[Aquanet] AWS

[Mary E Whitehill]

Aren't you are being a bit harsh on AWS, Pat?   Even though even one of
the three jurors were suspicious that the photograph copied was not one
that the artist had taken herself they had no actual proof until someone
found the original on the internet and notified the photographer who had
taken it.  They then had to contact Sheryl Luxenburg who tried to deny
any wrongdoing and then it had to go before a judge or jury.  It was a
legal question that could not be settled just from public opinion or
hearsay.  I saw the painting and thought it remarkable and never
questioned who took the photos. There were a great many photorealist
paintings in the show as well as abstracts, portraits from life, street
scenes, florals etc.  I wrote to Janet Walsh,  who had just resigned as
President, and she gave me a very good explanation of the procedures the
AWS was following.  Eight months seems a long time but not when you are
dealing with lawyers and also dealing with a Canadian, not an American
Artist. It is tragic for Luxenburg who apparently was not aware of how
serious her copying was.  I have found it extremely difficult to convince
students of the importance of using only their own reference material.  I
even know studios where they allow the students to copy greeting cards or
calendar art of others. There is a great deal of this plagiarism going
on, especially when they cut out photos from magazines to use as collage.
Unfortunately I deleted the reply from Janet Walsh but I am glad AWS made
the tough decision.  All the very best Watercolorists I have ever studied
with or read about are AWS members and I  think they are doing their best
to promote all watermedea in spite of the popular trend toward oils.   
M. E Whitehill - Watercolors
 wtrclr at juno.com
Fine art paintings of flowers, landscapes, historic sites of the Hudson
Valley

Check "What's New" on my Web Site  www.mewhitehill.com
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