Mathematica: A World of Numbers... and Beyond
Encyclopedia
Mathematica: A World of Numbers…and Beyond is an interactive exhibition originally at the California Museum of Science and Industry. Duplicates have since been made, and they (as well as the original) have been moved to other institutes.
had been asked by the Museum to make a contribution; IBM in turn asked the famous California designer team of Charles Eames and his wife Ray Eames to come up with a good proposal. The result was that the Eames Office was commissioned by IBM to design an interactive exhibition called Mathematica: a world of numbers...and beyond.
This was the first of many exhibitions designed by the Eames Office.
This 3000 square feet (278.7 m²) exhibition stayed at the Museum until January 1998, making it the longest running of any corporate sponsored museum exhibition.http://www.designboom.com/eng/funclub/mathematica.html Furthermore, it is the only one of the dozens of exhibitions designed by the Eames Office that is still extant. This original Mathematica Exhibition is now owned by and on display at the New York Hall of Science
.http://www.nyscience.org/exhibitions/explore_exhibitions/38054
http://www.msichicago.org/
where it stayed until late 1980. From there it moved to the Museum of Science, Boston
http://www.mos.org/exhibitdevelopment/mosExhibits.html where it is currently on display.
Another version was made for the IBM Exhibit at the 1964/1965 New York World's Fair. Subsequently it was briefly on display in New York City, and then installed in the Pacific Science Center
in Seattle where it stayed until 1980; then it was moved to SciTrek
http://www.scitrek.org, the Science and Technology Museum of Atlanta.
of UCLA.
Mathematics departments around the world have proudly displayed this chart on their walls.
History
In March, 1961 a new science wing at the California Museum of Science and Industry in Los Angeles opened. IBMIBM
International Business Machines Corporation or IBM is an American multinational technology and consulting corporation headquartered in Armonk, New York, United States. IBM manufactures and sells computer hardware and software, and it offers infrastructure, hosting and consulting services in areas...
had been asked by the Museum to make a contribution; IBM in turn asked the famous California designer team of Charles Eames and his wife Ray Eames to come up with a good proposal. The result was that the Eames Office was commissioned by IBM to design an interactive exhibition called Mathematica: a world of numbers...and beyond.
This was the first of many exhibitions designed by the Eames Office.
This 3000 square feet (278.7 m²) exhibition stayed at the Museum until January 1998, making it the longest running of any corporate sponsored museum exhibition.http://www.designboom.com/eng/funclub/mathematica.html Furthermore, it is the only one of the dozens of exhibitions designed by the Eames Office that is still extant. This original Mathematica Exhibition is now owned by and on display at the New York Hall of Science
New York Hall of Science
The New York Hall of Science occupies one of the few remaining structures of the 1964 New York World's Fair in Flushing Meadow-Corona Park in the borough of Queens in New York City. Today, it stands as New York City's only hands-on science and technology center...
.http://www.nyscience.org/exhibitions/explore_exhibitions/38054
Duplicates
In November, 1961 a duplicate was made for Chicago's Museum of Science and IndustryMuseum of Science and Industry (Chicago)
The Museum of Science and Industry is located in Chicago, Illinois, USA in Jackson Park, in the Hyde Park neighborhood adjacent to Lake Michigan. It is housed in the former Palace of Fine Arts from the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition...
http://www.msichicago.org/
where it stayed until late 1980. From there it moved to the Museum of Science, Boston
Museum of Science, Boston
The Museum of Science is a Boston, Massachusetts landmark, located in Science Park, a plot of land spanning the Charles River. Along with over 500 interactive exhibits, the Museum features a number of live presentations throughout the building every day, along with shows at the Charles Hayden...
http://www.mos.org/exhibitdevelopment/mosExhibits.html where it is currently on display.
Another version was made for the IBM Exhibit at the 1964/1965 New York World's Fair. Subsequently it was briefly on display in New York City, and then installed in the Pacific Science Center
Pacific Science Center
The Pacific Science Center is a science museum in Seattle, Washington.-Organization:Pacific Science Center is an independent, non-profit science museum based in Seattle, Washington...
in Seattle where it stayed until 1980; then it was moved to SciTrek
SciTrek
The Science & Technology Museum of Atlanta, usually known as SciTrek, was located at 395 Piedmont Avenue in Atlanta, Georgia, next to the Atlanta Civic Center. It was forced to close in August 2004 due to reduced federal and state funding, as well as poor fundraising results, but hoped to reopen...
http://www.scitrek.org, the Science and Technology Museum of Atlanta.
"Men of Modern Mathematics" Poster
In 1966, five years after the opening of the Mathematica Exhibit, IBM published a 2 by 12 ft (0.6096 by 3.7 m) timeline poster---titled "Men of Modern Mathematics"--- based on the items displayed on the exhibit's History Wall, and distributed free copies to academics. The timeline covers the period from 1000 AD to approximately 1950 AD, and the poster has biographical and historical items along with numerous pictures showing progress in various areas of science, including architecture. The mathematical items in this chart were prepared by Professor Raymond RedhefferRaymond Redheffer
Raymond Moos Redheffer was an American mathematician. He was the creator of the first electronic games known by us, the knowledge game called Nim...
of UCLA.
Mathematics departments around the world have proudly displayed this chart on their walls.
External links
- Mathematica exhibit in Quicktime VR – as it appeared in a 2000 showing at the Art Center College of DesignArt Center College of DesignArt Center College of Design is a private college located in Pasadena, California, and was cited by BusinessWeek as one of the 60 best design schools in the world. The college’s industrial design program is consistently ranked number one by both DesignIntelligence and U.S...
in Pasadena, CaliforniaPasadena, CaliforniaPasadena is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. Although famous for hosting the annual Rose Bowl football game and Tournament of Roses Parade, Pasadena is the home to many scientific and cultural institutions, including the California Institute of Technology , the Jet... - CMSI Remembering the California Museum of Science & Industry