One of the most inspiring ideas we found recently in a photo of scuptor and designer Harry Bertoia‘s living room [See the clarification in Comments from Bertoia’s daughter Celia] is not the famous wire mesh chairs he designed for Knoll in the ’50’s, but this simple hanging shelf. It’s made with cord strung through a piece of wood through which holes were bored. It is, essentially, a swing that is meant to convey a sense of air without moving wildly, for it holds a little sculpture – whose, we don’t know.
In the same image, there appears to be one of Bertoia’s sound sculptures, made with vertical metal rods.
ANOTHER side to the great man we didn’t know about.
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The wire sculpture on the hanging shelf was made by Harry Bertoia. You have pictured the Sonambient Barn, where Harry (and now his son Val) gave concerts of his sounding sculptures. In the Pennsylvania Barn are housed about 100 tonal sculptures ranging in size from a few inches to 9′ tall, plus large gongs and “singing rods”. Check it out at the above website. I am his daughter.
Carry on!
Dear Celia Bertoia, Thank you SO much for the clarifying information and the link that further expands the view of your brilliant papa – and for being so very gracious.
—Sally