A New Project Is Coming to Fruition!
My assistant Abby has been checking and cleaning up data for MONTHS! I actually feel bad about it because, for me, it is deadly, dull, slow, and so detail-oriented that I might lose my mind!
“What data?” you ask.
Names, addresses, and emails of curators, directors, and registrars of area and national museums who might be interested in owning my artwork! I have been collecting contacts for years and years. Positions change. Institutions close. It has been Abby’s job to focus on updating all that stuff!
“Why?” you ask.
As I age, as my career exceeds 60 years with over 300 exhibitions, more than 50 of them comprehensively solo…I need to consider my estate and my legacy. I want to control, as much as one can, what I leave behind. I want to preserve, at least for a while, my life’s work. Museums and other sorts of collections are one way to do that. I wanted to lighten the burden of the art estate for my son. He, too, is an artist and would not want to see anything “put on a bonfire!” Me neither.
So, what does this entail?” you ask.
When Abby came to work for me last year, we started by going through all my artwork and removing the work from inventory that I did not want to remain intact. Work that I was no longer proud of or that really did not represent my life’s work. We had a great time ripping things apart into stacks of useable material that could be recycled into new work. I re-worked some older pieces and improved them. We inventoried frames and shipping boxes for use in the future. It was hard on the hands, but, because I was ready, it was not hard on the psyche! Something about turning 75 helped release my death grip on less-than-stellar artwork. It felt wonderful!
“Cool! Now what?” you ask.
AN EVENT! This is the in-person kick-off of the Museum & Non-Profit Donation Project. It is a one-day opportunity for curators, directors, and registrars to preview a selection of the available work in person. YOU can come and look, too! Abby and I will be there from 10-4, April 22 and we would love to see you, too! Think of it as an exhibition where nothing is for sale;-) Of course, if some curators, etc. come, I will have to focus on them But, hey, who’s to say how busy it will be?
