Spectrum

Go figure Chaffer turns equations into art Math has slightly skewed how Robert Chaffer looks at common images and pictures. In his retirement, the mathematics professor emeritus has discovered the rewards of creating "mathematical art." Mathematical art is not distinctly defined. Some refer to the process as computer art, equational art or even naïve art. Either way, Chaffer describes his adoption of mathematical art as an accident. On a walk with his wife one crisp fall afternoon, a fallen leaf caught Chaffer's eye. The wheels in his head started turning to what he considers math art. "I like to think of myself as a kid in a sandbox. Retirement is kind of like that," Chaffer says. "I've got a lot of time and a lot of tools. " Chaffer, who taught geometry and abstract algebra at CMU, has produced more than 600 pieces of art over the past four years. His works are inspired by various mathematical concepts such as rotations, mapping separate points, using symmetry, graphing equations and coloring an image; all possible through Photoshop and related software on his computer. Chaffer's work – a product of what he attributes to his curiosity in today's digital age – sprang from his longtime goal to restore old photographs of family and trips. "I started playing around with the scanned images on the computer, and that was that," Chaffer says. Featured in two on-campus art shows since he began, Chaffer still considers his work a leisure activity, though many have perused his portfolio and did not hesitate to buy prints of his "amazing" work. The home of Robert Chaffer is decorated with 'mathematical art' the mathematics professor emeritus created. To view the portfolio of Chaffer's work visit cst.cmich.edu/mathart. •

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