FLM Ceramics Introduces Sound Wave Tile Series by Forrest Lesch-Middelton
PETALUMA, CA -- FLM Ceramics recently introduced the Sound Wave tile series, hand-crafted by Forrest Lesch-Middelton. The Sound Wave series is comprised of twelve 6- x 6-inch ceramic tile designs, in two colorways, “Cast Iron” and “Inverted Cast Iron.” The series was inspired by 18th century sound experimentation by physicist Ernst Chladi, where frequencies are introduced to a steel plate balanced on top of a tone generator that when dusted with sand, creates unique patterns through tonal vibrations. Each Sound Wave tile design in this series is named for the unique frequency the plate was tuned to when the pattern appeared or relates to the number Ernest Chladni assigned to the pattern. Forrest is the only ceramicist to apply Chladni’s sound wave patterns to the creation of tile.
It was while he was at Northern Clay Center in Minneapolis on a McKnight Fellowship that Forrest developed the tile. He borrowed the equipment from the University of Minnesota physics department to research the effects of sound waves on pattern. Chladni’s work in the 18th century became the catalyst that bridged the gap between idea and object. Forrest had already mined history for his first tile collection and wanted to go beyond the cultural history of pattern and look toward the deeper human and metaphysical connections that inspired the origins of pattern.