News Article

FSW Alumnus Lecturing on Art & Mathematics in Rauschenberg Gallery

Sep 22, 2016

Florida SouthWestern State College (FSW) alumnus Michael Paul will lead a cross-curricular lecture series in the Bob Rauschenberg Gallery for all interested in the intersection of art, music, mathematics and science.

His thee-part lecture series, “Harmonics and the Math Behind the Music of Glenn Branca,” will help to explain and illuminate work currently on exhibition in “Glenn BRANCA & Philip CORNER re: Sound,” which closes on Oct. 22.  

Paul earned his associate’s degree in music from FSW in 1999 and today is the director of 4P Music Studios (Publish, Produce, Promote and Perform) at the Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center in Fort Myers. After graduating from FSW, Paul moved to Nashville and earned his B.A. in Recording Industry Business at Middle Tennessee State University. Besides establishing 4P Music Studios, he’s also been teaching music for over 30 years and has spent the last six years intensely studying the nature of harmonics in music.

Learn more at www.RauschenbergGallery.com or by calling (239) 489-9313.

Events at the Bob Rauschenberg Gallery at FSW are free and open to the public. The gallery is on the Thomas Edison Campus at 8099 College Parkway in Fort Myers. Gallery hours are Monday – Friday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. Closed on Sundays and Holidays.

Upcoming lecture schedule:

“Harmonics and the Math Behind the Music” (Friday, Sept. 30 at 11 a.m.): Paul will cover the fundamental role of harmonics and the overtone series in music. Going back to Pythagoras and the ancient Greeks that gave us the backbone of our current music theory, he will connect the modes and cords of music into one big picture and then show how all this can be reduced down to a single prime number.

“Harmonicode and the Music Behind the Math” (Friday, Oct. 7 at 11 a.m.): Paul will look closely at the harmonic underpinnings of mathematics. By introducing a new form of binary code that he has dubbed "Harmonicode" he will show the wavelike nature of numbers that he discovered during his quest to unlock the secrets of the Riemann hypothesis.

“Harmonigami: Folding 3D Time Space Into 4D Space Time” (Friday, Oct. 14 at 11 a.m.): Paul will take the two dimensional Harmonicode plane introduced in lecture two and push it into 3D space and beyond. He will share his most current work and the application of Harmonicode to the world of quantum physics. This engaging hands-on event will give attendees a new way to look at the world.

About Michael Paul:

4P Music Director Michael Paul has been teaching music for over 30 years. At Florida SouthWestern State College (then Edison C.C.) Michael entered on a voice scholarship, and studied guitar, bass, piano, and voice, receiving an associate’s degree in music in 1999.  Michael moved to Nashville and returned to school on a guitar scholarship at Middle Tennessee State University receiving his B.A. in Recording Industry Business with a Minor in Music.  At MTSU, Michael learned the ins and outs of the recording industry and created the 4P Music concept: Publish, Produce, Promote & Perform.  Michael further developed 4P Music while teaching in Nashville and surrounding areas. During this time, Michael wrote, directed, and performed in a rock opera called "Flying Thru the Fish Bowl,” and released a book for guitar players comparing perfect 4th tuning to traditional entitled "Secret of the Strings.”  Today, Michael teaches music and runs the 4P Music Studios at the Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center in downtown Fort Myers and at the Florida Institute of Music in Bonita Springs.

About The Bob Rauschenberg Gallery:

The Bob Rauschenberg Gallery was founded as The Gallery of Fine Art in 1979 on the Lee County campus of Florida SouthWestern State College/FSW (then Edison Community College).  On June 4, 2004 the Gallery of Fine Art was renamed the Bob Rauschenberg Gallery, to honor and commemorate our long time association and friendship with the artist.  Over more than three decades until his death, the Gallery worked closely with Rauschenberg to present world premiere exhibitions including multiple installations of the ¼ Mile or Two Furlong Piece.  The artist insisted on naming the space the Bob Rauschenberg Gallery (versus the “Robert Rauschenberg Gallery”) as it was consistent with the intimate, informal relationship he maintained with both our local Southwest Florida community and FSW.

About FSW:

Florida SouthWestern State College is Southwest Florida’s largest and one of the most affordable institutions of higher education. Annually serving nearly 22,000 students globally, FSW offers a variety of nationally-ranked, career-focused academic programs with two- and four-year degrees, and professional certifications. Students are also active in clubs and programs catered to their interests. FSW debuted its intercollegiate athletics program in January 2016. Visit www.FSW.edu for more information.

Last Updated: September 22, 2016