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Ask not for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for T
By adamg on Mon, 04/11/2011 - 10:30am
Soon you'll be able to get it on and bang a gong - again. Photo by the MBTA.
The MBTA reports some MIT students got up wicked early on Sunday to begin re-installing the tubular-bells part of Paul Matisse's aural sculpture at the Kendall Square T stop. When the work is done, riders will once again be able to play the the Kendall Band - bells, a large ring and a large metal sheet - through levers controlling gongs.
In addition to the bells, known as Pythagoras, the restoration work also includes the ring-based Kepler and the large metal sheet called Galileo. A re-opening ceremony is scheduled for 2 p.m. on April 30.
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Comments
I remember when that was
I remember when that was first installed. It was working for a little while, then broke. And it was broken for a long long time.
Paul Matisse's other aural sculpture
Runs along the top of the Charles River Dam. And it, too, could stand some TLC.
One more local Paul Matisse sound-sculpture
The Musical Fence, now on the grounds of the DeCordova Museum in Lincoln.
This was originally installed at Main and Wadsworth Streets, just outside the Kendall T station, around the same time as his other sculptures were placed inside the station. Unfortunately, the chosen location was right outside an MIT graduate student dorm, and residents soon tired of hearing passersby "play" the fence using sticks and rocks at all hours of the day and night.
Cambridge had to take it down, and chose to lend it to the DeCordova rather than finding a totally non-residential place to put it elsewhere in the city.
Actually Pythagoras worked off and on for years...
...before repairing it just got to be too much for Paul to handle. I am wicked happy that some MIT students have finally been encouraged/allowed to renovate it (several ugrads inquired about it back in the 90s, but got nowhere).
Interesting and engaging public art like this shows off our region's strengths and makes life in the city a bit sweeter.
Oh yay, that is great news!
Oh yay, that is great news!
Uniquely Boston
I'm so glad this is being restored! This is something that is so "uniquely Boston" (I know it's Cambridge, but it's our system).