Schubert Sonata

1992

American, born 1933

The raw metal surface of Mark di Suvero's Schubert Sonata possesses a heroic scale, and a distinctively urban and industrial flavor, offset by the delicately balanced circular structure, which opens to the sky. This ribbon of metal delineated by organic and geometric forms stands poised on a single point, and spins—a reflection of the artist's longstanding interest in the possibilities for motion in sculpture. This work is part of a series dedicated to composers, and on its initial acquisition it was on view at Benaroya Hall, home of the city's symphony orchestra, across the street from the downtown Seattle Art Museum.

Painted and unpainted steel

Height: 22 ft.

Gift of Jon and Mary Shirley, the Virginia Wright Fund, and Bagley Wright

95.81

Photo: Paul Macapia

Now on view at the Olympic Sculture Park

“

There's nothing more intense than the light of an arc welder. That is the sculptor's light, and ...without [that energy, that spirit], sculpture is just metal.

”

Mark di Suvero

"There's nothing more intense than the light of an arc welder. That is the sculptor's light, and when he's finished with the piece, that light is gone. Absolutely. You just hope you've gotten some of that energy, that spirit, in the piece. Without it, sculpture is just metal. The piece has to have some life in order to connect with the spirit of the place where you install it. That's the main problem a large sculpture has to solve-how to make contact with surroundings."

—Mark di Suvero

Resources

Exhibition HistorySan Francisco, California, John Berggruen Gallery (Esprit Sculpture Park), "Mark Di Suvero: Recent Work", February 17 - April 20, 1994. (02/17/1994 - 04/20/1994)

Seattle, Washington, Seattle Art Fair, February 2-6, 1995. (02/02/1995 - 02/06/1995)

Published ReferencesCorrin, Lisa Graziose et al. "Olympic Sculpture Park." Seattle, WA: Seattle Art Museum, 2007, illus. p. 33

Kangas, Matthew, "Sculpture", October 2007, Vol 26, No. 8

"Seattle Art Museum: Bridging Cultures." London: Scala Publishers Ltd. for the Seattle Art Museum, 2007, pp. 78-79, illus. p. 78

Borrello, Brian. Arts Master Plan: King County Regional Trails System. 4Culture, 2014; p. 38, reproduced.