Two men standing outdoors in a lush green forest, engaged in conversation, with one of them pointing at something on the ground, and a vehicle visible in the background.
Two men working with a backhoe in a wooded area, digging holes in the ground surrounded by green plants and trees.
Three men are installing a solar panel array in a wooded outdoor area. They are working together, holding a long, angled solar panel. The scene shows trees and cars in the background.
Six wooden posts installed in a forested area, forming part of an outdoor obstacle course or climbing structure.
Three vertical metallic posts, with the middle post reflecting trees and greenery, situated in a wooded area with sunlight filtering through the trees.
A diagram of a network with five nodes, connected by lines with labeled distances in feet and meters.

Posatoi

Posatoi (Perches) is the title of the artwork by Francesco Arena commissioned by Nancy Olnick and Giorgio Spanu for the 2014 Olnick Spanu Art Program. It consists of five bronze totems constructed based on the specific measurements of the height, as well as the distance between the eyes, of each member of the Olnick Spanu family. It was produced in Milan by Fonderia Artistica Battaglia.

The Italian word Posatoi translates to “perches” and is generally applied to birds. The five totems, positioned so that each gaze is directed in a different direction, demonstrate the idea that each member of the family has his or her own individual perch—or unique point of view—and yet that they are all bonded together as a family. Cast in bronze, Posatoi conveys a sense of permanence and longevity. The reflective quality of the bronze catches the light and the changes in the surrounding natural environment throughout the seasons. This work is a testament to the importance of the nuclear family and symbolizes the idea that, while independent, each member inevitably is reflecting on the others.

We worked with the Artist to produce a full size mockup of the design and prepared the site, including the foundations and worked with the contractor on the final installation of the pieces.

Artist: Francesco Arena Technical Assistance and coordination: Miguel Quismondo Location: Garrison, NY Completion Date: 2014 Client: Olnick Spanu Art Program Photography: Marco Anelli, Miguel Quismondo