Lecture with F. G. Yost

The Beauty of Mathematics and

the Fine Structure of Nature

June 21, 2025

Saturday, 2:00 PM to 3:30 PM

Free for Members | $5 for Non-Members
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The history of the Golden Mean also called Golden Ratio, began when Euclid (300 B.C.) published a book that provided directions on how to “cut” a line in an attractive way. The line could then be folded and connected to an identical folded line to form a Golden Rectangle. At that time the proportions of this line and rectangle provided logic for the design of many beautiful things. In 1202 a wealthy Italian merchant, nick-named Fibonacci, invented a number sequence that was eventually related to this Golden Ratio. This simple geometry triggered centuries of mathematical progress that continues today through journals such as the Fibonacci Quarterly.

The Golden Ratio also had a separate rich history in art, architecture, music, and all things related to nature. Early attention was given to artistic composition, architecture of buildings such as the Parthenon, and musical arrangements. Future artists, musicians and architects applied the concept to their personal works. These include Da Vinci, Michelangelo, Seurat, Escher, Mozart, Le Corbusier and many more.

In his slide presentation Fred will discuss that curious guy Fibonacci and show one of his own paintings called “Fibonacci”, two abstracts based on the Golden Rectangle and another influenced by the Lame’ equation. Fred will also show examples of this beautiful fine structure found in nature and show his attempts at reproducing this kind of beauty.

F. G. Yost was born and brought up in Connecticut and educated at the Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn and Iowa State University. He was employed by Sandia National Laboratories for 28 years and retired in October of 1999 as a Distinguished Member of the Technical Staff. In early 2000 he began a second carer, this time, as an artist. Because his mother was an artist, participation in art-related activities began very early. He has taken art courses from several institutions and attended many art workshops, including those from C.W. Mundy, Robert Liberace and Sherrie McGraw. He spends a significant amount of time painting and experimenting with various materials for sources of artistic inspiration and is an active member of the New Mexico Art League and the Rio Gande Art Association.

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