Cork Marcheschi

Cork Marcheschi (mark-e-ski; born April 5, 1945) is an American sculptor and musician, most notably recognized for his pioneering use of light in sculpture, his large body of public art work, and founding avant-garde psychedelic rock band Fifty Foot Hose.

In the words of curator David Ryan, "Through art, music, writing, collecting and teaching, Cork Marcheschi saw the light early on — pursuing it in its many permutations — perfecting his artistry, a sculptural vision now widely admired.

After discovering the work of Nikola Tesla in 1968, he realized his sole interest in energy as a medium and decided to abandon sculptural objects.

He received a letter to submit a proposal for a project in Seattle, Washington and after a round requesting resubmissions from the three finalists, Marcheschi was awarded the commission.

For the next three decades, Marcheschi pursued public art commissions, executing and installing nearly fifty large scale pieces around across the United States and China.

In 1974, a couple years after making connections with an individual from Voltarc Technologies, Marcheschi fabricated 400 fluorescent tubes to be used on a Canadian television set for magician Doug Henning.

In this same year, during Marcheschi's DAAD fellowship in West Berlin, he worked on Robert Wilson production, Death, Destruction, and Detroit creating electrical lightning on the stage.

Marcheschi's work with set design concluded in 1978 with a play for the State Theater Company of Hamburg by Augustus Strindberg's Nach Damascus.

The final group membership consisted of Cork Marcheschi (bass), Bob Noto (guitar), Jonny Picetti (drums), Bill Girst (piano, trumpet), and Ken Metcaff (vocals, saxophone).

These performances consisted exclusively of rhythm and blues covers such as songs from Chuck Berry, Muddy Waters, Fats Domino, and the Coasters.

Later on, Ethix added a trumpet and saxophone to the ensemble to expand their range to play artists like James Brown, Bobby "Blue" Bland, Ray Charles, and Louis Jordan.

The following year they were awarded gigs at El Rancho and Stardust in Las Vegas after being spotted by a booker in San Francisco club Tipsy's.

The band reunited for a show in 1994, benefiting San Francisco's Aquarius Music Store, but Marcheschi was the only original member featured.

Survivors explores the continuation of the blues legacy through the contemporary performance of the music primarily in small clubs and the dedicated fanbase that patronizes it.