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TERRY POULOS |
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Artist, writer, inventor and historian Terry Poulos will be presenting his modern rendition of the world's oldest computer based on the Antikythera Mechanism, a hand-powered astronomical calculator dating back to 205 BC.
Art-ikythera" pays homage to an ancient example of ingenuity and technological innovation. On display at Hilton-Asmus Contemporary is the world's first sculpture of what is considered the world's oldest computer, the Antikythera Mechanism (est. 205 BC). The ancient device, strongly connected to the workshop of artisans directly working with the legendary inventor/polymath Archimedes of Syracuse (215 BC), had a complexity not equaled for 1500 years after its inception. The hand-cranked, bronze-geared device, confirmed by the construction of three separate working models post-2005, was an astronomical calculator consisting of 20 to 40 gears, cogs, and other accoutrements. Among other functions, it tracked motions of the five known planets of that era, predicted lunar and solar eclipses to the precise day and hour thousands of years in advance in accordance with its 18 year Saros calendar, and informed of various cultural events including when to host the ancient Olympic games every four years.
A native Chicagoan, Terry was a communications major in college who dabbled toward an art minor. He pursued a career in journalism, writing for (among others) various Greek American publications on a number of topics, including science. Near simultaneous, he's served as an NFL Replay Assistant for 17 years, working the 2015 Super Bowl. Separately, he founded The Sports Index Inc., a stock market data service, blog on the business of sports, and ultimately a digital financial literacy curricula. On the financial literacy end, in 2014 Terry minted a precedent-setting numismatic called Net Zero Coin, a combination of a coin that's "conjoined" to a brass card. The coin also represents the world's first coin or medal to commemorate the world's oldest computer, the mysterious Antikythera Mechanism (c. 205 BC). The combined concepts teach basic math, science, credit and currency concepts. The esoteric work of art was designed by Terry, who had it minted by Northwest Territorial Mint, one of the top three private mints in America. As of October 2015, NZC is now officially part of the permanent collections at the British Museum, American Numismatic Society, American Numismatic Association, and National Hellenic Museum. The coin is connected to Terry's first sculpture, titled "ART-ikythera." Having closely followed science, math, philosophy, nature, and archeology for 20 years, and having read myriad books and periodicals and combined with interviews and research/writing for feature articles on various scientists, Terry acquired a profound appreciation for and insight into the sciences and humanities. He expanded on this to render three unique sketches incorporating equations, formulas, extraordinary geometric figures and radical new theories which are employed in the various entertaining and educational (at most times) sculpture narratives. Terry is a member of the Classical Arts Society of the Art Institute of Chicago, co-founder of Chicago's Greek Media Club, and a Charter Member of the National Hellenic Museum.
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Terry Poulos "ARCHIMEDES VORTEX" - cast iron, steel, and painted patina
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Terry Poulos "ART-IKYTHERA MECHANISM" - cast iron, steel, and painted patina
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Terry Poulos "ATLANTIAN CONTINUUM" - cast iron, steel, and painted patina
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