LC Meridian

Issue date: 2/1/07 Section: Opinion

I asked Professor George Chaikin if he could advise me on an idea for an art piece I had been struggling to put together. He was quick to answer "yes" and made some time to discuss my dilemma.

I was working on an installation that required the use of extreme perspective. He loaned me a few of his rare books and told me I should make some drawings for him to look at and discuss the complexities, if any, of transferring it from the two-dimensional drawing to the three-dimensional space.

When I returned with some drawings, he told me I had "an arduous task at hand." He then showed me some work he had created in the similar subject of installation art. He said, "the best thing to do is make a model to scale and believe [in yourself]."

After weeks I managed to create the model for my first installation piece. I showed it to him and we went to look at the space, when I suddenly felt that it seemed impossible do on a grand scale.

He saw the look on my face, smiled and said, "Don't worry, you'll figure it out." And as he walked away, he stopped and turned back to say, "Xavier, I don't know HOW you're going to do it, but I cannot wait to see how it turns out."

When I unveiled it, he came to me and simply said, "Xavier, congratulations, you did it."

Professor Chaikin had a great sense of humor that became evident the first time I met him. In class he mentioned that his claim to fame was his method for drawing curves which, he mentioned, did not make him a rich man. As he said these things, he spoke in the usual candid and whimsical way with which I came to know him.

But, his smile also left most of the class thinking that he was only kidding. Of course, after class, my curiosity led me to research his name and I was in true shock at the list of accomplishments he had achieved.

So, without the method he developed, known as "Chaikin's Algorithm," where would programs such as Maya, Illustrator and even AutoCAD be? I remember trying to draw on the first Apple computer with that tiny screen. Using dots to create a portrait was nothing short of a week-long process. These days everyone takes it for granted that a program allows us to do these things with minimal effort. Thanks, Professor Chaikin.

When I think about how humble this Professor was, even asking me to call him George, I feel very fortunate to have met him and learned about his dedication to his field. He pushed me to think forward in my endeavors despite obstacles.

At Chaikin's memorial service, I was also fortunate to meet his son Paul, who wrote a beautiful eulogy for his dad. The apple does NOT fall far from the tree. The conversation we had brought me a great feeling of happiness. I know that George lives on through his family.

George touched many people beyond the realm of the art department. He was always willing to hear the voice of the student and make suggestions to encourage their growth.

We've lost more than a professor, we've lost a great man of intellect, wisdom and geniality. I will miss him dearly.


Note: Xavier Figueroa is a Production Editor at Meridian, as well as a senior at Lehman, graduating with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Sculpture.

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Obituary for

George M. Chaikin

George Merrill Chaikin, 62, of Lawrenceville, died Wednesday at the Chandler Hall Hospice in Newtown, PA.

Born in New York City in 1944, he resided in Lawrenceville for twenty-six years.

Mr. Chaikin was a Professor of Art and Mathematics at Lehman College of the City University of New York in Bronx, NY. He previously taught at the Cooper Union, the School of Visual Arts, Princeton University and New York University.

He graduated from the Cooper Union in New York City with a Bachelor's degree in Architecture in 1969 and from Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, NY, with an M.S. in Computer Science in 1974.

In addition to his career as a university professor, he worked as a research scientist and as an artist. He held research affiliations with NASA, the Siemens Corporation and the Brain Research Laboratory at New York University. As a research scientist, he developed a method for drawing curves with computers that has come to be known as "Chaikin's Algorithm." He also designed and patented a mircrochip used in computer imaging based on the geometry of logarithmic spirals.

As an artist, he collaborated with a great many individuals and collectives, including Ocean Earth and Plexus International. His work has appeared in shows throughout the world, including exhibits in New York, Chicago, Amsterdam, Rome, Vienna, Munich and Cagliari.

Son of the late George and Elizabeth Moore Chaikin, he is survived by his wife Kathie, sons Nicholas and Paul, and daughter Eliza. He is also survived by his sister Harriet Coyne, and three grandchildren, Hugo, Leo and Molly.

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