I debated with myself about going down this road in this post and decided it would be okay. I did solicit opinions from fellow artist friends on the topic of obsessive compulsions and hoarding in an attempt to come up with a self-diagnosis. Opinions varied. Since photographs do a good job of describing things… I will start with images from the basement of my house and my dilemma (and subject of this post) will become clearer.
I have been doing my Falls of the Ohio project since 2003. During this time, I have made many sculptures from the materials I found deposited in the park by the Ohio River. Most of those materials and sculptures were left on site, but not all. I do have a desire to remove the trash I find from this environment even if I realize I can’t get it all. The result is that I have brought a lot of it home with the notion of using it in my art, sometime in the near future.
I “maintain” a small studio space in my basement where I store materials with the aim of making something from them. One issue I have is that I see “potential” in so many things and I’m reluctant to give up on materials that could become art. I am plagued by seeing all the possibilities which on occasion out strips my ability to realize all this “potential”. Part of this is economic in nature. I have never ever had any money and as many of you know, art materials can be very costly. With this Falls project, I have spent the bare minimum since what I’ve been picking up is free.
These are my “rainy day” materials from which I’ve made many birthday gifts, Christmas presents, and donations for not for profit fund-raising events. Over the years all this material culture has built up and it’s getting hard to move around my basement! So, I ask myself…am I a hoarder?
I have to admit looking at this image…things look bad! It’s nearly the classic picture of the hoarder house that has paths of stacked newspapers and magazines with little paths running through the spaces. I assure you that the rest of my house is quite normal…for the most part. We have what seems like thousands of books and I have more art hanging around than the “average” home. The men of my family have always been drawn to collecting things (coins, medals, old photographs, etc…), but I think I came down with a more serious case than most. I will say the books are in their cases and the art is hung on the walls with some care. I try to take care of the objects I seriously collect, but not with the art materials and their as yet unrealized potentials.
There has never been a time that I wasn’t making something. That sense of thrift and trying to recycle and reuse I see as being virtues of my creative process. Years a go, I once found employment as a picture framer and I was disturbed by all the waste in that profession. I couldn’t see throwing away perfectly good picture frames because they were old. And, all those scraps of 100% cotton rag matboard…are too hard-won to be thrown in the dumpster with impunity. So, naturally much of these materials also found their way into the basement. In my defense, I will tell you that this stuff does eventually get used. For many years, I supplied all the neighborhood kids with all the free matboard they could draw and paint upon. Because the matboard in particular was quality material, there are many childhood drawings and artworks that might actually survive to say something about the ephemeral experiences of being children. Although I have vivid recollections of the art I made as a kid…nothing from my childhood survives and that does bother me a bit. I have saved most of my sons’ childhood art. Perhaps that’s another sign of a hoarder!
So, what am I going to do with all this “river treasure”? I have resolved to use it this year and get it out of the basement! I have a few upcoming exhibition opportunities and may pursue more. To help with this goal, I have rented an additional studio space in a local church where several other artists keep spaces. The enigmatic image I began this post with is from that church and it’s from a small library/study area used by the congregation. Here is a partial view of my new studio room in this church with the beginnings of me moving materials out of my basement.
The church (whose name I will keep private) dates from the turn of the 20th century. The current congregation is small and aging and I wonder how long it will remain a viable church? To help bring in income, the vacant spaces are rented out. I’m sharing my space with two good friends of mine both of whom are primarily painters.
Although I do think of myself as a spiritual person, I wouldn’t describe myself as being traditionally religious. My sacrament is my creativity. I do, however, find the idea of redemption interesting. With my project, I am trying to redeem these poor materials I find by our river and maybe point to something that is within all of us…a univeral creativity that I feel is the hope for our planet.
Artist at Exit 0 Riverblog 
What an illuminating post Al! i can identify with so many of the issues. Being a thrifty person myself, I could be said (and have been said) to be a bit of a hoarder. Like you, I was brought up not to waste anything.
I also see potential in what most people would throw away. I have pieces of fabric, paper, china, – anything that is tactile and colourful is stashed away to be used in some creative and useful way………………………………………..in the future 🙂
Your new studio space in the church looks an inspiring and uplifting place to work – really love the stained glass windows in that building!
When I told people that my studio (in the cellar at the time) looked like Francis Bacon’s – they thought I was kidding. If I can find some photos (complete with naked lightbulb) I’ll show you.
It’s now the spare room’s turn to be transformed into a chaotic workplace – its overflowing and is in the middle of being sorted. Where will it go? Will all the bits and pieces be thrown out? given to charity? No – they will be stored under the eaves of the house!
I sympathise with your problem, but it’s not your fault you can see so much potentia in these thingsl – is it? 😀
Plus, by not throwing them away – you are doing even more for the environment 😀
It’s an issue that I think many creative people face when presented with such an abundance of materials. I find myself seperating stuff out for other artists too. So and so could use this piece of plexiglas, etc.. The hardest thing to find is the time to use it all. I am looking forward to what can come out of this little room in the church. Thanks Lynda for your empathy!!
I totally understand because I ‘hoard’ things too to a certain extent. I would like to believe that I am not materially attached — I could give away clothes, bags and other things easily but could not throw ‘scraps’ for my fun projects. Maybe because they’re unique and the heart loves it.
🙂
I’m the same way! My family routinely donates to many of my area’s not for profit organizations. The stuff I collect for my art I feel gives me more choices with that art. Thanks again for reaching out!
If it is any help atall, to you, Al, I have to organize and re-organize my art materials and paintings and drawings about every fiveweeks. As I grabfor things and use different supplies, I pull out more that needs to be properly put away. My mantle is where my paintings in progress rest in between layers. Bookshelves have photos and papers in them. Your supplies are much larger than mine, thus more visible as I can shove mine on shelves and in cupboards. Someone is really not a hoarder who uses the material they have set aside. That’s my take, anyway…… Long live the river sculptor!!!!!
Thanks Leslie! I don’t believe I’m a “hoarder” in the classic sense of things. I do tend to use the junk I collect!
Hi Al. Oh I don’t think you have anything to worry about in regard to ‘hoarding for the sake of hoarding.’. Like you I see the potential in things and hence–they arrive–like the rug on my kitchen floor. I’d say you’ve got supplies–you’re well stocked with raw materials. Yes that’s a GOOD thing for an artist.
I like your comment about creativity being the source of hope. I hope you’re right about that.
Thanks Eva! I do believe cultivating creativity in all its forms is what we have going for us. I look upon art making (one source of creativity) as being necessary because for most of art history it conferred some survival advantages and may do so again.
I loved seeing these images–seeing the way your basement turns into sort of a part of the riverbed, but a more “curated” version… I think it’s so interesting thinking about our personal behaviors and approaches to space and how they relate to our artmaking practices. I tend to get rid of EVERYTHING out of a different irresistible compulsion–often things that I still need or still want and later really regret getting rid of! I loved everyone’s descriptions in these comments of their studios and bookshelves packed with colorful materials and fascinating bits and pieces. That’s a beautiful image. I’d so like to see everyone’s studio portrait!
Thanks Julia…so what does your studio look like?
My studio is completely empty right now because I’m shooting offsite! I think there’s a single lonely tripod in there… and a ladder. This studio used to belong to a painter, and the walls are all pegboard for hanging paintings in progress: but now there’s nothing on them! The pegboard holes are charming on their own, though. 🙂 Maybe I’ll post a studio portrait!
I always love seeing artists’ studios or learning about their favorite processes. I like the Anti-matter Twins idea and can’t wait to see how it resolves.