Podcast Summary: Not Real Art – Episode: "From Creation to Preservation: The Artist's Guide to Archiving"

Release Date: March 25, 2025

Introduction

In this insightful episode of the Not Real Art podcast, hosted by Crewest Studio, the dynamic duo Man One and Sourdough delve into a crucial yet often overlooked aspect of an artist's journey: archiving. Titled "From Creation to Preservation: The Artist's Guide to Archiving," the episode offers a comprehensive guide for artists and creative professionals on how to effectively preserve their work for future generations. Sourdough, the primary speaker for this episode, combines practical advice with personal anecdotes to underscore the importance of archiving in maintaining an artist’s legacy.

The Importance of Archiving

Sourdough opens the discussion by emphasizing the inevitability of mortality and the responsibility artists hold in preserving their creations. He states, “We’re all going to die. And if we don’t archive our work, our families are going to be left holding the bag and they won’t know what to do” (04:15). This poignant reminder sets the tone for the episode, highlighting the emotional and practical implications of inadequate archiving.

Real-Life Scenarios: Sourdough shares compelling stories to illustrate the dire consequences of neglecting archiving:

1. Photographer's Legacy: A woman whose husband, a Los Angeles-based photographer, passed away, leaving behind an extensive body of work. Without proper archiving, she was at a loss until Joshua Wattles, an intellectual property attorney and friend of the show, facilitated the placement of the photographs in the Los Angeles Public Library. This initiative not only preserved the artist’s work but also made it accessible to the public (12:30).

2. Painter’s Unmanaged Estate: Another case involved a daughter inheriting her father’s paintings in Spain. Overwhelmed by the sheer volume and uncertain about the artwork’s value, she sought guidance on preserving and honoring her father’s legacy (18:45).

3. Artist Facing Health Issues: Sourdough recounts a conversation with an artist grappling with health issues who recognized the urgency of archiving his work to ensure his family's ease in managing his legacy after his passing (25:20).

Statistical Insight: Highlighting the broader scope, Sourdough reveals that 47% of Americans over 40 identify as visual artists, and according to the National Endowment for the Arts, nearly 2 million Americans are part of the artistic workforce. This demographic trend underscores the impending wave of artists and their families who will need effective archiving solutions in the coming years (30:10).

Steps to Archive Your Work

Sourdough outlines a six-step guide for artists to systematically archive their work, ensuring both preservation and ease of management for their heirs.

1. Create a Comprehensive Inventory

• Documentation: Record detailed information for each artwork, including title, year of creation, medium, dimensions, and any relevant notes.
• Photography: Take high-resolution photographs of each piece, capturing signatures and intricate details (35:05).

Quote:
“Document each piece, record the details such as artwork, title, year of creation, medium, size, dimensions, and photograph each piece, including the signature” (35:15) – Sourdough

2. Use Inventory Management Tools

• Digital Platforms: Utilize specialized tools like Artwork Archive or simple solutions like Excel spreadsheets to organize and store inventory data.
• Accessibility: Ensure that the inventory is easily accessible to designated family members or legacy keepers (40:20).

Quote:
“You could use a digital platform like Artwork Archive. It’s a great tool, very affordable, but still it’s money, right? So you could use a spreadsheet or even a good old-fashioned notebook” (42:10) – Sourdough

3. Organize Physical Storage

• Protective Materials: Store artworks in acid-free folders, archival sleeves, and climate-controlled environments to prevent degradation.
• Climate Control: Sensitive and prized pieces should be maintained in environments with regulated temperature and humidity (47:45).

Quote:
“Use acid-free materials and consider storing sensitive pieces in climate-controlled environments to prevent degradation” (48:05) – Sourdough

4. Develop an Archiving System

• Categorization: Sort artworks by significance, date, or type to create an organized system.
• Labeling: Clearly label each piece and store them in labeled bins or flat files for easy retrieval.
• Prioritization: Focus on archiving more important or popular pieces first (52:30).

Quote:
“Sort artworks by significance, date, or type, and prioritize archiving based on importance or popularity” (53:00) – Sourdough

5. Plan for Legacy and Estate

• Estate Planning: Include artworks in your estate plan with explicit instructions on their disposition after your death.
• Legacy Keeper: Appoint a trusted individual to manage your artistic legacy, ensuring your wishes are honored.
• Legal Assistance: While consulting a lawyer is ideal, even handwritten instructions can provide clarity (60:15).

Quote:
“Include artworks in your estate plan with clear instructions on what should happen to each piece after you die” (60:30) – Sourdough
“Designate a legacy keeper to manage your artistic legacy, ensuring your wishes are respected” (64:50) – Sourdough

6. Digital Archiving

• High-Resolution Digitization: Create high-res scans or photographs of your works to safeguard against physical loss.
• Technological Tools: Utilize AI tools and advanced smartphone cameras to enhance image quality without incurring exorbitant costs.
• Regular Updates: Consistently update your digital archive to reflect new works and changes in your portfolio (68:25).

Quote:
“Digitize your work with high-resolution scans or photographs. AI tools now are super powerful and can enhance your images effectively” (69:00) – Sourdough
“Regularly update your archive just like you clean your room or take out the garbage” (71:10) – Sourdough

7. Seek Professional Assistance

• Expert Consultation: Engage with legacy specialists or organizations like the Joan Mitchell Foundation for guidance on archiving and estate planning.
• Resource Utilization: Leverage professional resources to ensure comprehensive and legally sound archiving practices (75:45).

Quote:
“Consult with experts when you can. Organizations like the Joan Mitchell Foundation are great resources” (76:15) – Sourdough

Conclusion

Sourdough wraps up the episode with a recap of the six essential steps for archiving, reinforcing their importance in safeguarding an artist’s legacy:

1. Create a Comprehensive Inventory
2. Use Inventory Management Tools
3. Organize Physical Storage
4. Develop an Archiving System
5. Plan for Legacy and Estate
6. Digital Archiving
7. Seek Professional Assistance

He underscores the emotional weight of the topic, acknowledging that discussing mortality is never easy. However, he emphasizes that proactive archiving is a profound way to honor one’s life's work and provide peace of mind to loved ones. Sourdough encourages artists to undertake this process while they are still healthy and capable, ensuring that their artistic contributions continue to inspire long after they are gone (80:30).

Final Quote:
“We are mortal people. Hopefully, we're going to live long, healthy lives, but in the event that we don't, we need to make sure our artwork and all of our life's work is positioned and documented in such a way that our loved ones know what to do with it” (82:45) – Sourdough

Additional Resources and Announcements

Throughout the episode, Sourdough promotes several resources and initiatives associated with Not Real Art:

• NotreArt.com: Offers a plethora of organic, free-range, gluten-free materials including incredible stories, amazing artists, and artwork.
• Not Real Art School: Features free educational videos for continuing education and professional development.
• Virtual Art Exhibitions: Hosted on First Fridays, showcasing monthly online shows.
• Remote Series with Badir McCleary: Encouraged listeners to explore this unique content.
• ArtsvilleUSA.com: Celebrates American contemporary arts and crafts from Asheville, North Carolina, and beyond.

Sourdough urges listeners to support their fiscal sponsor, Arterial, through donations at arterial.org, highlighting the importance of financial backing in sustaining creative endeavors.

Final Thoughts

This episode of Not Real Art serves as an essential guide for artists committed to preserving their creative legacies. By following Sourdough's detailed roadmap for archiving, artists can ensure that their work remains accessible, protected, and honored for generations to come. Whether you’re a seasoned artist or just beginning your creative journey, the insights shared in this episode are invaluable for anyone passionate about maintaining the enduring impact of their art.

For more information and to access the episode's resources, visit notrealart.com.