The Tales From The Trash art show, curated by Steve Purdy, is an annual “one-night-only” celebration of “questionable art” found in thrift stores, yard sales, and dumpsters. The event typically takes place at the Central School Project in Bisbee and features hundreds of original works—ranging from the bizarre to the truly “ugly”—that are presented with new, often humorous or inappropriate titles.
Expect over 100 original paintings and sculptures, 100% free from AI, hand-picked from across Arizona and occasionally further afield. Curators add only a title to the found works, leaving the “hearts and souls” of the original (often unknown) artists intact.
Known for high spirits and a packed house, the opening often feels like a “dance” where you “cannot pierce the crowd” without meeting new friends. Billed as the “(Truly) Affordable Art Show,” pieces are sold at reasonable prices, making it accessible for “regular people” to take home a piece of Bisbee’s creative insanity.
Whether it’s a portrait of a confused baby or a landscape that makes your eyes pop, every piece is a real physical object created by a human being who tried… at least a little bit.
All art is for sale on a first-come, first-served basis. Don’t miss the most fun you can have looking at art in the Mule Mountains!
Know Before You Go
- When: Usually in March – Doors usually open at 6:00 PM)
- Where: Central School Project, 43 Howell Ave, Bisbee, AZ
- Admission: FREE for all ages (Sense of humor highly recommended)