I've been thinking about my early artistic influences the last few years as my interest in art has grown again. One person in particular was Irving Berg, my neighbor as a small child. The Bergs were an artsy Jewish couple. His wife Harriet taught modern dance, and had choreographed several programs on Detroit television. They were wonderful neighbors. When people were building fences between houses, my dad built a gate between our yards. At Christmas, they would lovingly call our Christmas tree a "Hanukkah Bush". I would be playing in the backyard, and see Irv working on his sculptures in their yard. I was fascinated by them. Rusty metal welded together with pieces of colored glass for accent. To me, they were oddly beautiful without any interpretation. But Irv told me what they meant, of how an artistic creation means something to the artist. How you put your emotions, and feelings, and soul into your work. I could see the dancer, the lovers, the lonely then. But it was still the colored glass that grabbed me. I would look at them for hours.
Irv was also a photographer. Even now looking at photos he took of us when we were kids, I can tell the mastery he had with the camera, in color, light and composition. I have no doubt that's what sparked my interest in photography. Years later, I would take 6 semesters of it in college.
His wife, Harriet was also an influence. I remember after my family moved to Arizona, we went back to Detroit for a visit. They were going to have a garage sale, and there, for a dollar, was an old Super-8MM movie camera. I bought it, and Harriet gave me a couple film cartridges for me to film a dance recital. I went with her, and started to film. I pretty much just stood there, square to the scene. She took me aside, and suggested that I move with the dance, with the music. To put myself, and whomever viewed the film, into the dance. Don't be afraid to use odd angles or perspective. Let the filming be part of the art, and not just documentation.
They came to visit us in Arizona a few years later. We had a large palm tree trunk in the backyard someone had carved into a rough tiki. He decided to improve upon that wood sculpture, and it was fascinating to watch what he did. The mouth was open, with lips. He was going to put some teeth in. I pictured just straight symmetrical teeth. What he did was make them large and small, some forward a little, some back. Not odd or distracting, but real, and if you could apply the term to teeth, lyrical. It's amazing how just that really brought that old tiki to life. That weekend, I decided to try a little wood carving myself. I had forgotten until now, thinking about this that it was that tiki, and their visit that spawned this:
[link]Looking through my old scraps, I realized that the Bergs must have been in the back of my mind all the time.
[link] and my first character I ever doodled were named Irving.
I've even thought about their non-art influences in later years. What made me become a pilot, and get my own airplane? I remember having an early fascination with airplanes and airports. In particular, at night. Specifically all the runway lights, the beautiful glowing colors in the dark desert night. Colored glass? And what made me so interested in collecting glass insulators?
[link] ...again, pretty colored glass in the window = Irv's old sculptures?
I have meant for a long time now to contact the Bergs, and tell them how much of a great influence they have had on my life. But I always figured "I'd do it later". I googled Irv a few days ago. I will always reget not telling him all this..He passed away in March of this year.
If someone's had an influence on your life, don't hesitate to tell them. Thank you Irving and Harriet, you helped me see the world through an artist's eyes.
Harriet, on the right, and Irv. Wow, even look at the hat.
Irving Berg - 1921-2009Who's been an influence in your life so far? Artistic, or otherwise?
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