A Navajo Weaving of an Integrated Circuit: The 555 Timer Marilou Schultz, a noted Diné (Navajo) weaver, created an intricate rug that visually represents the internal circuitry of the 555 timer integrated circuit. This chip, once the world's best-selling IC with billions sold, is used in various applications from sound generators to windshield wiper controllers. The Rug and Its Significance Design: The rug features thick white lines on a black background representing the metallic wiring atop a silicon chip. Reddish-orange diamonds around the edges correspond to the eight chip pins. Inspiration: The weaving is based on a dark field microscope photo of the 555 timer die taken by Antoine Bercovici. Artistic Variations: Minor changes include removal of two bond pads, simplification of circuitry, and removal of the part number, preserving artistic interpretation while maintaining fidelity to the chip’s layout. Large Transistors: The rug highlights three large transistors represented by filled squares with a characteristic pattern, while other transistors appear as small dots. "Popular Chip" by Marilou Schultz. Photo courtesy of First American Art Magazine. Inside the 555 Timer Chip Construction: The chip is a microscopic silicon flake with metallic wiring on top. Transistors: The chip contains 25 transistors that switch on and off, with circuitry designed to produce timed delays. Function: The 555 timer controls timing by charging a capacitor through resistors, switching operation when certain voltage thresholds (1/3 and 2/3 full) are reached, turning output on/off or discharging the capacitor accordingly. Microscope Images: The dark-field microscope emphasizes metallic layers, while conventional bright-field imaging shows differently doped silicon regions that form transistors and resistors. Comparison of the rug (left) and original 555 timer die photo (right) by Antoine Bercovici. Artist Background and Materials Marilou Schultz’s History: Creating chip weavings since 1994, starting with a Pentium chip rug commissioned by Intel. Materials: Wool from Navajo-Churro sheep, traditional plant dyes, silver and gold metallic threads representing aluminum and copper wiring, and aniline dyes for color fastness. Special Dedication: Lavender colors in the rug are dedicated to the artist's late mother, for whom purple was a favorite color. "Replica of a Chip", created by Marilou Schultz, 1994. Wool. Photo taken at the National Gallery of Art, 2024. Cultural and Historical Connection Visual similarities between Navajo weaving patterns and integrated circuit layouts have long been recognized. The art transcends metaphor, reflecting real historical ties, as Fairchild Semiconductor employed many Navajo workers in chip assembly in the 1960s at Shiprock, New Mexico. Ken Shirriff discusses this complex history in his article on Navajo weaving and the Pentium chip. Additional Resources and Exhibition The 555 timer weaving is exhibited at SITE Santa Fe's Once Within a Time show, running through January 2026. Interviews and articles on Marilou Schultz’s work provide deeper insight into her blend of technology and traditional art: The Diné Weaver Who Turns Microchips Into Art A Conversation with Marilou Schultz (YouTube) Interactive Exploration Ken Shirriff has created an interactive chip browser linking parts of the rug with their corresponding electronic components in the real chip, explaining their functions in