An illustrated lecture by Jesse Bransford
Date: Friday, November 4th
Time: 8pm
Admission: $8
Presented by: Phantasmaphile

Magic Squares represent a mathematical convergence of the verbal/syntactical and the visual/compositional. From the simple and elegant Lo Shu sequence from Ancient China to the baroque and heady formulations of the Renaissance magicians, the mystery and fascination of magic squares have a long and interesting cultural history that spans over five thousand years, four continents and dozens of systems of thought.

Referring to recent scholarship on the subject as well as his ten years working with the squares and the systems that developed around them, artist Jesse Bransford will discuss magic squares and all of the wonder, amazement and magic that he finds in the topic.

Bio: A teacher at NYU since 2001, Jesse Bransford also taught at Columbia University for a year before becoming the Director of Undergraduate Study in 2005. Exhibiting widely since 1997, his most recent projects have been solo exhibitions exploring pictorial and visual associations of the observable planets, a series that will eventually result in seven exhibitions.

Recent exhibitions include solo exhibitions in New York (2010), Miami (2009), Toronto (2008), as well as participation in exhibitions in New York ([2011 at Observatory,] 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007), Glasgow (2008), Milwaukee (2007), Los Angeles (2007) and Busan (2008).

Bransford’s work is represented by Feature Inc. in New York, Kevin Bruk Gallery in Miami, Florida, Galerie Schmidt Maczollek in Köln, Germany, and Shaheen Modern and Contemporary Art in Cleveland, Ohio.