“Untitled”

Found broken transistor radio

2.375 x 0.875 x 3.25 inches

Found in 2022 by Melissa R. Strom

This piece of art is a found object. It is a small, green-gray, rectangular transistor radio. Covering about half of the front of the radio is a silver speaker that has a circular indentation pressed into it. There appears to be a few small areas where the metal speaker is stained or scratched. 

On the front of the speaker, the text “Westinghouse” is written in tall and narrow, metal, blocky letters. To the right of the text is a small metal crown emblem, underlined, and centered in the middle of a thin circle. All of the metal is silver in color. The same circled and underlined crown emblem is situated in the bottom, left corner of the speaker as well. In this area, the flat, metal speaker appears to be starting to peel away from the rest of the radio’s plastic body.

Along the bottom left side of the radio is a crack in the green-gray plastic. At the top of the left side is what appears to be a small hole, where an attachment may be plugged into the radio. Along the top left and the top right sides, there are two areas where a dial can be spun. The top dial does not appear to change anything. The right dial causes a thin white number to appear in a small window next to the logo on the speaker. It can be turned to 53, 6, 7, 10, or 16, moving from the upper portion of the numbers to the lower.

On the rear surface of the radio appears to be a horizontal, rectangular vent. There are slats that go in two opposing directions that meet at the middle. Above the vent in small, raised letters reads the text, “6TRANSISTOR” upside down.

This object was not manipulated by the artist, who found the object as it was.

Welcome to the Real World will be on display at The Gallery at Steel Pixel Studios from May 15-July 7, 2023. There will be an artist reception on May 25 from 6:30-8pm. The Gallery at Steel Pixel Studios is located at 701 N New St. FL1, Bethlehem, PA 18018.