Under the Dust
What’s under your bed? For years, all that was under mine was a collection of dusty art portfolios from college and even high school. They followed me through several moves. One move was especially memorable when the mover carried a portfolio from the truck like a majorette’s baton, spinning it and scattering my papers!
After all that, I was done. It was time to get rid of some of my older art. My husband wasn’t a fan of the idea, thinking even my less-favorite pieces could find a home. He was right, but after 40-plus years of making art, the accumulation was a lot…especially the pieces just gathering dust under the bed.
How it Began
I was inspired by a biography of Georgia O’Keeffe, who was known for destroying her art when it no longer represented her. Following her lead, I convinced my husband to help me photograph each piece from my academic portfolios. I then offered the pieces to my kids and my mom, my biggest fans. After that, the destruction began.
After breaking the ice with art that would have never been offered for sale, I was ready to remove some older pieces from my inventory. I didn’t destroy much of my current art, but it was enough to set the precedent.
It Continues
Seven years and three moves later, I’m doing it again. I recently went through my “art career art” and destroyed even more pieces. It’s hard to explain the feeling, but it’s like taking off a heavy backpack after a long hike. Dragging around my past in the form of old art had become a burden, and even if some of the pieces were “good art,” it was time to let go.
So why destroy it? I give some pieces away to family and friends as a thank you for their support. But the rest? I remove them from their mats or frames and rip them up. It’s surprisingly therapeutic, knowing that they’re gone for good.