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Innovator-in-Residence: Math Art - Puzzle Lamps
Join us as Greenwich Library’s new Innovator-in-Residence, Dr. Shiying Dong—a pioneering mathematical artist—leads a 12-week residency in the Innovation Lab. Through hands-on projects using laser cutters, 3D printers, and yarn, Dr. Dong will guide participants in exploring the intersection of art, math, and technology.
Create your own glowing geometric sculpture! In this workshop, participants will assemble puzzle lamps—modular pieces made of 3D printed leaves that weave together to form striking spherical light fixtures. Explore how repeated shapes and interlocking curves can create complex, functional forms, while learning the math behind the design. Dr. Dong will reveal how symmetry, surface patterns, and repetition transform flat components into luminous works of art.
This beginner-friendly program is ideal for ages 12 and up. Registration is required and open exclusively to Greenwich Library cardholders. All supplies are provided.
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- Date:
- Saturday, November 1, 2025
- Time:
- 1:00pm - 3:00pm
- Location:
- Innovation Lab
- Audience:
- Adult Senior Teens
- Categories:
- Art Crafts Home and Garden Innovation STEAM
Dr. Dong holds a M.A. in Math from the University of Pennsylvania and a Ph.D. in theoretical physics from the University of Illinois and is the originator of topological crochet—a pioneering art form that transforms complex concepts from algebraic topology into intricate yarn sculptures. Her interdisciplinary work has received national recognition, including awards from the Mathematical Art Exhibition at the Joint Mathematics Meetings and the prestigious 2023 Einstein Mad Hat Award Grand Prize. Her paper-craft designs and her crochet forms have also been featured in The New York Times.
As an educator, Dr. Dong has taught in-person and online workshops at the National Museum of Mathematics and presented at major math-art conferences, including Bridges and the Joint Mathematics Meetings. She is currently co-authoring a book with renowned math artist Eve Torrence. Passionate about making advanced mathematical ideas accessible through hands-on creativity, she works across mediums—from yarn and paper to laser-cut and 3D-printed materials—to help others discover the beauty and playfulness of mathematics.
PROGRAM CONTACT:
Innovation Lab
Greenwich Library
Greenwich, CT 06830
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