Jill Bowdring and Katie Lovell -- Mathematics in M. C. Escher's Graphic Prints

  Excellent presentation and paper on Escher and the relation between his 
  work and mathematical ideas.  The choice of prints to discuss was perfect,
  and the use of the "manipulatives" of the tesselation patterns in the presentation 
  was a very nice and imaginative touch!  The paper is well-written, thorough, 
  and shows quite a bit of independent thought about the implications of Escher's
  work.  

  I think you will find this quotation from Escher's writing interesting and
  revealing:

  "[Mathematicians] have opened the gate to an extensive domain, but they
  have not entered the domain themselves.  By their very nature they are 
  more interested in the way in which the gate is opened than in the garden
  lying behind it."

  In other words, for mathematicians, the most interesting part of tesselations
  is understanding what the theoretical constraints are for making them (the
  way the gate is opened), not the amazing images you can create with them (the
  garden lying behind the gate).  Starting to see what was in that garden was Escher's 
  unique contribution!

  Specific Comments

  1)  The paragraph that starts at the bottom of page 1 and goes onto page 2
      (the one about the "mathematical thinking, but not formal mathematics" 
      aspect of Escher's work) is very good.  However, it feels out of place 
      where you placed it.  I think that almost could have been a part of your 
      conclusion at the end of the paper.

  2)  page 2:  word choice: "would marvel any viewer" is not actually correct
      (technically, marvel as a verb is not transitive!). I think you mean 
      something like "would impress any viewer" or "any viewer would find 
      marvelous."

  3)  page 4: *Castrovalva* is not a "painting" :)  I don't think Escher did
      very many paintings, in fact (maybe none at all?)

  Final Project Grade Computation 
  
  Bibliography:   10/10  

  Paper:          58/60

  Presentation:   30/30

  Total:          98/100