Mike Hascall Retrospective Exhibit 2025

The goals of this exhibit:

o   Document a method of  ‘Legacy Housecleaning for Artists’.    (for the thousands of artists whose families will not know what to do with mom or dad’s artwork when they are gone).

o   Exhibit my paintings one more time and then give them away.    (a donation will be required).

o   Direct all donations to Common Area Maintenance (CAM) - a not-for-profit community art space in Seattle.

There are hundreds of thousands of artists paying to store their work (out of 2.67 million artists in the U.S) and fewer galleries in which to exhibit and sell. This often means a huge surplus of artwork at the end of an artist’s life. Any artist would rather have their work on someone’s wall than sitting in dark, expensive storage, so we need a creative solution.

I have put on my own exhibit and given away a body of work in the past .

 In 1983, Dianne Rey, Michael Knutson, and I moved our exhibit from Marylhurst College outside Portland, OR into an empty storefront in Pioneer Square, Seattle. Our self-promotion was successful, with two sales and a nice Regina Hackett print review (3 Unnoticed Painters Put on Own Show to get Deserved Attention, Seattle P-I, 12/9/83).

In 2017, I orchestrated giving away the collection of Rolon Bert Garner, a well-known Seattle artist and personality. After putting up ‘Free Art’ signs in Georgetown, Seattle, over 125 works were given away from a parked rental truck in a day and a half.

I don’t want to burden my family with unsold artwork.  In this scenario my exhibited artwork would be tagged like a silent auction, with the bid starting at ‘$10 CAM donation’. Those interested would sign up and be given a bid number. Purchase price would go directly to Central Area Maintenance (camseattle.org). Works too large for home display would be available for artists to cut up and reuse materials.

I spend $5,000 per year for my art storage, so the long-term economic benefit to my family is clear.  I would hire a professional art handler to move and install, provide a subsidized delivery, and take any remaining works to Goodwill. I look forward to putting on this exhibit June 13 – July 11, 2025.

mike hascall