Slap-A-Phone, (sculpture).

Slap-A-Phone, (sculpture).

Ganson, Arthur, sculptor.

Fitch, Chris, assistant.

Slap-A-Phone, (sculpture).

Dedicated May 11, 1993.

Digital Reference:

Sculpture: PVC pipe metal, and laminated marine plywood (?); Base: wood, painted.

Sculpture: approx. 11 x 15 x 4 ft.; Base: approx. 6 in. x 13 ft. x 3 ft.

(Plaque on base:) SLAP-A-PHONE/BY ARTHUR GANSON/IN MEMORY OF ANDY APPLETON/MAY 11, 1993 unsigned

An interactive children's musical instrument sculpture comprised of a series of four-inch PVC pipes lined up together like organ pipes, stretching out in all directions in different lengths, fastened with metal fasteners to a large, deck-like wooden base. The bottom of the pipes are cut at an angle, and as children "slap the pipes," a range of tones are emitted.

Homage -- Appleton, Andy

State of Being -- Disabled -- Blind

Outdoor Sculpture -- Massachusetts -- Acton

Children's Discovery Museum, 177 Main Street, Acton, Massachusetts 01720

Sculpture commemorates Andy Appleton, a visually-impaired "explainer" at the Children's Discovery Museum who died in a biking accident in Virginia in 1991 at the age of 24. His parents asked that donations in his honor be sent to the museum, and more than fifty donors contributed to the purchase of the sculpture. The sculpture is "reminiscent of Andy's love of music, the outdoors, and children." The sculpture is designed to be played with children hitting it with their hands. For related information see Marty Carlock's "A Guide to Public Art in Greater Boston," Boston, MA: Harvard Common Press, 1993. IAS files contain a related article from The Boston Globe, May 9, 1993, NorthWest Weekly sect., pg. 13, 15.

Save Outdoor Sculpture, Massachusetts survey, 1994.

The Boston Globe, May 9, 1993 NorthWest Weekly sect., pg. 13.

The information provided about this artwork was compiled as part of the Smithsonian American Art Museum's Inventories of American Painting and Sculpture database, designed to provide descriptive and location information on artworks by American artists in public and private collections worldwide.

Inventories of American Painting and Sculpture, Smithsonian American Art Museum, P.O. Box 37012, MRC 970, Washington, D.C. 20013-7012

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