Adam Peiperl

Adam with seagullAdam Peiperl Visual Artist/ Video
Born in Poland in 1935, Adam Peiperl survived the Holocaust in Nazi-occupied Poland at the age of 9 with his parents.  After moving to Paris, he graduated from high school there, and the family emigrated to the United States in 1953. Peiperl obtained a BS degree in chemistry from The George Washington University in 1957, and the following year married Martha Dorf, a chemistry graduate of American University.  Adam Peiperl was introduced to the color-generating properties of polarized light in a course that he took as part of his chemistry curriculum.  Intrigued by the possibility of applying this effect to kinetic sculpture, in 1968 he devised a system  in which the optically active plastic material he was using was placed in water, and the latter was agitated with a magnetic stirrer (a device familiar to him from the chemistry laboratory) in polarized light.  When in 1968 Peiperl showed the resulting artwork to the Corcoran Gallery of Art, it was immediately accepted in the “Light and Art” exhibition, which was in progress there.  He donated a prototype to the Smithsonian’s National Museum of History and Technology, and later received a patent on his art invention.

Adam and Maida became acquainted in the earliest days of the founding of Maida Withers and the Dance Construction Company.  They shared an interest in dance and photography, dance and video, and dance in virtual light (visual images) created by Adam Peiperl (see below).  Adam and Maida often talked and shared ideas.  Many of Maida’s dances involve content related to science.  Adam was very helpful in his clarity about language and expression of science and art.  Adam was very helpful with titles for dances created.  Adam was a special friend of Maida and the Company. Adam was a joyful and “proper” voice, much appreciated with his deep friendship with Maida and dance.

Below:  Tzveta Kassabova performing Naked Truth – image combined with Adam Peiperl’s Guardians. This is just an art photo not connected to publicity or promotions.

Tsveta with Guardians 2A
Tzveta Kassabova with Adam Peiperl’s Guardians

Kerry Joyce, GW Dance Student, with Adam Peiperls images


Obelisks (polarized light) by Adam Peiperl

Collaborations