“Recycle Art”

by Ask Babs (aka Tucker Neel)

Artillery Magazine, Nov./Dec. 2019.


DEAR BABS: “I’ve been an artist for a long time and I want to get rid of my old art. I don’t want it anymore and I don’t want to try and sell it, but I feel bad just throwing it in the dumpster. What’s the best way to get rid of my art?”


Bernard, Los Angeles

Dear Bernard, Destroying art can seem sacrilegious, an affront to the culture gods. But sometimes we have to kill our children. Take solace in the fact that—as long as you’re destroying your own art— you shouldn’t feel any guilt. John Baldessari famously burned all his old paintings at a crematorium, placed an obit, and turned the ashes into a work unto itself. Claude Monet, Gerhard Richter and Agnes Martin all felt a need to torch their works. You’re in good company.

But those artists destroyed their work to ensure history only saw “the good stuff.” And let’s face it… unless you’re a blue-chip commodity machine—and most artists aren’t—you’ll eventually need to get rid of “inventory.”

First off, make sure you’ve documented the art destined for destruction. You never know where your career is going to go and someday images of your “bad” paintings might prove invaluable to an art historian, biographer or some future artist looking to you for inspiration. Just file the documentation away and make sure to disclose in your will how you want it accessed and distributed. You have a will, don’t you? You need a will. Put down the matches and write a will.

Next, offer art to your friends and family. But be strategic; send out personalized overtures to try and place works with people you know will appreciate them so you don’t seem like you’re giving it all away in a panic. You don’t want to project the wrong impression—that you’re not long for this world.

Then recycle. Most conventional artworks are easily re-purposed. Donate old stretcher bars to a local community college. Ceramics can be shattered and used as mosaics. Finally, if all else fails, contact Dave Hampton, who runs Art Disposal Service. Started by LA artist John Manno in 1969 and franchised out to Bob Matheny soon after, ADS under Hapton’s lead seeks to “clean up” the mess that is art today. You can contact the organization’s representative Scott Ehrig-Burgess at ehrigburgess@hotmail.com.

But first, write that will.