Harry Bertoia's Sonambient Sounds

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Harry Bertoia (1915-1978) was a pioneering master of modern arts and design, a visionary sculptor and creative mind behind some of the most iconic and sought-after sculptures in history. Though he was born in Italy, and later became a student at the Cranbrook Academy of Art in Michigan, Bertoia is considered by Pennsylvanians to be a native-son. Beginning in the 1950s, Bally, Pennsylvania, became the artist’s longtime home and workspace.

Energy is a meaningful component of Bertoia’s seminal artistic explorations, as exhibited in his sounding or “sonambient” sculptures. These works are comprised of multiple metal rods that, when swayed, collide with one another to emanate ringing notes. Speaking of these sonambient pieces, he once mused, “I build sculptures that can move in the wind or that can be touched and played like an instrument.” Bertoia considered these tones his music and, when “played” together, his sculptures were his symphony.

A few miles from Bertoia’s studio is the Sonambient Barn, a space that houses dozens of his tonal sounding sculptures. He was fascinated by the ever-changing, reverberating sounds made by the gentlest movements of the sculptures, and, along with his older brother, went on to create an album of recordings in the early 1970s.

An assortment of sculptures by Harry Bertoia will be offered in Freeman’s upcoming November 13 auction of Modern and Contemporary Art. There are seven offered in the auction, including Lots 51 (estimate: $30,0000-50,000) and 53 (estimate: $30,000-50,000), both comprised of beryllium copper rods.

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