The science dictionary definition for fractal is “a complex geometric pattern exhibiting self-similarity in that small details of its structure viewed at any scale repeat elements of the overall pattern.”

Polly Wanna Fractal
11″ x 14″ x 11″, bronze

Craig Schaffer, whose current series of work is based on fractal forms, further explains fractals as “the shapes created by the ongoing processes of Life, such as the branching of plants to catch the sunlight, the convoluted unfurling of clouds, the formation and fracturing of mountains from the forces within the earth, the jaggedness of the coastline as it interacts with the sea…”

Getting The Yang Of It
10″ x 16″ x 9″, bronze

Errode
10″ x 10″ x 8″, bronze

Schaffer celebrates fractals by carving, casting and welding fractal forms – his website shows examples of wood, marble and bronze – I’m partial to the welded fractals shown here.  Can’t you see some of these shapes scaled much smaller as brooches?

Poly Wanna Fractal II
11″ x 14″ x 9″, bronze

Love the patina – while on his website, be sure to look at all of the pictures for each sculpture – they look completely different when viewed at different angles and the additional photos do a great job of showing all views.

Appeeling
14″ x 18″ x 9″, bronze