Page 90 - David Bermant Foundation

There are some compromises that are necessary in order to be able to place art in public spaces. The construction by the artist must take into consideration the needs of the space. The area where the art is located must be kept conspicuously clean. But what protects these art objects is the sense of community pride. This develops from the fact that the community has within its midst, in one of its very ordinary everyday spaces, an aesthetic collection that lifts it above ordinary places, makes it an aesthetic dimension that is appreciated by the community, and they become proud of it. They talk about it to their friends, their neighbors, and their visitors. When they see it reinforced by special articles that appear in their local papers and in national magazines and over national TV, this pride is further reinforced.Public art spaces require variation—how often can you see the same darn piece? Yet, neither publicly owned spaces nor privately owned spaces such as shopping centers can afford constantly changing art displays, such as a museum or an art gallery does. I believe that our form is superior to most other art forms becausethe variations occur within the pieces themselves—the content differs, the aesthetic experience differs, and it’s more beautiful or less beautiful within each single piece.Therefore, I hope that you will join with me wherever you can in helping me advocate the use of this art in the public spaces of America for one, principle objective, that is as Aristotle said, “The end of the goal is the same as the defined goal of fine art. The goal of the end of fine art is that certain pleasurable impression produced upon the mind or the eyes of the viewer.” And I hope that when you come to the public spaces that I’m placing this art in, you too will feel a sense of pleasure by feeling good about being here.“I served five years in the United States Army. The last year I was in active combat, and I saw guys die right next to me. Somehow, the good Lord preserved me, and I said to myself, ‘If I ever make enough money that I can be free to do what I want to do, I’m going to try to make the country I live in, that I loveso much, and that these poor guys died for, a better place to be.’ I know that sounds corny, and I don’t care if it sounds corny. That’s the way I feel.” —DWB, 1984 TV interview89