Artwork copyright Liz Mapelli. Photo courtesy of Washington State Arts Commission, 2017.

Artwork copyright Liz Mapelli. Photo courtesy of Washington State Arts Commission, 2017.

Artwork copyright Liz Mapelli. Photo courtesy of Washington State Arts Commission, 2017.

Artwork copyright Liz Mapelli. Photo courtesy of Washington State Arts Commission, 2017.

Artwork copyright Liz Mapelli. Photo courtesy of Washington State Arts Commission, 2017.

Artwork copyright Liz Mapelli. Photo courtesy of Washington State Arts Commission, 2017.

Artwork copyright Liz Mapelli. Photo courtesy of Washington State Arts Commission, 2017.

The Curves of Life, 2006

Liz Mapelli
American (born 1948)

Location: Spokane Community College, Spokane

About the Artwork

The Curves of Life is a terrazzo floor installation created by artist Liz Mapelli. She created it for the main entrance to the Science Building at Spokane Community College. The Fibonacci sequence and the Golden Spiral inspired her design. In math, the Fibonacci sequence is a pattern of numbers where each number is the sum of the two numbers before it. The Fibonacci sequence can be used to approximate the “Golden Spiral,” a spiral that increases proportionately as it gets larger. You can see the golden spiral in many forms and patterns in nature, such as a nautilus seashell, a sprouting fern frond, flower petal patterns, storm clouds, and more. Set along the floor's central spiral are several colorful bronze and terrazzo tiles. The designs reference examples of these spiral patterns in nature.

This artwork was acquired for the State Art Collection in partnership with Community Colleges of Spokane.

About the Artist

Artist Liz Mapelli is known in the Pacific Northwest for her large-scale glass artworks. She typically designed and installed her work as individual pieces or entire walls, floors, and ceilings. She currently focuses on printmaking and lives in Guanajuato, Mexico. She previously lived and worked in Skamania County, Southwestern Washington for many years.