art theft

My dear friend Sharyn Sowell attended the Atlanta Mart this past weekend. For those of you who don't know her work, go here and be amazed. She is probably one of the most talented people I know. An artist. A working wage earner who puts in the same long hours as I do, probably even more. She has honed her skills, marketed her brand, registered her copyrights, worked hand in hand with her manufacturers, delivering her best work, on time. She not only creates art, she has the sought after ability to create art that sells products...something that many artists lack. It takes a certain vision, a special amount of restraint and perseverance to get through the muck of doing business as an artist and meet the desires of mass consumer consumption. She is loved by many & respected by her peers as a consumate professional. She is also my dear friend who took time out of her very busy schedule to call me and email me often, when I underwent major surgery this past summer. 

Sharyn's art can be found on wonderful products in the Demdaco showroom, (where we all aspire to be), as well as several other high quality manufacturers who pay her to use HER art to sell THEIR products, via royalties. (art licensing). Sharyn carefully chooses whom to do business with based on many factors, including the quality of product, the reputation of her business partners, the return on investment (time spent developing new product). She is very selective because this protects her brand and the manufacturers she does business with. Their customers know that products which carry the Sharyn Sowell name are high quality, and brought to the marketplace with pride.

This weekend, in the temporary showrooms at the Atlanta Mart Gift Show, a small, start up manufacturer was showing their wares. A whole booth full of wall art, all SHARYN SOWELL'S art. No permission, no contract, done poorly and with the proclamation that she, the manufacturer had created the art herself. This is blatant theft, there is no other name for it. It is illegal & it is immoral. 

There are probably some readers who are saying, "it's just art". I hope that's not you, dear reader. But if it is, please read on:

When creating art is your livelihood, the ability to protect your brand, use it how/when/where YOU see fit, with WHOM you agree is a respectable partner, and on the product category that does not interfere with who you are already partnered with, is critical. This breech has hurt her brand , robbed her of income, and interfered with her life in a way that no one should have to deal with in order to protect what the INTERNATIONAL copyright laws and the U.S. laws say is HER PROPERTY – like her house. like her car. like her computer equipment. 

If the ORPHAN WORKS bill passes, no one...NO ONE... including manufacturers who own art or want exclusivity for product categories will be able to stop the run-away train. Living working artists who create art for product and license it for multiple categories will no longer be able to protect their brand and consequently make a living. The costs of this change will be astronomical in terms of dollars and creative content. We will all suffer, not just the artists. 

Please visit Sharyn's blog, leave her some warm words, she's feeling violated as any artist would. Then, go to the Illustrator's Partnership to read the particulars of the bills and why we are adamant in our resolve to fight it.

I appreciate those of you who respect artists as important contributors to our society and consider art as something of value and not as just a way to sell crap or decorate a wall.  And for anyone who feels that product would sell just fine without the art, well, good luck with that. 

Comments

[terrie bailey]

Some people just have no Manners ...feelings or respect for others..How utterly disgusting are they!!!! I pray for you all that Law does not get passed Brenda...

[Marla Anker]

Dear Brenda: Thank-you for your continued passion and committment to this issue-It is atrocious what blatant gaul and chutzpah it took for these thiefs to display their stolen wares in the marketplace-And yes, it is like being assaulted-absolutely-I am SO SORRY SHARYN-- The issue of "dirty-dealing" is up for re-invention all over our nation and our world,actually--from the Bernie Madoff madness to the Auto Industry to stealing Artists/Creatives Hearts & Souls ie.their works!SOMETHINGS GOTTA GIVE HERE PEOPLE!As someone who is just formally entering the business and who has been working closely and being guided by a major player and activist against the Orphan Works Bill(and a close friend of yours,Brenda) all I can do and see that there is to do is: NO.1-KEEP OUR OWN INTEGRITY LEVEL CONSTANTLY IN CHECK NO2.STAY VOCAL,CONNECTED and AWARE of What IS CURRENT AROUND THE ISSUE -and NO.3.IF YOU SPOT STOLEN ARTWORKS IN COMMERCE-GET VERY VOCAL ABOUT IT AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL--
And lastly,but not least...PRAY and I MEAN REALLY PRAY that this nightmare does NOT PASS!GOD BLESS ALL OF THE CREATORS--STARTING WITH THE VERY FIRST ONE!! Marla A. Anker

[claudine hellmuth]

every artist's nightmare! that is horrible!!

[Phyllis Dobbs]

This horror story of what happened to Sharyn is one example of why EACH and EVERY artist should fight the ongoing opposition to the OW. We can't let up and get complacent. It CAN happen to any one of us and probably will.

[Jim Marcotte]

Hi Brenda. We had heard this story at the Market (where we were exhibiting across from the wonderfully talented Ms Pinnick). Unfortunately we have another friend, a very successful licensed artist who also stumbled across her designs, and those of a friend, displayed on product in the booth of an importer. She actually removed and confiscated the products when they did not take them down as promised. This is a HUGE problem even with our current copyright laws, and the Orphan Works legislation being pushed by Microsoft, Getty and other large image companies will do incredible damage to the creative world and destroy the careers of countless artists. Anyone who thinks we need to "get over it" is incredibly naive and misinformed. Thanks Brenda for continuing to derail the train.

[Madeline Faiella]

All I can say is this is a perfect example of someone who is so uncreative that they need to STEAL someone else's work. I looked at her work and yes, she is amazing. And that is HER WORK. And that is HER GIFT. And that is HER INCOME, integrity, and passion.

I am glad that you brought this up Brenda because maybe more people will understand that when an artist has their work stolen from them, it's like being assaulted!!! It carries all the hurt and fits the crime.

If there is any hope in this world, people like this will be wiped out of the industry. I am appalled and disgusted.

I am also very happy to learn of Ms. Sowell's work because it's beautiful and that's something good that comes out of it. Maybe there will be so much more awareness that it will work in her favor.

I think the name of this person who stole her art should be posted for everyone to see.

Sharyn is wonderful and thank you for bringing this to our attention.

[denise clason]

OH MY GOSH! This is scary! did the gift mart make her take the booth down??? what do you do, now, Sharyn??

[Jamie R Lentzner]

I hate to hear that happened - and really ignorance is NOT a good excuse. I think I have written about this a gazillion times and each time I get more and more irritated - I don't know why so-called "artists" think it is okay to do. Thanks for pointing this out....though I sort of wish you had the lady's name and or a pict of her booth.

[Brenda Pinnick]

well said Sharyn. Thank you for your further explanation.

[Sharyn Sowell]

Brenda, you've got me blushing at the compliments but you are spot on about OW. If this happened when OW was law, I'd have no recourse. The fact that this lady said she had no idea where she found my work (though I certainly do) would render her immune to prosecution, since no technology exists to recognize and identify images exactly. I was appalled at the way she told me, "I didn't mean to hurt you, I was just borrowing your pictures." And selling them, I'd add. Just as we protect music against illegal downloads, just as we protect our citizens against identity theft, it's vitally important we protect our culture's precious visual intellectual property. I hope our legislators will wake up before it's too late and people like me have closed our businesses and gone to work at some big corporation. Our culture is enriched by the visual arts and we need to protect them for the good of the community at large. Thanks Brenda for the support.