Crystal Classes

This series of works was commissioned by Dieu Donne Papermill for their 2012 workspace residency.  This project was inspired by the innovations of radical 19th century pedagogue Friedrich Froebel: crystallographer, designer of teaching toys, and esoteric dreamer.

Each handmade paper sculpture is both didactic and abstract, illustrating the principles and mysteries of crystal formations and their classifications. The flat forms are folded to create the three dimensional model for a crystal class. Each class – triclinic, monoclinic, orthorhombic, tetragonal, trigonal, hexagonal, isometric – is represented by a given mineral Helvite, Malachite, Azurite, Zincite, Boracite, Tungtupite, Axinite and Zinkinite. The colors and textures of the paper are interpretations of each crystal’s “habit” or attributes.