Isn’t it striking how a broken piano can sing a silent song? That’s Accord Final by Arman a sculpture here at Pratt Institute. The Pratt Institute Sculpture Park is the largest contemporary sculpture park in New York City. It includes more than 40 pieces installed across the 25-acre campus in Brooklyn.
Arman, a world-renowned artist, created Accord Final. It’s on loan from his widow Corice Arman. She is an educator and art collector.
Arman created this piece as part of a series. This series is called Arman’s Orchestra. It contains 12 broken instruments. Accord Final is also known as The Last Chord or They Wouldn’t Let Me Play at Carnegie Hall.
Arman was the son of an antiques dealer and amateur cellist. He developed a deep appreciation for music. He also loved collecting. He cultivated a discriminating taste from a young age. Arman’s work re-examined everyday objects. He elevated the ordinary to the extraordinary.
Corice Arman collaborated on Arman’s many exhibitions. These exhibitions included monumental sculpture projects. She organized ceremonies for unveiling large-scale public sculptures. Long Term Parking is outside of Paris. Hope for Peace is in Beirut, Lebanon.
As collectors, the Armans amassed a world-class collection of African art. They have loaned it to several international exhibitions. Corice Arman has served on the boards of New York cultural institutions. She helped recruit artists from around the world. These artists formed the International Artists’ Council at Studio Art Centers International in Florence. She supports the arts and arts education. She continues this role by loaning her husband’s work to the Pratt Sculpture Park.
Accord Final is a broken cast bronze piano. You can find it adjacent to the Pratt Library. It makes you think about music. It makes you consider destruction and rebirth.
The Pratt Sculpture Park is open to the public. It enhances the campus. Other artists featured include Donald Lipski and Mark di Suvero. Public Art Review recognized the park as one of the 10 best college campus art collections in the country in 2006.
So, as you wander through Pratt Institute, take a moment. Reflect on Accord Final. Think about how art transforms the everyday. Consider how a broken piano can still create beauty.