Bolt of Lightning... A Memorial to Benjamin Franklin by Isamu Noguchi
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| Isamu Noguchi |
One of Isamu Noguchi’s most amazing works
is only 45 minutes from where we live. In 1933 Noguchi exhibited some of his
work in the Fairmount Park Art Association’s first Sculpture International
exhibition, including his design for this sculpture, a memorial to Benjamin
Franklin. It wasn’t until his exhibition in 1979 at the Philadelphia Museum of
Art that his design resurfaced and the Art Association decided to commission
the sculpture. In celebration of Philadelphia’s tricentennial, Noguchi selected
to place the sculpture in Monument Plaza. The sculpture retells the story of
Benjamin Franklin and his infamous kite. The sculpture consists of a large key,
a lightening bolt, and a kite. The key is supported by four steel base supports
to help stabilize the entire sculpture. The lightning bolt, which is 45 feet
high, is stainless steel plates that form an irregular lightning bolt shape. A
tubular steel structure extends up from the bolt 23 feet where the kite sits
atop. The structure then has more support with four steel guy cables to further
balance it out. Noguchi included the cables in his drawings to symbolize
contact between air and earth.
I went to visit this sculpture and was amazed by it’s sheer size and characteristics. The ratio of the key is larger than both the lightning bolt and kite, yet it seems to give you the feeling that it is correct and you are looking at the kite in the far distance. Being in such close proximity to West Chester, I recommend everyone take time to check out this piece.
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