Trashcan art thrown out by janitors
Recently another case made the news of a valuable piece of art thrown out by overzealous janitors at an art fair who didn't realize that the art in question was, in fact, art. (I'm pretty sure that Chuck has reported on a number of similar cases.)
In this case, the work was a sculpture by Will Kurtz titled Keep America Great Again. — valued at $8000. The janitors got confused because the sculpture featured "a raccoon next to a trash can brimming with brightly colored rubbish."
The janitors didn't throw away the raccoon — only the trash in the can.
Actress Brooke Shields, who was curating the show, realized what had happened and was able to find the missing "art" — because apparently this kind of thing had happened at the show before, and so the janitors had been trained to temporarily store all trash in clear plastic bags before disposing of it permanently.
In this case, the work was a sculpture by Will Kurtz titled Keep America Great Again. — valued at $8000. The janitors got confused because the sculpture featured "a raccoon next to a trash can brimming with brightly colored rubbish."
The janitors didn't throw away the raccoon — only the trash in the can.
Actress Brooke Shields, who was curating the show, realized what had happened and was able to find the missing "art" — because apparently this kind of thing had happened at the show before, and so the janitors had been trained to temporarily store all trash in clear plastic bags before disposing of it permanently.
Comments
It's definitely a comment on the state of modern art when you have to save the trash, just in case some of isn't actual trash!
Posted by TheCannyScot in Atlanta, GA on 07/20/16 at 05:25 PM
Don't blame the janitor! Most modern art is nearly indistinguishable from trash to begin with.
Posted by KDP on 07/20/16 at 05:31 PM
To some of you guys, this Still Life with Raccoon (Dinner for One?) is garbage, but I like it. I have so many of the suckers rummaging around in my backyard, this piece really speaks to me.
Posted by Harvey on 07/20/16 at 11:30 PM
@KDP: I agree!
@Harvey: They're vermin, die when shot, are edible, & the skin makes great hats. Go, do, be.
@Harvey: They're vermin, die when shot, are edible, & the skin makes great hats. Go, do, be.
Posted by Expat47 in Athens, Greece on 07/21/16 at 12:46 AM
I saw a modern work called "Dreams of Highway __." (Fill in the number of your local old, potholed, over-trafficked road.) The work consisted of blown tires, crushed traffic cones, bashed-in car parts, hub caps, broken barricades, flashing yellow and red lights, etc. It was actually really funny. But they must have had to send the janitors on vacation during the exhibit to keep it there.
Posted by Virtual on 07/21/16 at 02:09 AM
@Expat47
And the penis bone (yes, raccoons truly have 'boners') can be used as a toothpick.
And the penis bone (yes, raccoons truly have 'boners') can be used as a toothpick.
Posted by Justin S. on 07/21/16 at 12:47 PM
@Justin: The minks' are better. A bit smaller.
Posted by Expat47 in Athens, Greece on 07/21/16 at 01:15 PM
If this is worth $8,000.00, I wonder what my garage is worth. I keep the rabid vermin out but could let the 'REAL LIVE' raccoons in for extra value. For $8,000,000.00 I will throw in the house and land for free.
Posted by BMN on 07/22/16 at 07:47 AM
Sorry, BMN, the stuff was <<<VALUED>>> at $8,000 nothing was said about it's worth.
Posted by Expat47 in Athens, Greece on 07/22/16 at 10:40 AM
So the janitors are also art critics...hmmm.
Posted by tadchem on 07/23/16 at 07:21 AM
No, they're the ones who can accurately identify trash and dispose of it properly.
Posted by Expat47 in Athens, Greece on 07/23/16 at 08:39 AM
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Category: Art