A Course in Creative Geometry

Learning to use a geometric compass to create interesting and beautiful constructions is very satisfying on a variety of levels, and is often used as a form of meditation (you'll wonder where time went). No previous experience is necessary to create original designs from simple constructions. Practice builds confidence. Come for any number of classes. The supply of interesting interesting constructions is endless, and you'll be shown connections to art, crafts, architecture, design, nature, science, history, mythology and religion. Participants choose constructions based on their interests and experience and are encouraged to develop them into artistic expressions using a variety of media available. I've made this as inexpensive as possible so that virtually anyone who lives in the San Francisco Bay area and is drawn to these lessons can attend. It's particularly useful for artists and artisans.

Compasses and art materials are supplied, or bring your own favorites.

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Saturday July 31
1pm-3:30pm

Chartres Cathedral:

Constructing Chartres' Rose Window

Chartres Cathedral was a main center of learning in Medieval Europe. When we look at the architecture of the Cathedral we find that geomtry acts as the invisible armature of the North Rose Window of the great Chartres Cathedral, a sacred site whose history in the wisdom tradition is well known. And we find that the geometry of the window is the same which was used to frame the entire Cathedral's elevation and floor plan. Participants will learn to do the full geometric construction which frames the window and its elements, and can develop it as art in a variety of media.

Compasses and art materials are supplied, or bring your own favorites.

UPDATE: Here are some photographs taken at this workshop.

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Saturday August 7
1pm-3:30pm

The Sacred Geometry of Grace Cathedral 1:

Constructing Grace's Rose Window

This workshop begins with a visual introduction to Grace Cathedral of San Francisco with particular interest in the geometric aspects of it's design in whole and part. This is true sacred geometry: geometry in a sacred context. A quicktime rotational tour of Grace Cathedral can be enjoyed here. We will focus on the main Rose Window -- inspired by the poem of praise for Divinely made nature penned by St. Francis in 1226 called "Canticle To The Sun." Participants will see a visual presentation about the Rose Window's history and symbolism. This will be followed by moving step-by-step through the geometric constructions which produce its twelvefold radiance. The geometric construction is similar to that of Chartres Cathedral -- both in the French Cathedral tradition -- and can be transformed using various media into art resembling Graces's actual Rose Window, or by developing and emphasizing hidden elements of the construction to produce a different design from this same wonderful symmetry.

Compasses and art materials are supplied, or bring your own favorites.

Saturday August 14
11am -1:30pm

The Sacred Geometry of Grace Cathedral 1:

A Geometric Tour of Grace Cathedral

This meeting takes place at Grace Cathedral itself on 1100 California Street in San Francisco, California. We'll begin by walking the indoor and/or outdoor labyrinths, followed by a docent's tour of the Cathedral. We'll then continue with Michael leading a tour of the Cathedral's geometry, it's openly-hidden geometric harmonies -- of the whole and its parts -- which lie behind the beautiful visible structures. ** In addition to the Tour's cost, participants are requested to offer a donation entering the Cathedral.

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Saturday August 28
1pm-3:30pm

Solar System Mandalas
Constructing the beautiful geometry of planetary orbits

Astronomers know that the orbits of the planets, moons, asteroids and comets are all synchronized with each other forming small-number ratios in majestic orchestration. When their elliptical orbits are averaged and made circular their synchronized relationships become evident in simple but wonderful geometric schemes resembling mandalas. Based on the work of John Martineau in his "Little Book Of Coincidences" I've assembled and spread out the mean planetary orbital geometries into easy step-by-step constructions with a compass and straightedge. Participants will choose among the various combinations of consecutive inner and outer planets and learn to construct beautiful geometric mandalas of their orbits and transform them into art.

Compasses and art materials are supplied, or bring your own favorites.

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Saturday September 25
1pm-3:30pm

Platonic Solids Primer
Build with the essential forms of three-dimensions

The Platonic Solids, also known as the Regular Polyhedra, are the five basic shapes (along with the sphere) upon which everything else in three-dimensions builds with, from the nuclei of atoms to great architectural structures. Participants will see an illustrated show about the characteristics and history of these interesting forms, the only five which divide space equally in all directions by enclosing space using only the same shape (triangle, square and pentagon). Although they're named after Plato because he first wrote about them, many stone models have been found associated with circular henges in the British Isles which were, among other functions, schools and universities. Participants will build structures (always interesting!) in the proportions of the Platonic Solids using ZomeTool, paperfolding, interlocking circles, and other kits and methods.

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Saturday October 2
1pm-3:30pm

The Eleusinian Mysteries
The Mythology of Demeter and Persephone

The Eleusinian Mysteries were held in Greece at the Spring and Autumn Equinoxes for over 1,800 years, and were available to men, women, even children and slaves, to everyone except murders and wizards. It's central tale, the abduction of the maiden Kore/Persephone and her Grain Mother Demeter's search for her can be understood on many levels: literally celebrating the agricultural cycle, a mother/daughter relationship, and allegory about our growth from human darkness into spiritual light. This class looks at what is known about these great events (public discussion including writing about it was illegal), including the process of initiation, the interesting roles of officials, and the use of entheogens combined with sacred theater to depict Homer's Hymn To Demeter. Come enjoy this slide-lecture's wonderful images from days long past but with a timeless message.

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 Saturday October 16
1pm-3:30pm

The Spiral Path
Learn nature's way of balance and conflict resolution

The spiral is the most widespread shape in nature. When left alone, energy moves in spirals. Spirals reveal the path along which clashing opposites find harmonious resolution. As seashells, horns, whirlpools, atoms, embryos and galaxies, the spiral can help us understand all harmonious transformation and balanced growth. It is a worldwide symbol of spiritual transcendence in Biblical whirlwinds, Native migrations and the Yellow Brick Road to Oz. Its lessons include the secrets of the whirlpool's "calm eye" as a metaphor for finding our own calm center, our balanced calm "I" during times of personal growth, turbulence and transformation. This fascinating slide-lecture will open our eyes to the types of spiral seen in nature, and its role in sacred art as a symbol of balanced spiritual transformation. Participants will learn to construct this spiral with a geometric compass and straightedge to use in artistic compositions.

Compasses and art materials are supplied, or bring your own favorites.

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Saturday November 6
1pm-3:30pm

Harmony of the Musical Scale
Building bridges between extremes

The musical scale is an archetypal pattern for harmonious relationships in the universe, society and self. Ancient sages understood that the musical scale is a discovery, not an invention. Their metaphor was the division of a vibrating string into harmonious musical intervals, the concords (literally "hearts together") from which the traditional 5-, 7- and 12-note scales of ancient musical healing therapy are built. This class will explore this vision of a musical universe, using a vibrating string monochord to discover the four harmonious concords between two extremes, and from it build a full, harmoniously woven musical scale. It has been said that architecture is music made visible, and music is number made audible. Participants will learn to construct architectural and other designs to see how this harmony has been applied to the designs of sacred arts.

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 Saturday November 20
1pm-3:30pm

Magic Squares
Creating harmony in diversity

A "magic square" is an arrangement of numbers so that all columns, rows and diagonals add to the same sum. Today considered a child's puzzle, they are more than just mere curiosities, they show us a way that harmony can be brought about by intelligently weaving diversity. Discovered by the Chinese over 42 centuries ago, magic squares were the way thatharmony was brought to society and the arts and were used in traditional feng-shui to determine the proportions of sacred architecture. Subsequent cultures used them in lesser ways, for mixing perfumes in India and having alchemical associations with metals and planets. Learn the history and philosophy of magic squares, and how to create them of various sizes for your own amusement and design patterns.