical physicist John Baez explored the underlying mathematics of the harmonograph, taking us on a trip into the fourth dimension and beyond. As time passes, the motion of the harmonograph traces out a curve in a multi-dimensional space. The picture it draws is just the two-dimensional "shadow" of this curve.

This presentation was enhanced by the creative output of a four-day workshop with University of Waterloo students at the department of Fine Arts, led by Anita Chowdry.

You can watch a video of our presentations here:

You can also see our talk slides, and use David Chudzicki's online harmonograph:

• Anita Chowdry, Building the Iron Genie Harmonograph.
• John Baez, Harmonic Vibrations.
• David Chudzicki, Harmonograph.

• The Harmonograph: John Baez's explanation of the harmonograph and Anita Chowdry's project to build one.
• The Iron Genie: Anita Chowdry's lavishly illustrated account of her project to build a harmonograph. Especially see her account of how students built the harmonographs featured in our talk.
• Harmonic Vibrations and Vibration Figures by Joseph Goold, Charles E. Benham, Richard Kerr and L. R. Wilberforce, published by Newton and Co. in London in 1909. A beautiful old book on the harmonograph, from Kelvin Smith Library.
• The Harmonograph by H. Irvine Whitty, published by Jerrold and Sons in Yarmouth in 1893. Anita's scanned-in copy of another book on the harmonograph.

   

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