Robert "Bob" Benson

Robert "Bob" Benson. , Bob Benson was born in Chicago, where his early life was shaped by frequent trips to live musical performances with his father. These experiences formed a lasting foundation for his deep engagement with classical music. From 1951 to 1953, Benson served as the personal secretary to General Mark Clark in the U.S. Army, traveling between Korea and Japan. He also wrote letters to the families of wounded soldiers on behalf of the General's wife. During this time, he encountered a humorous Army recording of a fictional fart competition, a memory that would stay with him for decades., After moving to Baltimore in 1953, Benson became an influential presence in public radio, including his work as host of classical music programming on WJHU-FM. He also wrote extensively as a critic and historian of classical recordings. Later in life he served as part of the Maryland State Arts Council., In the late 1990s, a simple visual moment shifted his creative path. Seeing sunlight catch on a strand of mirrors, Benson began creating "Flashies," strands of double mirrors suspended on filament that respond to light and breeze. Installed outdoors or in windows, they produce a constant, shifting display of reflected light. Benson filled his yard with these works, transforming it into a field of motion and sparkle., This work led to a collaboration with the American Visionary Art Museum, where Benson, working with neighbor Rick Aimes, created the mirrored tree and other installations. Drawing on that earlier Army recording, he also developed the Flatulence Exhibit and its interactive "Magic Flatulence Post," where visitors can trigger one of dozens of recorded contest entries., Across his life, Benson has shown a steady commitment to noticing the world closely and translating those observations into forms that invite others to look, listen, and participate. Benson remains active, sharing with others his gift for making "Shiny, Happy, Things."