Day 2868 An adventurous day.

22nd June 2025

Today we had to drive to West Olive to collect maybe the most difficult piece we have ever had to move out of a house.

The drive up to West Olive was pleasant, although it was another hot day, but for a free dresser we would travel to the ends of the earth.

The GPS led up to a narrow track that took us through densely wooded land until it opened out to a clearing. 

The view from this clearing was breathtaking, in front of us was Lake Michigan in all its glory.

The house was in a prime spot, with a deck at the front where anyone could spend hours just looking out over the water. 

Standing on the deck was the chap we had come to see.

He waved to us to join him, so climbing the stairs we were up with the Gods.

His name was Henry Brimmer a retired lecturer of graphic art at Michigan State University.

His hair was gray and wild, his dress was flamboyant and colourful, he had a sparkle in his eyes and warmth in his smile. He told us he was born in Mexico, and gave us a brief history of the house and land around. He was most proud of the massive studio that he had built adjoining his house.

Once the talking was over he led us into his home. I was hit with the clutter, a mix of things he had collected throughout his life, including collectible chairs by Knoll and Eames.

He had taken the drawers out and laid them on the floor. There were particularly long, which was our clue to the size of the dresser.

I caught sight of a dark monolith at the top of the stairs. It stood defiant, dominating the space, how were we going to get it out of the house? Kelli suggested that one of us get behind the piece and control it, but as men we totally ignored her. 

On the first attempt we got it down the stairs but the door stopped it getting to a position when we could pivot it round, so somehow we had to get it back to the top. This was impossible because the leg got jammed under the top step. The only way to free it was for me to climb up the front of the carcass and get to the top so I could lift it and free the leg. We should have listened to Kelli.

The next idea was to remove the door leading into the living room, thank god for hinge pins, they were knocked out in no time.

With me at the top, the piece was lowered down the stairs, without the door to hinder it, we managed to get it through the doorway.

However there were a few obstacles in the way, one being a book case that was so heavy it couldn’t be moved.

Kelli stepped up, she was confident that there was just enough room to get the piece through. I had my doubts, but she was proved right again.

Now we were able to move it through the living room by sliding it on a mat.

Once through the front door, it had to be rotated to go down some more steps, then rotated ninety degrees and down the final few steps, all this on the hottest day.

Now it was just getting it into the truck.

Kelli needed to turn the truck around, so and reversing it back she hit one of his sculptures.

I heard the bang, fortunately neither the truck nor his sculpture sustained any damage.

Getting everything loaded took a bit of time, carefully weaving the drawers and a bloody large mirror carefully into the available space.

Henry then offered to show us round the studio which he shared with his son who is an artist.

Walking through the large green double doors was like entering heaven.

The place was vast, shelves were full of his ceramic sculptures, curved, twisted and flowing forms unlike anything we had seen before.

You could hear the excitement in his voice as we described the inspiration behind the objects. 

Then it was time to help him refit the door, that went smoothly, thank goodness it did.

Just before we left he gave me a stack of old Herman Miller annual reports that featured the graphical input from Steve Frykholm whom he is good friends with. It is funny how small the world is. 

We left feeling hot and exhausted, but delighted that we had met such an interesting person, the kind of person I would like to meet again.

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Author: peterb51

I am a practical person, I love making things, and especially working with wood. I appreciate good design, music and food.

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