Dancing Columns Exhibition Opening

Celebrating the October Edition of Miami Beach Culture Crawl with the grand opening of the Dancing Columns Exhibition by Joseph Choma and Luis Pacheco. Enjoy light bites and refreshments, music, and a worskhop and demonstration by the researchers/designers.

About Dancing Columns | Equation-Based Robotic Fabrication

An exploration of robotic 3D printed objects generated from mathematical equations, created by Joseph Choma and Luis Pacheco, with fabrication support from the RDF Lab at FIU. The featured objects are derived from a family of morphed toruses, where altering the parameters of the equations leads to captivating and unexpected geometric features. The forms emerge from a complex interplay of sine and cosine functions, as seen in the provided equations, where variables are manipulated to create intricate, undulating surfaces. This collaboration bridges the gap between digital design and physical manifestation, emphasizing the artistic potential of mathematical equations in creating dynamic forms. A deeper study of these geometric mutations can be found in the book, Morphing: A Guide to Mathematical Transformations for Architects and Designers by Joseph Choma, which delves into the processes and theories behind these transformations.

About Joseph Choma

Joseph Choma is Director of the School of Architecture and Professor of Architecture at Florida Atlantic University. Previously, he taught at The Cooper Union, MIT, and Clemson University. He was the 2019-20 NCCR Digital Fabrication Researcher in Residence at the ETH Zurich and received awards from the AIA, ACMA, and ACADIA — including the 2023 ACADIA Innovative Research Award of Excellence. His material explorations have been noted by CompositesWorld Magazine as “spearheading research into the use of foldable composites." He is the inventor of Foldable Composite Structures — U.S. Patent Number 10,994,468. Additionally, he is the author of three books, Morphing: A Guide to Mathematical Transformations for Architects and Designers (2015), Études for Architects (2018) and The Philosophy of Dumbness (2020). Joseph completed graduate studies in design and computation at MIT and completed his PhD in Architecture at the University of Cambridge, where he was a Cambridge International Scholar.

About Luis Pacheco

Luis Pacheco is a Robotics and Digital Fabrication Research Specialist at Florida International University, where he also serves as an adjunct professor in the School of Architecture and the Robotics and Digital Fabrication Lab. With a deep specialization in digital manufacturing, computational design, and architectural robotics, his research emphasizes innovative workflows in additive manufacturing for construction and the development of robot control interfaces. He is also the founder of Neobrutal Studio, a consulting company for additive manufacturing and robotics, and was previously the co-founder and CEO of MakerMex, Mexico's first 3D printer manufacturing company. He was recognized as one of MIT's Innovators Under 35 in 2016.

About the Phase Gallery at Moonlighter FabLab

PHASE Gallery features work that blends technology, social impact, and art in new innovative mediums. Creators that work in the realms of both bits and atoms – Digital and Physical matter. PHASE Gallery celebrates the process and technical craft of artists, designers, and engineers creating on the cutting edge and making an impact on their communities. Located in Moonlighter FabLab, a 501(c)3 non-profit S.T.E.A.M. Learning Center and Community Fabrication Lab in Miami Beach, Florida dedicated to empowering makers with the skills, tools, and opportunities to shape a better future. Supported in part by The City of Miami Beach, Miami Beach Cultural Affairs, and the Jorge M. Perez Family Foundation CreARTE grant at the Miami Foundation.

Host or Publisher Moonlighter FabLab