The Commitment Bell

 

Concept/Proposal:

7’9’’x 8’3”x 4’9” open house like structure encasing in the center a 26 pound bronze bell 12in x 11.5in diameter. Roof is made of tin material, side walls are made of cedar wood, only 2 sides. Platform is of brick and concrete, reinforced with steel linings.  Bronze bell is placed in the middle of the structure, inserted inside an aluminum/bronze cylinder and a steel rod runs through the sidewalls, the metal cylinder and the bell.  The steel rod is used as a turning rod to sound the bell.   The structure is placed next to the Sarah Simonds Green Conservatory on the westside of the building.  The structure is to engage the public to involve a physical action of rotating the handle not by one person but two people.  The visitors would step on to the brick/concrete platform; one person on each side would grasp the handle.  Two people are to form a synchronize work to turn the handle forward and lift the 26lb bronze bell by rotating into a full upward circle where the force of gravity will create a downward speed and will ring the bell.  Sound of the bell confirms the unity of work.

I chose the tin material for the roof to create the sound of calming effect when the rain falls, also it is lightweight and weather resistant.  The cedar wood for the sidewalls are selected for its strength, durability and slow deterioration.  The combination medals of aluminum/bronze are picked for its weather resistant strength and being environmentally safe which will not breakdown and contaminate the environment.  The bronze bell is preferred for its unique character sound over brass and also bronze is durable and weather resistant.  Sound of the bell will be muffled by the conservatory building acting as a barrier and will not have any harmful effect to the wetlands’ inhabitants.

The prices for the items selected are researched and presented.

Estimated Total cost: ~$3400 – $5000 (consideration of the fluctuation of price of labor and demand of supplies)

 Artist Statement:

I call it the “Commitment Bell.”  I want the people come to the Sarah Simonds Green Conservatory and feel the sense of empowerment to change for the better.  When there is a new change in their lives such as new love, graduating from college, new job, new family, and even death in the family, this bell is to represent commitment to oneself and to other for the better.  The students can come down when they might have done badly in their studies, they can come to sound the bell and commit to do better.   The physical act of rotating the handle,  hearing the sound of the bell and feeling the vibration of the bell sound are working together to transfer the energy of empowerment to the persons rotating the handle.  Once the energy has transferred on to them, the individuals interacting with the Commitment Bell have confirmed the commitment. The commitment is to change for the better.

This “Commitment Bell” is also to represent unity, requiring two people to rotate the handle.  It is to support and encourage one another, acquiring each other’s the source of strength.  The circle (cylinder tube) outside of the bell symbolizes earth and that we the people are to help those around the world globally who are vulnerable.  We are to change to make the world better for all living inhabitants locally and globally.

 Materials used:

Platform – Concrete – brick layer on top of concrete  platform.  The concrete platform would be 1 foot in height and reinforced with steel frames if necessary.

Side wall – cedar wood, known for durability and slow deterioration.

 Roof – Tin material, lightweight, known for roofing material, sound of rain on a tin roof brings forth soothing and calming effect.

Polished Steel Rod 1.5in diameter x 72 in length

M19 – $ 949.00  http://www.bronzebells.com/pricelist.htm Why Bronze is the Best for Bell MakingOur bells are made from pure bell bronze. The words “brass” and “bronze” are often used interchangeably, but they are very different metals.  Both are alloys and both contain a lot of copper – but that is where the similarities end.Comparatively, brass is a very soft metal. For example, it is used for plumbing fixtures because it is easy to work with and easily tooled. Brass is not as hard as bronze.  Brass  is also prone to corrosion, so most plumbing fixtures are coated with another metal such as chrome to make it more durable.  You will find that a brass bell does not sound as pure as a bronze bell.  Brass bells have kind of a “clangy” or “brassy” sound to them.Bronze on the other hand is very hard and can last forever.  In fact, there are several grades of bronze. A type called  admiralty bronze was used for cannons and is used for propellers on boats. Bell Bronze is the purest type of bronze in the bronze family.  There is no contamination from other metals in the alloy.  This is the reason that a bronze bell gives you such perfect tone and clarity.