Peter Lax (American, b. Hungary, 1926), Conservation Laws from the portfolio Concinnitas, 2014. Printed by Harlan & Weaver, Inc.; published by Parasol Press Ltd. Aquatint on Rives BFK White 300g paper; edition 20/100; plate: 22 x 30 in; sheet: 31 5/8 in x 26 1/8 in. Gift of Robert Feldman in honor of Lois Beurman Torf (Class of 1946), a great friend.

The Concinnitas Portfolio comprises the contributions of ten mathematicians and physicists in response to the prompt to transcribe their "most beautiful mathematical expression." The portfolio draws its name from a word famously used by the Renaissance scholar, artist, architect, and philosopher Leon Battista Alberti (1404-1472) to connote a form of beauty derived from harmony in numbers and proportion.

Ten prominent mathematicians and physicists were invited to select what they considered to be "the most beautiful or elegant mathematical expression." The 10 equations chosen for the Concinnitas portfolio were then printed as aquatints, reminiscent of chalk on a blackboard, and are accompanied by brief expository essays intended to explicate the selection process, and to comment on the significance of beauty as a motivational force in the production of mathematics. Contributing to the project are the following mathematicians and physicists: Michael Atiyah, Enrico Bombieri, Simon Donaldson, Freeman Dyson, Murray Gell-Mann, Richard Karp, Peter Lax, David Mumford, Stephen Smale, and Steven Weinberg.

This concept encapsulates the idea behind the print series, which began with a chance meeting between Daniel Rockmore (Department of Mathematics, Dartmouth College) and Bob Feldman (owner of Parasol Press, Ltd., the publisher of The Concinnitas Portfolio) and the ensuing discussion about the parallels between the practice of art and mathematics.

Opening Reception: Wednesday, September 12, 5 – 7:00 p.m.
Bob Feldman (owner of Parasol Press, Ltd., the publisher of The Concinnitas Portfolio) has donated The Concinnitas Portfolio to the UMCA collection in honor of Lois Torf (UMass alumna, renowned print collector, and UMCA patron). The Opening Reception will bring Bob Feldman to campus with Lois Torf to accept the honor.
Remarks by Daniel Rockmore, The Concinnitas Portfolio curator, Professor of Mathematics and Computer Science, Dartmouth College; Pau Atela, Professor of Mathematics and Statistics, Smith College; and Bob Feldman.

In conversation: “The Intersection of Art and Math” | Monday, October 29, 5:00 p.m.
Join us for a conversation about the relationship between mathematics and art with mathematicians Daniel Rockmore and Pau Atela.

Bob Feldman has donated The Concinnitas Portfolio to the UMCA collection in honor of Lois Torf (UMass alumna, renowned print collector, and UMCA patron). The Opening Reception on September 12, 2018, will bring Bob Feldman to campus with Lois Torf to accept the honor.