Cosanti Bells

 

There is a collection of Cosanti wind bells on display at the Phoenix Public Library.  These are very elaborate bells that would cost hundreds of dollars.  

The bells are the design of the late architect, Paolo Solari.  I've posted photos of his work in the past. You can see photos of his studio and other bells here. 

Solari Bells

 

Last Thursday I visited the Soleri Bridge and on Friday I featured Paolo Soleri's home and studio.  I thought I'd follow up today with some examples of the wonderful bells that are created there.

These two photos show some of the bells that were hanging in the various studios.

Above are some of the designs I saw in the gift shop on the property and to the right is another that has several bells combined into one piece. 

They have a very mellow tone that I got to hear Saturday night when we had a rather windy evening.  With all the wind we had, I wonder what it sounded like here at the studio.  It must have been wonderful.

Another Look at Cosanti

 

Yesterday I featured the Paolo Soleri Bridge in Scottsdale, today I'm making another visit to Cosanti, Soleri's former home and studio.  I've featured photos from this place before.  You can see those posts by clicking here.  Above is one of the unique gallery areas.

This is a work area where students and artists work on creating some of the wind chime bells that have become so famous.  

One of those domed areas is crowned with a bright, stained glass window.  It casts a red glow over the area below.  

If you walk back far enough on this property, you can spot Paolo Soleri's former home.  Soleri lived and worked on the property for many years and he passed away here in 2013.

Next to the home is this patio area.  On the other side is the swimming pool.  You can see the water reflected on the ceiling of this place.  When we get to a point of feeling more comfortable visiting places, I'll make a return to this place.  I haven't been here in at least 3 years and it would be fun to see the newest collection of bells.

Paolo Soleri Bridge

I've featured different views of the Paolo Soleri Bridge located in Scottsdale Arizona at the Scottsdale Waterfront a few times before.  However, I've never done a post specifically about the bridge.

The bridge was commissioned in 1990 but it took 20 years to approve designs, obtain funding, and build.  It was finally dedicated on December 11th 2010 and Paolo Soleri was in attendance for the dedication.

It is a pedestrian passage over the canal and a gathering place for people enjoying the beauty of the area with its many paths leading to a variety of businesses and public areas.  In addition, it is a sort of solar calendar.  The two 64-foot pylons that anchor the bridge are spaced 6 inches apart.  The gap allows the noon-day sun to create a shadow across the bridge.  The length of the shadow depends on the time of year.  On June 21st, the summer solstice, no shadow appears at all while the winter solstice in December produces the longest shadow.

Behind the two tall pylons are two 22-foot pylons encasing one of Paolo Soleri's bells.

The bell has its own story to tell.  It was part of the artist's very first U.S. retrospective of his work at the Corcoran Gallery in Washington D.C. back in 1970.

Paolo Soleri passed away in 2013 at his home in Paradise Valley Arizona.  His studio Cosanti is still thriving at the same location.

Do I Hear Bells?

Here is another post on the theme of music.  I thought I'd show you some of the many Cosanti bells that can be found at Paolo Soleri's Cosanti in Paradise Valley.  Soleri passed away in 2013 but his foundation and wind bells live on.  The sale of the bells helps to support his foundation and school of architecture.

The bells come in a variety of sizes from very small to very large.

They really are beautiful and have such wonderful tone.  I have one on  my balcony.

Paolo Soleri, 1919-2013

I thought I'd post one more photo from Cosanti, the Paolo Soleri studio and home in Paradise Valley that I featured back in February.  This one is to honor Paolo Soleri who passed away on Tuesday at his home in Paradise Valley at age 93.  This photo is of one of his famous wind chimes.  The New York times paid him tribute in this article.  He may be gone now but his influence will live on.

Light & Shadows

Here is another work room at Cosanti.  I love the way the sunlight makes nice straight lines that appear to be coming form the door.

This is the room at the far end of the room I pictured on the 22nd (scroll down to see it).  There are a combination of brass bells here and clay bells.  The clay bells are newer in the collection.  You can also see some clay pots and vases to go with them.  I love the red glass skylight here.

Architecture & Art

Today I have two more photos from Cosanti that I featured yesterday.  The top photo is the visitor's center where you can purchase one of the famous bells or just browse if you prefer.  The design of this small building made me say "wow" when I walked through the door.  I really like the backbone-like beams across the ceiling and skylight.

This is one of the work areas with work tables just out of this shot to the left and in front of us is another display of the just finished bells.  The beautiful bells were hanging in several areas around the property and you could choose one from the visitor's center above or from anywhere else on the property that you find one that catches your eye.  I picked mine up right from this beautiful rack.

Cosanti

Cosanti is the studios of Paolo Soleri, architect, designer, builder, and artist.  His studio has been in this location since 1955 and it's name comes from the combination of two Italian words "cosa" and "anti" which when put together mean "before things".  The complex is designated an Arizona Historical Site and it predates the incorporation of the city of Paradise Valley where it is located.

Paolo Soleri still lives on the site and he is well into his 90's yet he continues to work daily on writings and drawings and the custom bell assemblies as well as his architectural and urban design concepts.  As of last year, he was still visiting his site at Arcosanti in northern Arizona at least once a week.

I visited Cosanti last weekend for the first time and I was taken with the place.  I took many photos that I'll share with you from time to time.  The place blends so well with nature making you feel like every building is as natural as the trees and rocks.  Driving into the place is a magical experience after passing all the large and expensive homes that surround this spot on all sides.  Yet while you are there, none of those places are visible to you and you soon forget you are in the residential heart of Paradise Valley.