Page 46 - David Bermant Foundation

Above:MILToN KoMISAR Rhapsody on a Theme by F. Scott Key198772”H x 72”W x 12”DLeft:MILToN KoMISAR Get Your Ducks All in a Row1996Santa Barbara Public Librarymilton komisar’s reflections on DWB:The thing about David was he was a very generous personas long as he could be active in the generosity. And that’s the way he was with all of the artists he supported. He didn’t just buy their work and then put it in some big room or gallery in his house or something. That was part of it.But the other part was—I mean that was important, but the personal connection that he had with a lot of the artists whose work he bought was really important to him—it was his way of being involved, and being a part of the ages, in the ’70s, ’80s, ‘90s.He took his wealth and he spent it so that he could participate in the culture that at the time was just beginning—whichwas the culture as it related to technology and the use of the technology—and then to take the step of taking the technology and bringing it into art. He took his wealth and it made it possible for him to participate in that.I don’t know who else was so committed to that, but he was really emotionally committed to it. He responded from his gut.Psychologically,eRmhoaptisondyalolyn,acoTnhecmepetually,hesensedthat by F. Scott Keythe use of technology in art was important, and he wanted1987to be a part of it. So he took his money and he found artists72”H x 72”W x 12”Dand he bought their..w...o..r..k...A...nd because of the nature of hispersonality—he was rough and tumble; he was a New York“Get Your Ducks All ina Row”Jew—so he had a lot of rough edges to him and he annoyed a1996lot of people, and heSawntasBiarrabatiroanPaulbalicnd kind of bossy. But hisinstincts were good. And he was able to be giving and supportive of a lot of artists, and I’m one of ’em.Some people sort of gave him credit for what he did, but theart world in general didn’t accept him because he didn’t wear the right suit. The art world is really the worst place in the world to be. I have a lot of negative feelings about that whole reality. But at any rate, he never got the proper respect from the art world.I think David liked to be hypnotized by the art. I mean I think that’s why he liked my light sculptures because he would look at them, and the colors would go on and off and flip around and whatever, and light can be very hypnotic.You couldn’t argue with him. If you argued with him, he’djust get mad at you. He took everything very personally. Hewould think he was being objective and rational ’cause he was a businessman and well-educated. But he really lived in his feelings.Library45