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J. W Sloan Gallery - Art Theives? Pt II
Copyright infringement and stealing is often an accusation thrown at me and SXM PE, sometimes from people who don't like us or the site, but most often I think from people who just don't understand or know what 'blogs' and 'bloggers' are. After all, I see repeated references in the content and comments on other sites calling people who make comments 'bloggers', so naturally we have some confused people out there.
I'll go into more detail on blogs and blogging in another post soon, but for now I will say the accusation has no grounds, what we do is refer to sources and we take a small portion as a 'quote'. People who want to read the whole article can click the 'link to source' and read the whole article. Anyway, more later on that, I don't want to get sidetracked because this blog is about real copyright issues and theft. A story that I wrote about 6 weeks ago and which the artists took to the police this week.
(Agghh... The irony of it all!)
In a follow up to that story, I have made some inquiries and it seems some who claim to represent art and artists are all rather weak or meek. The recent issue of SoualigART had a short editorial touching on the story but limp and vague, surprising considering the Trifan image has only been shown in the magazine and is the most likely source of the theft. What artist would want to have their images in such a magazine when it shows such little concern or support for art and the artists who pay for ads?
SoualigArt, I don't know who you are but if you get French govt funding for arts and culture as I suspect you do, then I think maybe you have an interest in being more supporting and louder about it? Maybe?
I also asked about Art Lovers, a French Govt funded association. Unfortunately my French is not so good, so I'm not sure what their statuts say about their role and if they should be more vocal, but so far they have apparently been largely indifferent and silent on it all.
I was unable to find out where Dutch side artists or any associations stand on this matter, but I am told many understand how this affects them all. Who knows if any Ruby Bute's or Richardson's are now being sold in 'Sloan' style galleries and stores around the World? As the artist said in the DH story, these images are now in the hands of people who churn copies out like in a factory and no doubt have many clients, not just Sloan.
Someone had to have put that image in the hands of those copyists and unless they are subscribers to SoualigArt then someone must have sent it to them, it's reasonable to suspect that the people selling them might have done so.
Anyway, it's now in the hands of the Dutch Side Police and Prosecutors Office, I guess we shall see what happens now. Perhaps a raid to seize evidence and the copies might be in order?
Who knows. Stay tuned and lets see.
Flipper
They took it to the police as suggested, not sure whats going to happen now though, it was unclear. Other artists are upset, including Ruby and there was even a plan to protest outside Sloan, but then there would be all the hassle of getting permits etc.
Having someone close to me in the art world I understand what this sort of theft means, I understand a bit about the time and personal energy and creativity that goes into their work. To have it stolen and copied like this hurts. Very few artists are able to fetch high prices and so many of them are unrecognized and struggle along with a sale here and there. From what I gather, there is no art association that has any unity on either side of the island, I also though SoualigArt and Art Lovers might be more concerned. I hear one of them replied that it was a minor issue.
Greetings from Spain.
Caribdude
PS, oh yeah, about your wish. If you google Sloane St Maarten