Should artists destroy their work?

Looking at Art:

John Baldessari, a conceptual artist who began his career as a traditional painter, decided to have his early paintings destroyed. He called the destruction the “Cremation project” and said he actually had them cremated. An artist known as Banksy, sold a piece at auction in New York for $25.4 million dollars. He arranged for the work to self-shred just after the sale. The half-shredded canvas was again offered at auction in London and sold for three times as much. Beyond these sensational acts of destruction, do you think there is ever a good reason for an artist to destroy their work?

Work in the Studio:

When I moved from a big house in Connecticut to a smaller home in Florida with no basement, I had to decide what to do with my huge collection of sculpture. After many years of making art, I had a dilemma. I really don’t mind discarding a piece that I do not consider successful, however, the best pieces are like children to me. In the end, I sold some, placed some with very good friends and family and had some carted off to the dump. Some of the discarded stuff was the largest and heaviest. One of those pieces had been on display in a museum for six months, but I could not find a permanent placement for it and another was an award winner in a national juried exhibition in New York City. That part of our move broke my heart.

The watercolor below has just been completed. The painting refers to how difficult it is to be a parent today. I’m not sure how I feel about the final result. Will it go into a portfolio and be forgotten or will it have a more prominent place? Over time my feelings about recent work become more clear. We shall see.

A Delicate Balance, Watercolor, 14” x 11”