Mechanic Saves Artist's $2M Work from Dumpster
Auto mechanic Jared Whipple rescued hundreds of moldy canvases from a Connecticut dumpster in 2017, then spent four years discovering they were created by renowned artist Francis Hines. The collection is now worth millions and getting the recognition it deserves.
Sometimes treasure really is hiding in the trash. When Jared Whipple got a call about colorful car paintings in an abandoned barn, he had no idea he was about to save millions of dollars worth of art from a landfill.
The Watertown, Connecticut auto mechanic arrived in September 2017 to find hundreds of large canvases already tossed in a dumpster, covered in debris and mold. Thankfully, each piece was wrapped in plastic, and when Whipple started unwrapping them, he discovered something special.
The quality was stunning. Bold, geometric paintings of car parts glowed with professional skill. But when Whipple tried to find the artist, Google came up empty.
Four years of detective work finally revealed the truth. The paintings were created by Francis Mattson Hines, an artist who once wrapped the Washington Square Arch in giant fabrics back in 1980. Though celebrated in his time with features in books and documentaries, Hines had faded from public memory by his death in 2016.
"Not only was this artist a 'someone,' but he was even more well known in the New York art world than we could ever have imagined," Whipple said.
In 2022, Whipple partnered with art gallery Hollis Taggart to give Hines the spotlight he deserved. They mounted major exhibitions in Southport, Connecticut and New York City, each showcasing 35 to 40 pieces. Art curator Peter Hastings Falk estimated individual drawings could sell for $4,500, with wrapped paintings fetching around $22,000 each.
With hundreds of pieces in the collection, that dumpster held millions of dollars in art.
Why This Inspires
Whipple isn't focused on the money. He kept some pieces he loves and dedicated himself to a bigger mission: establishing Francis Hines as a significant artist of the 20th and 21st century. His goal is getting Hines into the history books where he belongs.
The exhibitions succeeded beyond expectations. Images of Hines' work now live on the Hollis Taggart website, where art lovers can view and purchase pieces. A forgotten artist is being rediscovered, and his legacy is secure.
One phone call about abandoned art turned into a second chance for a brilliant career that almost disappeared forever.
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Based on reporting by Upworthy
This story was written by BrightWire based on verified news reports.
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