D. Lee DuSell (1927-2024) was a prolific designer and woodworker who made significant contributions to the interiors of religious shrines, chapels, and temples around the world. But Everson audiences may know him best as the creator of the bronze sculpture Spiritual Freedom (1969) that graces the Museum’s Plaza. Benediction honors DuSell’s large-scale work in wood during a particularly fertile period in the 1970s when his sculptures became kinetic, interactive, and overtly spiritual. This exhibition includes three rocking chairs that originally appeared here at the Everson in his 1980 solo show entitled Doxology—notably, the chairs contain musical elements powered by their rocking motion.
In Christian worship, a doxology is a short hymn praising God. Throughout his career, DuSell actively sought to infuse both his art and design practice with spiritual mindfulness. His sculptural rocking chairs provide solace and escape through their repetitive rocking motion and their musical elements help transport the user into an even greater meditative space. The creation of these works became a family affair. DuSell’s wife, Mary constructed the cane seats for the chair, and his son Brian, now a professional organist, helped design and tune the musical elements.
In his professional career, DuSell frequently collaborated with noted American architect Minoru Yamasaki on numerous commissions that began with a set of exterior doors for the McGregor Conference building on the campus of Wayne State University and concluded with multiple designs for the Shiga Sacred Garden near Kyoto, Japan. He also spent nearly three decades as a faculty member at Syracuse University. Despite these accomplishments, we may best remember him as a generous and kind mentor, friend, and family member who saturated his generous designs and artwork with the same thoughtfulness that he brought to his daily life. DuSell passed away in September of 2024 at the age of ninety-seven. Benediction—the blessing at the end of a religious service—serves as a coda to his brilliant career.
Lee DuSell, Rocking Chair Sculpture, 1980, Wooden rocking chair with kinetic and sonic elements, Estate of D. Lee DuSell
The Everson is supported by the Dorothy and Marshall M. Reisman Foundation; the General Operating Support program, a regrant program of the County of Onondaga with the support of County Executive, J. Ryan McMahon II, and the Onondaga County Legislature, administered by CNY Arts; and the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.
