I feel guilty about being crabby twice in one week, especially when it's Christmas and I'm feeling generally cheerful and happy.
And I feel guilty about being crabby about SAQA, which just a few days ago did me the honor of including my refugee quilt people in its new exhibit, "Forced to Flee."
But I'm going to do it anyway.
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| Entropy -- in QN'15 and now in a new SAQA book |
Almost two years ago I was invited to have a quilt included in a SAQA book "that compiles the significant art quilts and artists from the 1960's to today." I sent off my images, signed the permission form, and forgot all about it. This week I happened to search my email inbox for "SAQA" because I needed to confirm the info about the "Forced to Flee" show, and there at the top of the list was this very old email. Hmmm -- did the book ever get made?
I went to the SAQA website and found that sure enough, it came out six weeks ago under the title "Art Quilts Unfolding" and is available for $49 through the SAQA store.
I was surprised (a) that I had not received an announcement that the book was published, and (b) that I had not been sent a copy. I've had my work published in many different books and magazines and it is standard practice to send a complimentary copy, especially when the publisher did not pay anything for the rights.
I wrote the SAQA staffer in charge of the project and asked if copies were going to be sent to the artists, and the response was NO.
I don't know if this chintzy decision was made by the publisher, or by SAQA, or both in concert, but I think it was a bad one.
SAQA makes a LOT of money off its publications, which are made possible by the cooperation of us artists who graciously provide images, sit for interviews, lend our quilts to tour for years, and in the case of juried shows, pay entry fees. Yes, it's a nice ego trip to see our quilts in a book, but since we've done our part for free, the least they could do is send us a copy.
There's always a lot of chatter and angst on the SAQA email list over copyright, with people in a flutter over how much they should be paid if their quilt is reproduced on a CD album cover or a fundraising brochure or the side of a barn. Usually the consensus is "we deserve to be paid!!!" "we are professional artists!!!" "we shouldn't give our work away!!!" "people should take art quilters seriously!!!!!"
Seems like the shoemaker's children when SAQA avails itself of free publication rights to its own artist/members' work and can't even send us a copy of the publication.
What do you think?
UPDATE: After I complained to Martha Sielman, executive director of SAQA, I got this response:
Maybe when SAQA negotiated the deal with Schiffer Publishing they should have put free books into the agreement. Just my two cents worth.
Having been a member and a moderator on the SAQA yahoo list until I was solidly bullied, I left, and have no time for them any more. And, when I was a member, I averaged three emails a week asking for donations. No, come on, artists make, sponsors or patrons donate. When I complained these stopped, but I suspect it was just me off the lists..
ReplyDeleteAt Festival of Quilts I was condescended to dreadfully.. No more..
Makes it easy next time you're asked...just say "no."
ReplyDeleteThis is really heartbreaking to read. I bet the publisher is giving free copies to book reviewers so they can get "free press" but they won't give free copies to the artists who have given their work over freely.
ReplyDeleteit's time for the members of SAQA to say no to giving their work away for free.
I was surprised and sad not to be getting my complimentary copy. First time not had a free copy of a book that contained my work. Irene in Northern Ireland
ReplyDeleteWell, as someone who has only learned of SAQA through you, thank you for the heads-up information. I won't be doing anything with them in the future! Their response is absurd and wrong. I do believe they are killing the geese that are laying the golden eggs!!!
ReplyDeleteJust say "No"! I worked in the DIY industry during the 1990's -- actually made enough I was able to only have to work another job part-time. But gradually publisher's decided that the glory of having something published was enough. It was teach, promote product and/or do craft shows if I wanted to continue. I'm introverted -- I just wanted to do the design work. I finally had to get a real job to pay the bills. Not providing comp books to the artist is just the next progression to not compensating artists and designers.
ReplyDeleteI think you are absolutely right! A quilt artist is an artist. Period. If artists' work is in a book, and that book is sold for profit, the artists should then be compensated. To not be compensated, in any way, by an organization representing artists and this medium is unfathomable. A slap in the face. Me thinks some scratching at the surface of SAQA needs to be done to see if the underlying, perhaps unconscious sentiment, isn't still that art quilting is `just women's work`. In any event, and for whatever reason, it`s taking advantage of the artists from whom they solicited the work.
ReplyDeleteThat's a big honkin book. Assuming an average of about $15 to ship (which may be low with international participants) and assuming the cost of each book to be around $35 (which may be low if the publisher got caught on the wrong side of the recent tariff increases) $50 x 130 participating artists = $6500. A big number for just over a hundred people in an organization over 3000 . I'd say that SAQA is being savvy and trying to help offset the cost of that website upgrade. I think it's unfair to blame SAQA. If you are miffed about this, learn from it and ask up front next time for a free copy, and then decide. An Idealist would have said no, but a pragmatist (seeing the promotion value) would have said yes.
ReplyDeleteOr, they could have paid each of the artists $50 for the right to use their copyrighted work in the book.
DeleteNot sure I understand your point about "promotion value." Are you suggesting that I am getting value out of being in this book? I will try to buy a cup of coffee with that value next time I'm at Starbucks.
Correction: There are 240 Artist's in this book. 240 x your suggestion of $50 for rights of usage? $12,000...plus there are some artists with multiple images so that number could be much higher by your method. I'm one of the larger donors listed in the front of that book, because I respect the medium and think the artists deserve recognition and SAQA, in my opinion is doing a good job at this. If you think everyone is entitled to a copy, either pony up $12,000 or join the SAQA board and start doing the work for the next compendium. You should drink less coffee, especially that overpriced corporate swill.
DeleteSpot on, Kathy! If I hear the phrase "promotion value" ever again, I will lose what may be left of my mind!
DeleteI am an artist in the book and received an email about it being available. Check your spam. I have also been in several SAQA exhibitions and artists do receive comped copies of those.
ReplyDeleteMaybe I did lose the announcement. I'm glad to hear they did at least let people know about the book coming out.
DeleteIf it makes you feel any better, it generally makes me laugh out loud when a blog post of yours sports "crabby" in the title. I don't even have to know what you are crabby about, as I am often crabby myself. Usually, I agree with your crabbiness, and do here too. I don't think nearly as highly of SAQA as most do, never have which is why I've never joined. I won't go into the reasons, but I do think they do a lot of asking for freebies from the members while sending the opposite message out if it concerns anyone else. That curt reply you got about not being able to afford comp copies was rude and insensitive to the extreme. Perhaps you are not the only one complaining and they are touchy about the decision being challenged. Or perhaps they are just operating like a big business or the publishing company itself. To truly sound as crabby as I feel about it, I think SAQA is getting too big for its britches. ;-)
ReplyDeletethank you -- that makes me feel a lot better! (not about SAQA, but about life)
DeleteI am a PAM member of SAQA from way back when when you didn't have to be juried in but just pay the extra dues. I did it because I wanted to be in the Portfolio book, Yes, I had to pay for it and pay $10 for shipping, but I was glad to have it. A couple of years ago they did away with the Portfolio and came out with a quarterly magazine with one full page of your work. However they do not let you know which issue your quilt will be in and they are hard to get. Very disappointed in that! And you are right, any other book gives you a free copy, including yours.
ReplyDeleteWhat do I think? I think that most artists who choose "art quilts" as their medium don't really see themselves as artists in other media do. Many complain of jury fees, expenses related to shipping work, etc.
ReplyDeleteI am not in this for my ego; art is part of my being and this is not the only medium I have worked in as a producing studio artist for over twenty-fie years. We have to take ourselves seriously if we want others to do so. That includes refusing to take part in situations such as discussed here - if SAQA, who allegedly sees themselves as a group dedicated to the promotion of this art won't help us, just don't join anymore. Why support an organization who doesn't support its members? Come on; every artist who is included in a publication deserves one copy.