CHAPTER 12

Protecting Your Art

Protecting your art can mean something as simple as

knowing how to repair your piece or how to keep oily hands

off it and range into more serious matters such having the

right level of theft and fire insurance. You'd be surprised

to see how quickly a nice evening around the

fireplace or a friend's visit can turn into a nightmare

for your artwork.

In a 1997 exhibition, Marcus Harvey displayed a

controversial painting titled "Myra." This was a large

monochrome piece of the criminal Myra Hindley. Because of

the nature of her crimes a crowd of protesters attacked the

work with eggs and ink.

In a bid to salvage the art, experts were called in:

"At the time all the restorers who were consulted said it was

beyond repair,"

Marcus Harvey refusing to let his work go down in flames

decided to repair it himself... using Ajax."

The moral of the story: You can never be too careful

with your art.