Her work is included in the permanent collections of eleven museums including: The Jewish Museum, NY, Jüdisches Museum in Berlin, Germany, the Detroit Institute of Art, Museum of Fine Arts Boston, the Smithsonian Institution, and the Columbus Museum of Art.
Whatever I would say will be not enough to talk about her incredible work. Lets know more about Berman and her artistic journey in the interview below:
Harriete, please introduce yourself to E-junkies.
Hey there , my name is Harriete Estel Berman and I live in the San Francisco Bay Area where winter rain and overcast continues to linger. I moved here from Philadelphia in 1980.
For the past twenty three years I have been making artwork with recycled materials. At the beginning, it felt a bit embarrassing to work with trash….now the dynamic is completely different. Everyone is thinking green. People that have seen my work send tin cans to me from all over the world.
Your creations look out of this world. How did you get interested in recycled artwork?
Ever since moving to California I have been a like recycling super advocate. Since there was no curbside recycling at that time, I would collect my bottles, cans and newspapers and take them to the Stanford University recycling program. In addition, I’d accumulate my old magazines and take them to a magazine distributor (who would recycle them). I’d even collect my rubber bands from the newspaper (when people still had newspapers delivered) and give them back to the newspaper guy. Eventually this recycling evangelism filtered into my work.
In 1988, I made the decision to work with recycled tin cans. While my work uses recycled materials as a departure point, the work is about so much more. Layers of social commentary are in every piece.
Though all your projects look beautiful, but I found 'Pick Up Your Pencils' the most interesting. I am curious to learn more about it.
“Pick Up Your Pencils, Begin” is the 2nd sculpture I have made about our educational system. Both were inspired by surviving as the parent of two very different kids and their trials and tribulations as students – and mine as a parent with their teachers and “the system.” The first is Measuring Compliance.
“Pick Up Your Pencils, Begin” revolves around the impact of standardized testing on education. Are people aware of how much money and time is invested in standardized testing? Standardized tests only test a very limited spectrum of knowledge and abilities. They are adept at testing how well students take tests and how well teachers teach to the test.
Until you have a student in school you can’t realize how much of the education is just focused on taking the tests. I could talk about this for hours.
How much time does it take you to complete one sculpture?
It’s a rather large range. At a minimum, I usually spend four to six hours on a Flower Brooch.
Larger more complex pieces take much more time. For example, 500
hours on a major piece like the Chocolate Pot Obverse Obsession.
The ultimate so far is four years on “Pick Up Your Pencils, Begin”.
The ultimate so far is four years on “Pick Up Your Pencils, Begin”.
Tell us about your Grass Sculptures. What is the process involved in making them?
An eight minute video of the making of Grass shows the studio preparation and the assembly process. Two assistants and I cut over 32,000 blades of grass by hand for an entire year. In a big assembly party, 31 of the 36 panels were assembled in one weekend.
I had to develop and test the method for inserting and fastening each blade of grass in the panels three years before starting the grass series. The inspiration came while making a metal bird house for my father. These comparatively simple experiments, often result in major work several years later.
What motivates the artist within you?
I can’t imagine doing anything else. I grew up with a strong work ethic and I am driven to continue working hard. Being an artist is the only thing I ever wanted to be as long as I can remember.
How many hours do you work a week?
This is not a 9 to 5 job or a 40 hour week. I work every second of the day….whether it is on my artwork, at my desk, on the Professional Guidelines, my blog ASK Harriete or the Professional Development Seminar. Breaks are for a different kind of work like gardening, watering my plants, or cleaning up.
This is a difficult one-which project or creation by you is closest to your heart?
Honestly, the anticipation of what I am about to start usually excites me. After I start working on something, it can become torture. The concerns and worry about how to bring my concepts and ideas to fruition can torment me. Years of experience have taught me to ignore that devil on my shoulder and to keep working until the piece is done.
Other than that, there are pieces that are more important undertakings and have gained wider recognition. Some of those exemplify unique fabrication methods and conceptual leaps that I consider closest to my heart. I’ve come to prefer making major work, but it is very hard to sustain momentum on large works that take months or years.
Besides creating incredible pieces of art, what are the things that interest you?
Major interests include professional development for the community of artists and makers. I hope your readers will look at my blog, ASK Harriete, where I regularly offer business advice and professional standards for artists and makers. There are also links to the Professional Guidelines.
Stay tuned for updates on the recent Professional Development Seminar which I helped organize for the SNAG Conference.
Look for me on Facebook! I also lead six exercise classes a week to stay in shape.
Many other artists would draw inspiration from you. What message do you have for them?
Success is within your grasp. Just like Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz, you have the power within you all along….but it requires hard work, unrelenting risk taking and experimentation, beyond mere desire. There needs to be a vision beyond the moment.
I also believe in supporting your arts community with volunteer work. Through volunteering you will learn a lot, meet people and people will meet you. Pay it forward, and you will be richly rewarded. Your investment in local, regional and national arts organizations, neighborhood groups, or local schools is all part of a much bigger picture and a highly rewarding part of building your community.
Harriete, thanks a lot for talking to us. Your artwork is amazing and it has been a wonderful experience to know about you and your artistic journey. Our best wishes are with you!
Check out Harriete's website for more awesome creations by her.
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