Symmetry

We are going to be looking at different pieces of artwork and identifying what types of symmetry we are seeing.

Remember, sometimes you can have more than one type of symmetry.

Here are the types of symmetry that we have discussed:

Rotational (don't forget to include what degree turn you see)

Reflectional (how many lines of symmetry)

Translational

No symmetry

Crazy 8

So what type of symmetry do you see here?

Be Careful!

Artist: Robert Indiana
Date: 1962
Medium: Paintings, Painting
Size: 13 1/4 x 13 1/4 x 2 in. (33.7 x 33.7 x 5.1 cm)
Institution: Minneapolis Institute of Arts
Accession #: 76.90

And the correct answer was reflectional symmetry with 1 line of symmetry.

How many of you guessed rotational?

What about this picture? What type of symmetry do you see?

Artist: Artist Unknown
Date: 1935-1940
Medium: Textiles, Textile-Woven Fabric
Institution: Minneapolis Institute of Arts
Accession #: 97.189.7

And the answer is: Translational Symmetry

Woman's Wedding/Festival Blouse, Artist Unknown (India)

What is the defintion of translational symmetry?

Who has the answer for this slide?

Artist: Artist Unknown
Date: c. 1975
Medium: Textiles, Textile-Surface Ornamentation
Institution: Minneapolis Institute of Arts
Accession #: 2004.169.80

The answer is Reflectional Symmetry, with 1 line of symmetry

Ceiling light fixture, William Gray Purcell ; George Grant Elmslie ; Mosaic Art Shops (E.L. Sharretts)

If you said none, I would accept that too. Sometimes you have to have a little leeway when working with man-made materials.

How about this picture?

Artist: William Gray Purcell ; George Grant Elmslie ; Mosaic Art Shops (E.L. Sharretts)
Institution: Minneapolis Institute of Arts
Accession #: 90.92.84

The answer is: reflectional with 4 lines of symmetry, rotational (1/4, 1/2, and 3/4 turns)

Hexagonal Wall Tile, Artist Unknown (Syrian)

What degree turns are those?

Let's look at this one.

Artist: Artist Unknown (Syrian)
Date: 16th century
Medium: Decorative Arts and Utilitarian Objects, Ceramic
Size: 7 1/8 in. (18.1 cm)
Institution: Minneapolis Institute of Arts
Accession #: 17.55

The previous slide had reflectional with 1 line of symmetry.

For these last three slides, I want everyone to write their answers and we will have small group discussions after we have finished.

Artist: Artist Unknown (Scotland)
Date: mid 19th century
Medium: Textiles, Textile-Woven Fabric
Size: 72 x 73 in. (182.88 x 185.42 cm)
Institution: Minneapolis Institute of Arts
Accession #: 62.65

Brown County Fairgrounds, New Ulm, Minnesota

What do you think?

When looking at this picture think of the structure by itself and assume that none of the windows are broken. Ignore the word Cattle and the yellow piece on the top.

Artist: David Husom
Date: 1978
Medium: Photographs, Photograph
Size: 12 1/16 x 15 7/8 in. (30.64 x 40.32 cm) (image)16 x 20 in. (40.64 x 50.8 cm) (sheet)
Institution: Minneapolis Institute of Arts
Accession #: 96.37.38

Carolina Lily Quilt

For this slide I want you to consider the entire piece and also just consider the interior portion (not the border).

Does your answer change?

Now it is time to discuss your answers.

When finished, I want everyone to find three different artworks and explain what types of symmetry they have. Feel free to use the internet or magazines, but you must have an image of the artwork.

Artist: Artist Unknown (United States)
Date: c. 1870
Medium: Textiles, Textile-Surface Ornamentation
Size: 81 7/16 x 80 7/8 in. (206.85 x 205.42 cm)
Institution: Minneapolis Institute of Arts
Accession #: 2004.174.40