Though physics and art as disciplines may seem light years apart, physics concepts can sometimes inspire art, while art can sometimes convey physics concepts better than any mathematical equation. Consequently, collaboration between artists/designers and physicists can lead to beautiful art, as well as innovative methods of education. The following are a few of such interdisciplinary projects that our faculty have been involved in. In some cases, the physicist is also the artist.

Fields Everywhere

Led by Prof. Mitzi Vernon of Industrial Design, the School of Architecture+Design, this project aims to develop a museum exhibit which conveys the concept of “field” to middle school children. Please follow the above link for details.

Project members from physics: Profs. John Simonetti and Tatsu Takeuchi.

String/Not String: Fiber Arts Responds to String Theory

During the Spring 2010 semester, Prof. Yonsenia White of the School of Visual Arts invited Prof. Djordje Minic to her ART 3554: "Fiber Arts" course for a guest lecture on String Theory. The students turned the inspirations they received from Prof. Minic's lecture into creative pieces of art using various types of string. The resulting masterpieces were exhibited at the XYZ Gallery in downtown Blacksburg, March 17-24, 2010. Please follow the above link for details and photographs.

For a copy of the artist statements, click here.

The Aesthetics of Physics: Patterns from the Physics of Solids

Exhibit of line drawings and illustrations by Prof. Dick Zallen
Wallace Hall Gallery, January 17→February 3, 2006

An Illustrated Guide to Relativity

by Prof. Tatsu Takeuchi
Japanese edtion: 2005; Chinese edition: 2007; English edition: 2010.