How Would Anyone Feel? Response to Truss

[Dig Dug's]

Hi!
I am the owner of Dig Dug?s.
I was reading over everything in Truss' How Would You Feel posting and would just like to share my point of view on this matterl. After you read this, if you still want to torch me, please feel free.

Joel hasn?t exactly told you the whole story on this.

Rather than contacting Dig Dug?s directly, Joel emailed one of the artists at our gallery who forwarded Joel?s email along to me.

Also, Joel emailed the gallery using a fake name (Neil Sacker) attempting to trick us into giving out Brian Taylor?s personal info.

I tend not to be one to over-react to situations. So, when I first heard about this, my reply was indeed to say that Brian showed this stuff at a one-night only gallery show and the stuff came and went with the artist that night.

I did say that Brian was a legitimate artist, which he is. He had original paintings at the same show that had absolutely nothing to do with anything we are discussing here. His chosing to steal other people?s work is not legitimate, but he is a talented artist otherwise. I tried to explain that I don?t really think Brian thought about what he was doing nor meant any intentional harm by it. There was no master plan on his part to steal the works of other artists and become super-rich in the process.

As I am not emotionally connected to the subject matter, I can certainly understand how someone could think that I was defending the artist?s actions rather than the artist as a human being.

Anyway, when Joel and I finally started talking to each other directly about this matter, both of our point of views were made clear via email. The emails are below. Please read them over.

If you still want to yell and scream, my email address is digdugsgallery@aol.com.
Lee

In a message dated 10/24/2004 1:45:13 PM Eastern Standard Time, joeltrussell@xxxxxxxxx writes:


Hi Lee,

I'm very saddened to hear your response about the appropriated images. It's
one thing to take commercial pop images that have saturated our everyday
lives and place them on merchandise for sale (which is legally shady as
well, but I actually could care less.) It's another thing to take an image
of another artist and place it on an item for SELL and the original artist
sees NO MONEY NO CREDIT OR NO NOTIFICATION for the transaction. That is
thievery simple and plain. Are people buying the purse because it's a neat
process or do they like the image? I think you know the answer here.

Anyhow, you think I'm not a starving artist too? You think I didn't wait
tables? Did I take Chris Reccardi images and plaster them on lunchboxes to
make an extra buck? No.

In short, if you're a gallery of any integrity you'll at least have any
items that have my images on them for sell removed immediately. If I were a
gallery owner and found out about this practice, I would not invite that
artist to be a participant in any events. I have a feeling you guys are
close though, so whatever.

Have Brian contact me at XXXXXXXX immediately. I'd love to make sure
that he doesn't have more of my images for sell on other merchandise.

I think some of the people that are hanging in your gallery would be
outraged by having their images unpermittedly plastered on merchandise for
sell. Especially when they receive not only no money, but no credit.
Unbelieveable!

Yours Truly,
Joel Trussell
www.joeltrussell.com

PS "He is totally legit." ... le?git?i?mate adj. Being in compliance with
the law; lawful: a legitimate business.

No he's completely not.


Wow.
You know what, Joel, this was a one-night event that was 6 weeks ago and all of the remaining purses except for a few left the store when the event was over.

However, my reply to your email forwarded by Eric was in the manner in which I would reply to any such unknown person complaining about an artist that has hung in my space. Did you expect me to express complete and utter disdain about this event to someone who is a complete and utter stranger to me? Did you expect me to just throw another human being under a bus because you are unhappy? I would never do that to anyone. Imagine if you did a show in my gallery and 6 weeks later someone came to me ranting and raving about you. Would you expect me to suddenly show up at your home carrying torches and pitchforks? Let's be reasonable, here.

Of course, I am terribly sorry that your image was stolen for use as a one-off purse.
We try to help local artists out. Just as we would try to help you out if you lived in Charlotte. We certainly do not give everyone the third degree about their work. Most of the images on the purses are iconic in nature. We didn't ask him for a complete listing of all of the images and for art clearances before we allowed him to do a four hour showing. We would never request that of anyone.

That particular purse did not sell and went home with Brian. I will inform him that you are unhappy about it and request that he destroy it and think twice before lifting anyone else's imagery.

How I further handle this matter with Brian is frankly none of your business. I will tell you that we are not planning to work with him on anything in the future, but that is a decision that was made long before you ever contacted us and is based on many other criteria other than your outrage.

Please make sure to say hi to Neil Sacker.

Lee

[cookie dough]

Instead of a sincere apology (which I think you should consider next time, for representing an artist who uses other artists' work), I find it completely redundant & INAPPROPRIATE of you to even post someone's private email to you in public. Not to mention, a phone number where everyone can see.

...

[The Cure]

Dig Dug's--

Jackass.

-ERS

[jtruss]

This probably isn't the forum to be posting personal phone numbers and entire conversations.

I admit, I did indeed have a friend contact the gallery first in an attempt to be in touch with the artist. Why? Because I had a feeling you guys were friends from the beginning. I don't think that was really an unethical move. Perhaps I'm wrong.

Anyhow, I stand by my email but again... probably not the best way to handle or promote your business, dude.

[Dr Cyberfunken]

Un-Fucking-Real!!

I can't believe the scumbag's response, a simple apology and the promise to not let something like this happen again would have been sufficient, but he has to make an ass out of himself by adding insult to injury.

[uglyf'nworld]

I agree, this response is unreal. Talk about arrogance. Instead of being upset one of his "artists" is stealing art, he get's angry at the artist who was stolen from.? Any artist worth their integrity should boycott this clown and show him who the real boss is. I'm almost ashamed to have lived in NC with sadsacks like this there.
You, Mr Digdug, are a disgrace.

And by the way, anyone who says "feel free to torch me" is so full of themselves, somehow thinking being rightly despised makes them some kind of martyr.You are not a martyr, you are an example of so many things that are wrong and you will not even be remembered after everyone is finished telling you how much you disgust us. I will however always remember to avoid your company and thus never put money in your pockets. Better enjoy feeding off your ego.

[celiacalle]

yes, throwing a human being under a bus is exactly what Joel expected.

my gosh.

[Dig Dug's]

Ok, this is the last posting I am going to make on this topic.

I do apologize that the phone number was accidentally posted. I have already edited it out. That was completely unintentional.

I just want everyone to remember that this entire matter is revolving around a purse that was in my store for a total of 5 hours! 5 HOURS!!! Further, this was over 6 weeks ago.
At the time, we had no idea if this purse was his or something he had traced from another artist.

I did tell Joel privately that I was sorry for any unhappiness this whole mess has caused him. Also, I did make it clear that Brian Taylor was not going to be in my gallery ever again. But, none of that stopped my store from being the subject of ridicule on this message board or from Joel not giving the complete story.

I am a recording artist that has had records chart Top #100 on the CMJ college radio charts. I don?t go totally ballistic every time so two-bit punk band in Podunkville USA covers one of my songs. Am I due royalties for this? Probably. Do I really care? No. It?s not worth getting too upset over and it is actually kind of flattering. I can just imagine the reaction I would get if I called a music venue and said ?That band stole one of my songs 6 weeks ago! What are you going to do about it.?

So, back to the case of this one-off purse?.
Was it wrong? Yes
Will I tolerate it again? No

Is it really that big of a deal in the grand scheme of things? I think we all know the answer to that

I am sure Brian did not really mean any harm.
I don?t think he will continue on with the traced purses any further.
I have shown him all of this uproar.
But, seriously, you all act like someone is intentionally trying to hurt someone else?s career and commercial viability. But, it just isn?t the case. We are all just human beings trying to get by. Sometimes people make mistakes.

[jtruss]

But, none of that stopped my store from being the subject of ridicule on this message board or from Joel not giving the complete story.

I didn't hide anything. I just didn't feel the need to post our private conversation.

I am a recording artist that has had records chart Top #100 on the CMJ college radio charts.

You are a thing of beauty. Top 100, eh? neato

I hear your example of the club. I just wonder if you wouldn't be a little disturbed if you found out that same band took your song and put it on their CD for sell with no credit to you as the originator? Then when you approach the store clerk that's selling this CD, you say, "Can you believe these guys are taking my song and trying to make some dough?" And the store clerk replies with a, "So?" You might feel a little miffed.

Naturally for the purposes of this thread, I'm sure you wouldn't admit to that.

Anyhow... anymore discussion between the two of us will be done privately. Thanks for coming here to demonstrate your level of professionalism.

Thanks to all responders for your support.

[evillittleman]

Also, Joel emailed the gallery using a fake name (Neil Sacker) attempting to trick us into giving out Brian Taylor?s personal info.

Well He would need that if He's going to sue the guy responsible, and not the gallery owner if neither party responsible is forthcoming. Incidentally you are incrediblely stupid if your inference about 'fake' and 'tricked' is to make the board question Joel's assertions, many of us have been visiting the board for a long time (years) and have already seen these images posted in their original state.

His chosing to steal other people?s work is not legitimate, but he is a talented artist otherwise. I tried to explain that I don?t really think Brian thought about what he was doing nor meant any intentional harm by it. There was no master plan on his part to steal the works of other artists and become super-rich in the process.

Whether He intended to become "super-rich" or make a quick buck is irelevant. He used images that were not his copyright and intended to use them for his commercial gain, whether it's a nickle or a grand it's the same thing.

As I am not emotionally connected to the subject matter, I can certainly understand how someone could think that I was defending the artist?s actions rather than the artist as a human being.

Do you honestly expect us to believe for a second that you care about any artist as 'a human being" (You want us to picture you wearing tie-dies and listeining to whale songs) Are you not simply covering your ass, as someone complicit in selling something that is a copright infringement, that may or may not have financial reprocussions..

Wow.
You know what, Joel, this was a one-night event that was 6 weeks ago and all of the remaining purses except for a few left the store when the event was over.

Completely 100 % irrelevant, it doesn't matter if it happened 10 years ago. Copyriights went for 70 years last time I checked.

Did you expect me to just throw another human being under a bus because you are unhappy? I would never do that to anyone. Imagine if you did a show in my gallery and 6 weeks later someone came to me ranting and raving about you. Would you expect me to suddenly show up at your home carrying torches and pitchforks? Let's be reasonable, here.

WHAT ARE YOU SMOKING? Again you are putting on the tie-dyes and cranking up the whale songs, burn some incense while you're at it. The human being crap again, if you actually cared about artists you would take the infringement of another artist's work seriously. Show up at Joel's house with torches and pitch forks, for what? Having one of the artists in your gallery use his work without pay? What kind of nonsensical garbarge is that? What's reasonable, if an artist showed in your space and you didn't get a cut, would you think that was reasonalble?

That particular purse did not sell and went home with Brian. I will inform him that you are unhappy about it and request that he destroy it and think twice before lifting anyone else's imagery.

How I further handle this matter with Brian is frankly none of your business. I will tell you that we are not planning to work with him on anything in the future, but that is a decision that was made long before you ever contacted us and is based on many other criteria other than your outrage.

Good you can pay Joel for the image anyway

Please make sure to say hi to Neil Sacker.

[puptent]

please, forward this note to Brain:
[You are a no-talent jackass.]
---------------------
as a gallery owner, like it or not, you have a responsibility. You deserve all the heat you get.

[jtruss]

First off, thanks again to everyone for the support. I really appreciate it.

Secondly, the gallery and I have reached an agreement on this situation. I'll be glad to put this all behind me and get back to drawing.

Sorry for all the drama. More sketchin' less talkin'!

[Vik]

Jesus!!!

I?m stunned

Bad guy, did you say you run a gallery? I hate to be the one who tell you this but I think that you have chosen the wrong line of work. A proper gallery owner would NEVER defend a artist that claims a piece of stolen art as his own, no matter how long the art have been hanging in the gallery. 5 min, 5 hours, 5 days or 5 weeks ? it dosn?t matter!

And that comparison to your music is really bad. To do a cover is flattering. But to take some one elses piece and claim it as your own, that?s just theft.

Secondly, the gallery and I have reached an agreement on this situation. I'll be glad to put this all behind me and get back to drawing.

I?m glad that the situation is resolved now.
Didn?t see your post before I posted mine.

[chukw]

Way to absolutely shirk responsibility, jackass. As a business owner, you are liable for content you display. As an artist, I can certainly say I don't need any help from the likes of obvious parasites such as yourself.

[AgentHelix]

If the issue has been resolved, let's let the issue drop.