The Art + Math Beauty Equation

Susan Down is managing director of the Cowichan Valley Arts Council.

Fine art doesn’t have a monopoly on beauty. After all, Aristotle called math principles “the greatest forms of the beautiful.” In one of the most unusual shows that the Cowichan Valley Arts Council has created, local schools have been asked to show how gorgeous ratios and equations can be and earn prizes for their creations. Their work, inspired by everybody from Fibonacci to MC Escher, will be displayed alongside some fine artists and an architect as part of The Art of Math show (March 1-14) in the studio. Sponsored by Island Savings Credit Union, the show ends appropriately on Pi Day (3/14). As a 20th-century British math expert said,

“Beauty is the first test. There is no permanent place in the world for ugly mathematics.”

The Odd Couple, Claudia Lohmann

Does your child scribble in the margins of every page of homework? That desire to illustrate the world started early for famous artists from Michelangelo to Georgia O’Keeffe. To celebrate talent in our local youth, we are hosting the annual Youth Art Showcase (March 4 to April 1) in the CVAC Gallery. This year, the age range of artists participating has been expanded (13 – 25 years old) to include young early-career artists and new graduates.

Younger budding artists (age 6-12) will also enjoy the week-long spring break camps with an art focus at CVAC in March. Consult the calendar for more details.

And if that isn’t enough, we have two more shows on this month:

Times Two is a light-hearted art show in the Annex until March 14 featuring whimsical work by well-known illustrator Iris Churcher and multidisciplinary artist (sculpture, painting, ceramics, and video) Fran Benton. Both have taught at the university level and practise what they teach!

Diversity: the Art of Val Konig runs in the Annex the

Trial By Fire Pottery Studio

2 Week Wheel Classes Hilary Huntley

www.trialbyfi repottery.ca I 250-710-8758 www.trialbyfi repottery.ca

last two weeks in March. Konig, now living in Lake Cowichan, was a longtime art teacher on Salt Spring Island.