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Archives of American Art
Oral history interview with Harry Bertoia
Summary
- Collection ID:
- AAA.bertoi72
- Creators:
-
Bertoia, HarryCummings, Paul
- Dates:
-
1972 June 20
- Languages:
-
English.
- Physical Description:
-
33 PagesTranscript
- Repository:
Scope and Contents
Scope and Contents
An interview of Harry Bertoia conducted 1972 June 20, by Paul Cummings, for the Archives of American Art. Bertoia speaks of his childhood in San Lorenzo, Italy; his family; his art education at Cass Technical School, the Society of Arts and Crafts in Detroit, and Cranbrook Academy; his early metal work and woodcuts; defense work with Charles Eames in Venice, California; development of Eames' prize-winning plywood chair; his chair designs for Knoll International; exhibitions of his sculpture; his experiments with sound and with "sonambient" sculpture; and techniques and materials. Bertoia also discusses his commissioned works for Manufacturer's Trust, General Motors, and Dulles Airport. He recalls John Carroll, Carl Milles, Eero Saarinen, Sarkis Sarkisian, and others.
Biographical / Historical
Biographical / Historical
Harry Bertoia (1915-1978) was a sculptor and furniture designer.
Administration
Immediate Source of Acquisition
This interview is part of the Archives' Oral History Program, started in 1958 to document the history of the visual arts in the United States, primarily through interviews with artists, historians, dealers, critics and others.
Digital Content
More Information
General
General
Originally recorded 2 sound tape reels. Reformatted in 2010 as 3 digital wav files. Duration is 3 hr., 1 min.
Keywords
| Keyword Terms | Keyword Types | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Design | Topical | Search Smithsonian Collections | Search ArchiveGrid |
| Designers -- Interviews | Topical | Search Smithsonian Collections | Search ArchiveGrid |
| Sculptors -- Interviews | Topical | Search Smithsonian Collections | Search ArchiveGrid |
| Sound recordings | Genre Form | Search Smithsonian Collections | Search ArchiveGrid |
| Interviews | Genre Form | Search Smithsonian Collections | Search ArchiveGrid |
| Carroll, John, 1892-1959 | Personal Name | Search Smithsonian Collections | Search ArchiveGrid |
| Eames, Charles | Personal Name | Search Smithsonian Collections | Search ArchiveGrid |
| Milles, Carl, 1875-1955 | Personal Name | Search Smithsonian Collections | Search ArchiveGrid |
| Saarinen, Eero, 1910-1961 | Personal Name | Search Smithsonian Collections | Search ArchiveGrid |
| Sarkis, 1909-1977 | Personal Name | Search Smithsonian Collections | Search ArchiveGrid |
Archives of American Art
750 9th Street, NW
Victor Building, Suite 2200
Washington, D.C. 20001
https://www.aaa.si.edu/services/questions
