A friend in Maine often finds objects in the woods. These may be glass jars and bottles. Some, when cleaned are beautiful when placed in a sun lit window. A few metal objects have a past purpose that can be guessed at or maybe even clearly identified. A little work in the library or town records might reveal a link to the historical land use. The objects can become part of a story. My mind wanders: "the Hancock family who had three children, two oxen, two cats and grew corn on forty acres. The oldest son fought in the Civil War". Some objects are scrap with an unknown history. My friend mentioned during our last visit that he would like to "mount" some of his favorite pieces. Part of me thought "that's nice" and I added a casual shrug. However, I took a second look. I began to wonder what the items may look like when cleaned. The shapes, the possible patina, would they be beautiful? Was there "art" buried in the hills?
The term found art—more commonly found object (French: objet trouvé) or readymade—describes art created from the undisguised, but often modified, use of objects that are not normally considered art, often because they already have a non-art function. Marcel Duchamp was the originator of this in the early 20th century.
The idea of dignifying commonplace objects was originally a shocking challenge to the accepted distinction between what was considered art as opposed to not art. Although it may now be accepted in the art world as a viable practice, it continues to arouse questioning, as with the Tate Gallery's Turner Prize exhibition of Tracey Emin's My Bed, which consisted literally of her unmade and disheveled bed. In this sense the artist gives the audience time and a stage to contemplate an object. Appreciation of found art in this way can prompt philosophical reflection in the observer. Should I call the MOMA and ask them to make an offer for my dirty laundry? During my college days a friend screamed in the night because I had left my sneakers in his room. The stench woke him up. Bad manners or Performance art?
Pablo Picasso used found objects as the basis for Baboon and Young, and joined a "bicycle saddle" with "handle bars" to make a bull's head. "Other People's Mail", was a zine first published in 1995 by Abby Bridge. The photocopied publication contained found documents including: lists found in the pockets of thrift-store clothes, notes passed in coffee shops or left on windshields, school work left in textbooks, postcards and photos from junk stores, letters left at bus stops, rants posted on power boxes, writings left in photocopiers, and so on.
Art? I wonder. I have lots of old laundry lists buried on my dresser.
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