umbilic torus

This object below has only one continuous surface.  

    

My ambition has been to hold one of these mysterious objects in my hands so that I can finally wrap my brain around it.

Ever since I was first introduced to it by fellow art student Gary, at the Pasadena Atelier, it has been an obsession of mine.  To read more about it, go to this link.

Right here in Pasadena, we have a large scale version of it.  At South Lake Shopping Area, between Macy's, Corner Bakery and the escalator to Trader Joes's, a favorite children's play structure. 

One of neighborhood children's favorite haunts in Pasadena.

And now, for my own version of it!  I cut out this shape below until my hands were ready to drop.

Then linked them again and again.

Along the way, I decided some strings are needed to hold it together.

Tie the final knots and then hide the strings in the hollow space inside.

 Ta da!!!!

It took months to cut around 200 pieces but now I get it... I think.

First of several attempts that failed.