Scarlett's Swivelier Mascot
BENTON GALLERY Coll.
Rolph “Bill” Scarlett Two names, one Person
That is my recollection of the two Scarlett’s in my life.
As a young boy, I first remember being introduced and meeting “Bill” (Rolph Scarlett) when visiting the Swivelier company in New York City. (Rolph Scarlett used the moniker “Bill“ during his nearly two decade long employment with Swivelier working as a Consultant Engineer & Industrial Designer).
At that time, the company was located on the 12th floor, the top floor of 30 Irving Place midway between 15th and 16th Street. I, like everyone at Swivelier, always called him Bill and never learned why Rolph Scarlett used the name Bill while working at Swivelier.
One possible explanation was that early on in his Engineer & Designer career he wished to literally make a new name for himself in the field. There was always “Bill” the Consultant Engineer & Industrial Designer of Swivelier, and Rolph, highly recognized and acquired by the Guggenheim museum - both were one and the same. Scarlett, towering over me, presented himself as a gigantic, powerful man. His personality was strong yet approachable, welcoming me and trying to quickly gauge my skills and interests. He immediately started to show me machines, what they did and examples of things that he did at the company. It was fascinating to me as he not only showed me how, but he pushed me to try to do it myself. Ever since, it has helped me become mechanically inclined.
Scarlett’s kind and generous side could always be seen in the little acts of friendship he displayed. For example, during the early years of our relationship, Rolph Scarlett designed and fabricated a wonderful, hand-made, red, white and blue robot out of Swivelier lighting parts that he retrofitted into a fantastic machine age creation. This keepsake, Swivelier’s mascot, is just one symbol of the many fond remembrances of my relationship with Rolph.
From that first introduction to Scarlett the man, I quickly learned he not only was a mechanical wiz, but he also was an amazing artist. The artist however, clearly wanted to be known as none other than Rolph Scarlett. Knowing the artist Rolph Scarlett was like taking a trip to another world. When I walked into his large art studio provided by Swivelier, there were skylights and windows with views of Union Square park and the skies above. I discovered in Rolph’s studio what seemed like thousands of paintings, and many artistic styles. This studio served double duty. It was his studio and also it was his school. By school I learned, if you had interest in painting, Rolph would give free lessons and furnish free supplies. This was an introductory art education on how to paint and create your own thoughts on a canvas or on a sheet of paper. Little did I realize that learning to draw would also stay with me and I could thank Rolph for his effort and teaching skill.
Rolph was a designer, a practical engineer and a man who seemed to have endless knowledge on every subject. Over the years that followed until he retired, I knew Rolph was of great importance to me. We shared serious discussions and whimsical fantasy trips to other worlds with his paintings. There was an awareness of knowing a truly interesting, vibrant person who made me think about and strive to learn about everything I did each day.
One day Rolph asked if I could help him deliver some paintings to a nearby art gallery for an exhibition. My convertible car top was lowered and one by one, we secured Scarlett’s large paintings, standing them vertically behind the front seat and carefully drove slowly to the gallery. Traffic and people in the streets seemed to stop me, offer comments, and ask me about the paintings. For those of you that know Scarlett’s various styles, you can imagine the impression made on those people seeing his work. That was my first personal exhibit of Rolph Scarlett's paintings in New York City. I have been a fan ever since.
The Swivelier Collection of Rolph Scarlett Paintings is just a small part of the tangible legacy of Rolph Scarlett’s long, wonderful and creative association with Swivelier Co Inc. This collection of paintings has remained in Swivelier’s possession for well over half a century.
It is with tremendous appreciation for Rolph “Bill” Scarlett - artist, engineer, and designer and all he has done for Swivelier over the years that we look forward to sharing them with a wider audience of art admirers.
The paintings sum up the true genius that is Rolph Scarlett. One great person known to me by two different first names, a Scarlett you just never forget.