
Carlton Bradford
Refinished Symphony
Beginning in the fall of 2011, I began working with wood that is used to make fine stringed instruments; ebony, curly maple, and spruce. My thinking was to take these materials and make something other than a musical instrument, in some cases geometric shapes, self-referential sculpture, or common, even mundane, objects that we do not really consider as anything other than for their utilitarian function.

2013, maple, ebony, spruce, and cello strings 35" x 16-1/8" x 19"

2013, maple, ebony, spruce, and cello strings 35" x 16-1/8" x 19"

2012, maple, ebony, and spruce 1-1/2" x 3-1/2" x 96"

2012, maple, ebony, and spruce 1-1/2" x 3-1/2" x 96"

2012, maple, ebony, and spruce 1-1/2" x 3-1/2" x 96"

2013, maple, ebony, and spruce 7-1/4" x 34-1/4" x 1-3/8"

2013, maple, ebony, and spruce 7-1/4" x 34-1/4" x 1-3/8"

2012, maple, ebony, and spruce 48" x 40" x 4-3/4"

2012, maple, ebony, and spruce 48" x 40" x 4-3/4"

2012, maple, ebony, and spruce 48" x 40" x 4-3/4"

2012, maple, ebony, and spruce 48" x 40" x 4-3/4"

2013, maple, ebony, and spruce 9-1/4" x 17-3/4" x 16"

2013, maple, ebony, and spruce 9-1/4" x 17-3/4" x 16"

(demonstrated by the artist) 2013, maple, ebony, and spruce 9-1/4" x 17-3/4" x 16"

2013, maple, ebony, spruce, and modified violin case 11-1/2" x 25-1/2" x 12"

2013, maple, ebony, spruce, and modified violin case 11-1/2" x 25-1/2" x 12"

2014, maple, ebony, and spruce 6-1/2" x 4" x 7-3/4"

2014, maple, ebony, and spruce 6-1/2" x 4" x 7-3/4"

2012, maple, ebony, and spruce sphere 3-3/4", cone 4-1/2" x 2-3/4", cylinder 5-3/4" x 3-1/2"

2012, maple, ebony, and spruce 5" sphere

2012, maple, ebony, and spruce 5" sphere

2011, maple, ebony, spruce, and nickel 19-1/2" x 4" x 6"

2011, maple, ebony, spruce, and nickel 19-1/2" x 4" x 6"