Staircase

Copied Arthur Espenet Carpenter, Staircase, 1969, hyedua and oak, sight 19284 in. (487.7213.4 cm), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of David L. Davies and Jack Weeden, 1998.15A-S

Artwork Details

Title
Staircase
Date
1969
Location
Not on view
Dimensions
sight 19284 in. (487.7213.4 cm)
Credit Line
Gift of David L. Davies and Jack Weeden
Mediums
Mediums Description
hyedua and oak
Classifications
Object Number
1998.15A-S

Artwork Description

This graceful structure by Arthur Espenet Carpenter comprises fourteen curved, interlocking steps radiating around a center post. As Carpenter intended, the intrinsic warmth of the wood and the organic forms encourage interaction along multiple fronts, including movement up and down the steps and pushing and pulling the propeller-like treads. It is a staircase for imagining: the spiral steps mimic curved forms of nature, pushing against the grain of right angles and square rooms.

This Present Moment: Crafting a Better World, 2022

Exhibitions

Quilt featuring the portrait of a woman
This Present Moment: Crafting a Better World
May 13, 2022April 2, 2023
This Present Moment: Crafting a Better World showcases the dynamic landscape of American craft today.