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Needle Tower by Kenneth Snelson (1968)

Kenneth Snelson (born June 29, 1927) is a contemporary sculptor and photographer. His sculptural works, composed of flexible and rigid components, are arranged according to the idea of tensegrity.

Snelson claims that Buckminster Fuller, who was once his professor, took credit for Snelson's discovery of the concept of tensegrity. Fuller gave the idea its name, combining 'tension' and 'structural integrity.' The geodesic domes which Fuller popularized are the most commonly known structures whose composition depends on tensegrity.

The height and strength of Snelson's sculptures, which are often delicate in appearance, depend on the tension between rigid pipes and flexible cables. This is achieved through "a win-win combination of push and pull."

Snelson was born in Pendleton, Oregon in 1927. He studied at the University of Oregon in Eugene, at the Black Mountain College, and with Fernand Léger in Paris. His sculpture and photography have been exhibited at over 25 one-man shows in galleries around the world. Snelson has also done research on the shape of the atom. He lives in New York City with his wife, Katherine.

He holds four United States patents: #3,169,611: Discontinuous Compression Structures, February, 1965; #3,276,148: Model for Atomic Forms, October, 1966; #4,099,339: Model for Atomic Forms, July, 1978; and #6,017,220: Magnetic Geometric Building System; and most recently, #6,739,937: Space Frame Structure Made by 3-D Weaving of Rod Members, May 25, 2004.

Snelson was a founding member of ConStruct, the artist-owned gallery that promoted and organized large-scale sculpture exhibitions throughout the United States. Other founding members include Mark di Suvero, John Raymond Henry, Lyman Kipp and Charles Ginnever.

Snelson has been selected to work with Skidmore, Owings and Merrill, on the design of an antenna for the new Freedom Tower.

• Busch, Julia M., A Decade of Sculpture: the New Media in the 1960's (The Art Alliance Press: Philadelphia; Associated University Presses: London, 1974) ISBN 0-87982-007-1

• Kenneth Snelson's official webpage
• Letter from Snelson to R. Motro regarding Fuller's role in 'discovering' Tensegrity