Bad Art Obliteration Tool from the collection of Hoggard Wagner Collection

Bad Art Obliteration Tool, 2007

paper, oaktag, popsicle stick, envelope

7 x 2.75 x 0.175 inches

Edition. 300 (unnumbered)

The "Bad Art Obliteration Tool" is from the "Obliterate Bad Art Project" (1998), a project of the artists' Zero .1 Percent for Art Commission. The Commission's stated mission is to bridge the gap between ordinary people and art.

The "Bad Art Obliteration Tool" was a street giveaway of 300 hand-crafted blinders which could be used to block the view of bad art. It was a part of the Philadelphia Fringe Festival. An artists' book was subsequently produced: "Bad Art Obliteration Tool Report) (1999)

The blinders were given away on the street and intended, the artists say, "to empower ordinary people to indicate what art they like and don't like - if you don't like the art, use the tool as a kind of blinder."

The project was a part of the Philadelphia Fringe Festival. An artists' book was later produced: "Bad Art Obliteration Tool Report" (1999).

This is one of four separate, related pieces given away on the streets of Philadelphia at different times. All of the objects were included in a solo show (April 27, 2008) at the Philadelphia Institute for Advanced Studies (PiFAS). It was a one day show/giveaway in a mini-tabletop gallery called GUS. The show was called the "Zero .1% For Art Commission Reading Room and Fire Sale".

The text on the envelope reads:

Bad Art Obliteration Tool

Reusable
Multipurpose
Factory Tested

DIRECTIONS: Remove from envelope. Close eye. Put tool into space between your face and offending object. Move tool away from face until pleasing result is obtained.

From Hoggard Wagner Collection

Michelle Vaughan

Salty, 2014

archival pigment inks on 100% cotton rag paper

8 x 10 inches
Dean Sameshima

Tea Room Drawing, 2011

C-print

4 x 6 inches
Reed Seifer

Optimism button, 2009

printed silver button

1 inch diameter
Eric Doeringer

Whitney Museum Stickers, 2007

Vinyl Labels

53.875 x 11.875 inches
Cliff Baldwin

LOVESEAT; For Bill, 2004

vinyl and stainless steel

32 x 48 x 26 inches
Alejandro Diaz

Esta Galeria (from an ongoing series of cardboard signs), 2002

permanent marker on cardboard

12 x 18 inches
Taiji Matsue

Apennines, 2001

silver gelatin photograph

4.25 x 6 inches
Bruce Cratsley

Block of Ice, 3 A.M., New York, 1995

black and white photograph

14.75 x 14.75 inches

View All Artworks

Provenance

Additional Artworks

Salty, 2014

Tea Room Drawing, 2011

Optimism button, 2009

Whitney Museum Stickers, 2007

LOVESEAT; For Bill, 2004

Esta Galeria (from an ongoing series of cardboard signs), 2002

Apennines, 2001

Block of Ice, 3 A.M., New York, 1995