St. Louis sent out a notice to everyone in the show that they were
breaking the rules, and that rules were meant to be broken. Their case
was that Todd Lundeen's (who died recently) wife would be allowed to
show his work at the Art Show that he was previously invited to
attend. I was also given a spot in Old town Chicago a couple years ago
off the wait list, since a photographer had died, that had been doing
the show for years. His wife was allowed to continue showing his work
at that show in another booth location, and I understand she has
continued to do so in other shows around the country.
There are gray lines in every rule. Some are valid, and in any case
can be reviewed on it's own merit. It is of course monetary weather a
spouse continues to sell the work of a deceased exhibitor, just the
same as if a rep shows up. Of course the sympathy coin is huge, and in
my view should be allowed. How long should this go on? Does it matter
how long the exhibitor has been doing shows, is well liked or
perceived, or where does it all end?
Personally I do not like giving pieces to an auction, and do not do it
anymore. I gave a piece to the Sausalito Show a couple years ago,
since it was to be a silent auction, and could drive people to my
booth. I was not aware it also had a buy it now price, which was 50%
less than what I was selling the piece for in my booth. The buyer on
the first day to show me that he purchased the piece form the auction/
at half price.
Many shows pressure you to give them a piece, and I feel it's just a
way of making you think that if you do, you might have a better chance
of getting in the next year. I guess it's true.. Depends how valuable
it is.. Ive heard of artists taking show promoters out to dinner, and
doing favors like giving images for the poster design or t-short.. all
to stay in good graces.
Its not always a level playing field. I'm sure many rules are skirted,
some blatantly, others behind the scenes. Usually it's the ones that
are discreet that get away with it, and the ones that come forward to
make a case lose. Husband and wife collaborators when only one of them
really is the artists, the other one travels and does book work.. I
see them showing up at shows with only one of them present. Know of
the other one doing a different show that weekend. A sculptor that
does not have a studio, but has a trailer full of pieces? This
business has no regulation, and rules, well they are not enforced.
I was recently at Cherry Creek and Madison. I have to tell you I saw a
lot of work by photographers in their booth that was not signed or
numbered. Every size and price point you could imagine form $30, at a
show like Cherry Creek and no regulation what so ever. Why make rules
and not follow through? Mainly since many shows have volunteers
running them, and the staff changes, and therefore they do not know
what they are doing. In some cases it's even worse, since they enforce
rules sporadically, and get it wrong...
Mark MacKinnon
www.thephotographersplace.com
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