More 'Conceptual Art' For Sale?

Steve Hartman On Selling His 'Work Of Art'

(CBS)  The following is a weekly 60 Minutes Wednesday commentary by columnist Steve Hartman.

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Something truly amazing happened right after we aired last week’s story.

The piece was about "conceptual art." Specifically, my lame attempt at "conceptual art."

It was a wrinkled T-shirt I found in a men’s clothing store about six years ago. The price was $180, and when I asked the salesman, "Why so much," he told me: "It’s because the wrinkles don’t come out."

I was blown away. So I framed it, and called it art. Unfortunately, when I showed my masterpiece to the publisher of an art magazine, he basically told me to stick to stick figures.

Hartman: "Would you put it in your house?"

Landesman: "No, it wouldn't appeal to me."

Actually, me neither. Which is why it had been in my garage until last week’s show, when – just to see what would happen -- I put it up for auction on eBay, for charity.

It turns out people bid up to $8,800 for the T-shirt. It was the second
most popular auction on eBay this week, right behind Johnny Carson’s childhood home.

Needless to say, since then, I’ve been going through my garage like crazy to see what else I could sell. And although I didn’t find anymore art, I did come across something else of value –- my old Hot Wheels.

And what happened next is a whole 'nother story.

I got a hold some people in San Antonio, Texas, who really wanted to buy them. Unfortunately, although I’d saved the cars for 35 years, the airline couldn’t keep them for a day.

Jim, the ticket agent, promised me he’d find the bag, but I was skeptical, and I was late. I had an appointment at a Travelodge with the South Texas Hot Wheels Collectors Club. Nice guys, and extremely empathetic.

I appreciated the sympathy, especially after finding out I had the most valuable kind of Hot Wheels.

Hartman: "I probably had 50 like that."

Club's reaction: "Awww."

But more than the money, I was really starting to miss the memories. It's funny how sometimes you just don’t appreciate what you have until the airlines lose it -- or almost lose it.

I received a call from Jim, the ticket agent. He delivered my Hot Wheels personally. And all the cars were there.

Everyone swarmed around me, shouting out this make, and that model: “It’s Funny Money!" "It's a Gritty Kitty."

They told me the values, and more importantly, showed me the worth.

After sharing in their excitement, I decided I could not sell my childhood memories. And as for the T-shirt, to the art collector out there who bought it, you should know I’ve also got an pair of old gym socks that stand up on their own, if you’re into sculpture.