Artists put their heart and soul into their work, only to sell it off to the highest bidder, who can then do with the work as they please: display it or destroy it. Considering what goes into it, is it ever really right to destroy art?

James Dirgin

Age: 37

Occupation: Teacher

Resides: Salinas

Once an artist donates a piece of art to a foundation, should the foundation be allowed to destroy it? Yes.

Who owns the rights to an artist''s work after the artist dies? Whoever has the inheritance-not necessarily the public.

What artist has most influenced you? Henry Miller.

Desiree Randall

Age: 20

Occupation: Waitperson.

Resides: Carmel Valley

Once an artist donates a piece of art to a foundation, should the foundation be allowed to destroy it? I don''t think art should be destroyed.

What part do you think our tax dollars should play in promoting the arts? In education. It should be made available to schools allowing young people to discover their abilities and have them encouraged.

Livia Peterson

Age: 23

Occupation: Waitress

Resides: Pacific Grove

Once an artist donates a piece of art to a foundation, should the foundation be allowed to destroy it? Absolutely not.

Does a person''s art at some point stop being personal property and become public? There''s always a marriage between the two. It''s always personal to the artist, but once it''s accessible to everyone, it''s a shared relationship.

Roy Hayes

Age: 40

Occupation: Shuttle Driver

Resides: Marina

Does a person''s art at some point stop being personal property and become public? Only if the artist wants it to be public.

How should our tax dollars be used to promote the arts? Display, research and education.

What artist has most influenced you? Paxton.

Carlos Tirado

Age: 41

Occupation: Ancillary Staff at CHOMP

Resides: Monterey

Once an artist donates a piece of art to a foundation, should the foundation be allowed to destroy it? Yes, if he donates it, he relinquishes the ownership, unless there''s an agreement to return it.

When does a person''s art stop being personal property and become public? The moment it gets purchased by the public.

What part should our tax dollars play in promoting the arts? In all forms of art to some extent, especially schools.

What artist has most influenced you? Edgar Allen Poe and Steinbeck.