String figures are a tangible example of cultural artifacts that combine art, crafts, play, storytelling and mathematical reasoning.

James Inoli Murphy once used string figures while teaching high school. Now he’s doing workshops for an exhibition for the Beat polymath (and string-art enthusiast) Harry Smith.

New research suggests that the making of string figures, a globally documented practice, may point to shared cultural heritage stretching back millennia. The research offers a new way to ...