Artwork Page for Tonal Sculpture

Details / Information for Tonal Sculpture

Tonal Sculpture

c. 1971

Harry Bertoia

(American, 1915–1978)
Culture
America
Medium
bronze
Measurements
with base: 319 cm (125 9/16 in.)
Credit Line
Anonymous Gift 1979.139
Copyright
© Estate of Harry Bertoia / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York
This artwork is known to be under copyright.
Location
Not on view
Print

Description

"I accidentally struck one rod when I wanted to bend it. The sound echoed in my mind for a very long time." In those words Harry Bertoia explains the genesis of a large group of works which he called "sounding pieces." The largest number of these works are based on groups of interacting wires, but he also expanded his notion of sculpture that produces audible tones to include "singing bars" and gongs. Bertoia set up a remodeled barn in 1968–69 to hold his special collection of tonal sculptures and to function as a sound recording studio. He gave small concerts to visitors and friends and recorded 11 albums of the haunting sounds of sculpture known as "Sonambient" during his lifetime.

Tonal Sculpture

c. 1971

Harry Bertoia

(American, 1915–1978)
America

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