Group of three people, two men and a woman, talking in a wooded outdoor area with a treehouse built among large trees, accessible by a small wooden staircase.
Two people working on a science experiment outdoors in a forest, with a large vacuum chamber and scientific tools on a table.
Two people working on a birdhouse or small cabin in a wooded outdoor area, with one person holding a tool and the other adjusting or inspecting the structure.
Treehouse in a forest with a tall hanging chain of decorations and a ladder leading up to the treehouse, surrounded by green trees.
Close-up of a hanging zen garden ornament made of layered circular metal plates, outdoors with tree branches and sunlight in the background.
A detailed engineering blueprint or technical drawing of a tall, complex structure with multiple components, including various geometric shapes and sections, and a scale in feet and meters at the bottom.

Out of the blue

Out of the Blue is the title of the artwork by Bruna Esposito commissioned by Nancy Olnick and Giorgio Spanu for the 2012 Olnick Spanu Art Program and presented in 2013. The piece consists of a sculpture hanging from an oak tree with a stainless steel cable and a galvanized pulley. Various plastic bird feeders are joined to one another with steel hooks, washers, nuts and bolts while an electric copper wire connects the bottom to a piece of locally sourced granite. Other components of the sculpture include a clay pot, a tennis ball, feathers, brass cymbals, Sardinian brass bells, blue beads, wind chimes, a wind dynamo, and a small meteorite.

Esposito’s sculpture represents the magical feelings of flight and freedom. The power of Out of the Blue derives precisely from the combination of its simple elements and their interaction as symbols, which engender a greater meaning. The bird feeder is a key component because of its simple yet essential purpose: to provide nourishment. It also evokes a utopian or democratic ideal of harmony with nature. Out of the Blue makes manifest the mutual nurturing ties that exist between nature, art and humanity.

We worked with the Artist to produce a full size mockup of the design and introduced a structurally sound system to support the structure. We helped her acquire all materials and to build and install the final Artwork.

Artist: Bruna Esposito Technical Assistance and coordination: Miguel Quismondo Location: Garrison, NY Completion Date: 2013 Client: Olnick Spanu Art Program Collaborator: Haris Papakiriakou Photography: John Lutz, Marco Anelli