Quarter to Art

Written by MaryEllen Fillo

You may not recognize the name Johnny Swing but you will definitely notice his coin furniture art when you walk into the lobby at the Delamar Hotel in West Hartford. You can’t miss the centerpiece, an oversized settee called “Fortune Cookie” made completely of quarters, a dazzling medium Swing has become known for as an artist. Quirky and thought-provoking are words that have been used to describe his array of welded pieces like “Murmation,” “Half Dollar Chair,” and “Nest.” The same words could also be used to describe their creator, a Connecticut native who now lives in Brookline, Vermont where he has a farm and a studio. Admitting it has been a while since he visited his West Hartford creation (we’ll let him tell that story), Swing was on his way to welding more coins into a new creation when he took some time to chat about him, his art and his growing up in Connecticut.

Q: When did you know you wanted to be an artist?

J: Pretty much from the age of three and on. The only thing I was good at was making things. My mother sewed and was a pretty good seamstress. So, one of the first things I was curious about was her Singer sewing machine and the pedal on the floor to drive it. I wanted to sew and started making soft sculptures. I eventually was not a fan of fabric arts, but everyone has to start somewhere.

Q: So then what happened?

J: I went to school in Salisbury, then Skidmore and then art school and became a welder. I lived in New York and worked as a professional welder doing art on the side. I created a piece made entirely of things I found and among the things I found were coins. I became obsessed with them but knew I could never find enough coins to make whole pieces so now I just buy the coins for my furniture. You’d have to be obsessed to create a piece that has up to 75,000 welds. My mind is always on art and I’m usually doing three things at once, renovating a building, working on some pieces, or designing new work. I am 62 now and not as nimble as I used to be!

Q: What is the fascination with coins?

J: Something as simple as a penny is a work of art in itself. It’s a little sculpture. By taking 6,000 of them and connecting them together, I create a sculpture within a sculpture. Think about all the experiences a coin has been through, changing hands, being in different places. And imagine sitting down on something made of those coins and being surrounded by money. It’s glamourous, it’s a throne. When people sit on one of my pieces they are being transformed. It’s interactive. Of course, there have been people who are aghast that I have taken coins and eliminated their value.

Q: Have you visited your “Fortune Cookie” in West Hartford?

J: If I go over to the Wadsworth in Hartford sometimes, I will stop by The Delamar. The last time I saw “Fortune Cookie” my girlfriend and I had brunch there because her Tesla needed to be charged. Some of the people there recognized me and it made me feel like a rock star!

Q: Is there any embarrassment or regrets that your pieces are in a hotel lobby rather than a museum exhibit?

J: I want to share my art and what better place is there than a lobby in a hotel? I love making connections and when I make things, I want to share them. Many of my pieces are in private collections or museums but it is fun knowing that people out there are just enjoying my work. The lobby is a dream location!

Q: How do you come up with the names of some of your pieces?

J: Some of them are so obvious to me like “Fortune Cookie” or “Murmation” which is made of nickels. But I don’t name everything. I want people to have their own experience without my title. My furniture can be approached as innocently as you want, or you can take it further intellectually and dynamically.

Q: You are a CT native. Any good memories?

J: Oh yes. There was a brook behind our house, and I was always out there in it. Even in winter I would have to change outside after playing out there. I had no regard for health or safety.

Q: If someone were to do a sculpture representing you know what would that look like?

J: It would be made of wood and then set on fire. I am very accident prone, and no one should be making a sculpture of me. My works are the best representation of me. I’m proud of my work. Making art has been a nice way to mature.