Page 60 - David Bermant Foundation

hArry bertoiA“Harry Bertoia was a furniture designer as well as a superb sound artist, and there are two pieces in my collection that show his work. I bought them in 1973 from the Staempfli Gallery. One is eight feet high with two rods, and I had that one in my office. I used it to call my secretary . . . I want to tell you when that thing hit, she came running! I loaned one of them to a museum for an exhibition, and they put it in a fenced off area. I approached the piece, readyHARRY BERToIA Wind Chimes, Cathedral Series 1972 57”H x 10”W x 10”Dto climb onto the platform to demonstrate what the piece is supposed to do when you interact with it. A guard stopped me and said, ‘Don’t you dare touch that piece!’ I said, ‘But that’s the only way you know what the piece is . . . it makes sound.’ He said, ‘I don’t care what it makes. Don’t you dare touch it!’ I said, ‘I own the piece. I ought to know what the heck I’m doing.’ He says, ‘I don’t care . . . you own it . . . you don’t own it . . . stay away from the piece!’ ” —DWB59