COLUMBUS, Ohio—At the Riffe Center in downtown Columbus, the latest exhibit on display is "Thread Count: The Intersection of Fiber Arts and Mathematics.”

  • Exhibit shows how art and math are woven together
  • Fiber arts and math have a depp age-old connection
  • Runs through July 6

"Here in Ohio we're really lucky because we have a state gallery, and so the Ohio Arts Council has the good fortune to present Ohio artists all year long, every year, for 31 years now...in this space that's at the Riffe Center," said Donna Collins, executive director of the Ohio Arts Council.

It's free to the public and Collins says it shows off a side of art that not many take into account, especially at a young age. 

"I love that aspect...of an artist understanding the use of math and what a great thing to tell kids in school, right?, who often say ‘When am I ever gonna use geometry?’... well, if you're an artist you're gonna use geometry, especially if you're a quilter, or a weaver or a fiber artist," said Collins.

Riffe Gallery Director Cat Sheridan explains that ties between the two weave back farther than we even know. 

"The link between mathematics and art is as old as art... if you can imagine that,” said Sheridan. You think about the caves of Glasgow and the counting of bowls, or the counting of days, you think about Leonardo's perfect man and you have the circle and the square...that's all mathematics. These folks...artists today, their role is to absorb and take the world that we live in and then output their understanding of that.”

An understanding that Cleveland-based artist Jessica Pinsky has shown through her weaving in this piece titled, "Pythagorean."

Wanting to convey the difference between handwoven vs commercial woven thread, Sheridan says that Pinksy had a deeper intention behind her artwork. 

"She's thinking about equality, like what does it mean to be manchined, or done by hand, and have the nature of a human hand with a piece,” said Sheridan.

Which begs the questions—what does equality mean and how do we achieve it? Or is this piece equal? 

Answers Sheridan says are all subjective to each person's unique perspective. 

"You can go either way on that and there's something really exciting about this theory and how she's identifying the world around us and then putting it into a really abstract piece of artwork that has a viewer be able to come with their own world experience and draw their own conclusions," said Sheridan.

Regardless of your conclusion, there is a common thread each visitor can take with them.

"I think that no matter your educational level, no matter your age, no matter your socio-economic advantage...you can come into this exhibition and draw something out of it that enriches your life," said Sheridan.

The Thread Count exhibit runs through July 6th. 

The Riffe gallery also offers opportunities to interact with and learn from the artists.

The next class they are offering is a free creative writing workshop on July 27th.