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Greenwood, Garry
Leather is not the most commonly used material in musical instrument fabrication but Garry Greenwood (1943-2005), a sculptor who worked with leather for 25 years, experimented with its acoustic properties. Using the leatherworker’s techniques of wet forming, moulding and carving laminated leather, he produced wind, stringed and percussion instruments, that not only have unique sonic properties but are aesthetically rich and often humorous.
Although a skilled amateur musician, Greenwood rarely played his instruments but preferred to collaborate with other musicians to develop instruments to suit their specific needs. This included working with experimental musicians to create electronic instruments and semi-acoustic instruments. Greenwood was also interested in costume design and combined his interests in the production of playable masks.
Near the end of his life he perfected the mountain harp, a bronze and leather 12-stringed instrument that, although loosely related to other conventional instruments, is a new instrument in its own right.
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