Eddie Jones, the founder of Jones Studio Inc, an architecture, design, and public art studio in the heart of the Sonoran Desert, recently spoke with us about his relationship with Cosanti Originals.
"I was in architecture school at Oklahoma State University in the late '60s. Every student knew of Soleri's work in the desert and the famous Cosanti windbells," says Eddie. "I also remember a traveling Soleri exhibit displayed at the Oklahoma City Museum of Art…it was eye-opening. But at the time, I lacked resources to travel, so the best I could do was to think...someday."
Since then, Eddie has been a long-time advocate for Cosanti Originals, providing a home for approximately 40 pieces. "Over time, I have given away many bells to friends for birthdays and new babies," says Eddie. "Also, I had loaned out my Celotex portfolio of bridges and a cubic box of scrolls created for the Washington DC Corcoran Gallery exhibit to the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art for their last Soleri exhibit."
For Eddie, the sound of a Cosanti Originals wind bell is as essential to the Sonoran desert as the Coyote's yelp. He has said that he is enamored by every large bell assembly he has ever seen and wants them all for his collection.
Eddie explains that it took decades, but he can now call himself a world traveler, and if he's in a city, somewhere in the world, it is quite common to hear the familiar sound of a Cosanti Original. Sometimes it is suspended above a balcony or front gate or, most of the time, a fire escape. It signals to him there is a potential friend beyond the wall!
