This event has sold out.  We are looking forward to seeing everyone during this special performance!

The Museum of Fine Arts, St. Petersburg and the MFA’s Marly Music Society presents Above the Fold origami artists and mathematicians Erik and Martin Demaine accompanied by acclaimed jazz pianist and neuroscientist John C. O’Leary III.

Erik Demaine and Martin Demaine (Canada/US)

A father-son collaborative team, the Demaines fold, pleat, and twist paper into powerful sculptural forms that illustrate the intriguing and profound connections between mathematics and origami. They use mathematical calculations to create unconventional works that challenge the direction of paper folding. For years, the Demaines have been exploring the potential of curved folding, in which paper is folded along a curved, rather than a straight line. The two Demaines have 3 pieces of mathematical origami in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art, New York; Martin and Erik are also featured in the movie Between the Folds, a documentary on modern origami.

The Demaines plan to fold a series of their signature, abstract “Curved-Crease Sculptures” using modular techniques to increase sculptural size.  They will also create combined glass-and-paper folded forms, large works that incorporate text, and mobius hypars (curved-crease foldings) interlocked through space, thus blending art, science and literature.

John C. O’Leary III (Mexico/US)

John C. O’Leary III is a Mexican American jazz pianist, composer, AND neuroscientist. His musical compositions are born of John’s desire to combine music and science, and to bring his community closer to the scientific world. John feels that science and music are intimately connected and each exposes a truth about the human perspective.

He attended the University of South Florida where he studied tuba, jazz piano, and biochemistry. He graduated Cum Laude with a B.A. in Jazz Piano Performance, a minor in Tuba Performance, and an Honors Thesis in Biochemistry. As a scientist, John completed his Ph.D. in neuroscience at the University of South Florida, where he is the recipient of the Ruth L. Kirschstein pre-doctoral fellowship from the National Institute of Neurological Disease and Stroke. John’s dissertation research examines a group of proteins termed “chaperones” and their effects on the development of neurological diseases like Alzheimer’s disease and stress-related psychiatric diseases.

Together, the three scientists/artists will create a performance piece based on the intersecting notions of left and right brain, perfectly blending art and science.  Just as the special exhibition Above the Fold celebrates artists who are redefining a traditional Japanese craft, the museum is excited to showcase artists inventing unexpected forms of artistic expression and celebrating the intersection of contemporary, traditional, and ancient forms of art.

Tickets are issued on a first come, first served basis. Includes general Museum admission.

$25 for Adults (Non-Marly Music Society Members), $15 for Marly Music Society Members and Students (with current ID)