Michael, 1975

In 1975 Raimondi returned to Boston City Hall Plaza as an artist-in-residence for a summer “Works in Progress” project sponsored by the Institute of Contemporary Art. Raimondi was assisted by John Sullivan and James “Chip” Morel, his lover when Raimondi created Michael, a spider-legged work in thin Cor-ten steel to be lifted into place for exhibition. Unfortunately, its thinness meant it could not be permanent and after the summer installation, Michael was destroyed. Fortunately, while Raimondi was on another NEA artist-in-residence appointment in Portland, Maine, the Canal National Bank, owners of a site Raimondi considered perfect, commissioned him to rebuild the piece in full strength 3/8” Cor-Ten at monumental scale.
Click here to view a documentary on creating Michael.