[Fishgap]

Hello again to all my carving brothers and sisters.
Well once again I have been thrown into the breech.
I was down at a friends carving a totem and decided to take a break, sitting there on the table was a carving magazine, no not Woodcarviving illustrated.
While flipping through the pages I came across one of my carvings.
My first thought was, oh how did they get this picture of my work?
Then the shock set in, it is a hard thing to explain unless you experience it for your self, but reading the text bellow it said, “Spawning salmon by Louis Barnai took second place in the North American native art competition.�
I first felt anger followed by disgust and ending in a feeling of helplessness.
Now you may think it is sour grapes with me but I only feel anger and frustration along with the thought of how can anyone be so underhanded that they would do such a thing?
Oh don’t get me wrong my friends, if you see a carving or burning that you say to your self, “wow I really like that and I have the skill to carve it myself� Then yes by all means go for it. Show your friends and family make as many as you like for that matter.
BUT! When it comes to entering it into a competition where it is judged and published and you take all the credit for your self. Well to me that is just plain sick.
I have lost my faith in the carving world and the competitions are a joke.
This carving was published in the article that I did for Spirit Lures in WCI and can be seen on my web site or even in the carver’s gallery’s part of this board.
Not even the artwork was changed in a way to make it different.
My dear friends I really need your 2cents on this one as I am tired of being left in the dust while others get recognition for my hard work, I am considering putting down that knife and moving on.
For those of you who may think I am seeing things here are the pictures, you decide.
The dark one is mine and carved around 4 years ago the light one is the one that won the awards and recognition.

[BobD]

Wow...my friend...I am very, very, very sorry to hear that.

It makes me sick...I saw the salmon in person, and felt the power and life you channeled into it.

I would consider sending a certified letter to the competition and the magazine and a carbon copy to the artist expressing your feelings. Send them a copy of the WCI article as well, and let them know you are unhappy...

But above all else, please don't put down your knife! You can rise above this!!! I'm here for you Bro! Let me know what I can do!

Bob

[Thor]

Fishgap,
I agree that you have been done a wrong.

The person who carved that copy is a faceless student of yours. You have passed along a carving style that was so admired that they gave it a piece of themself and felt it was enough of their own that they entered into a competition and took credit for it.
The student hasn't been properly taught to respect the teacher, but hopefully, when you follow Bob's advice, the lesson will continue, and you'll get some satisfaction and the recognition you deserve.
I think an article written about respecting other carvers' original works would be a helpful article to see in each carving magazine.
It happens in ALL forms of art.
I hope for you that the other magazine follows up with an article with your salmond picture as well, and that you eventually hear from the student, apologizing.
Thor

[Ashbys]

Alfie,

I can certainly understand the frustration involved with this. I think the carving mag should be made aware that it was an unauthorized copy of your work and you expect to be paid for using your carving in their mag. A photo of a copyrighted infringment is also an infringement.

Then I would send a letter to the person, and ask to have the carving sent to you as it was an unauthorzied infrigment of your copyright. The proof is simple it is on your web page, and has been for a long time.

I am sure he will refuse. But you will raise the hairs on his neck and he might thik twice before he steals another idea.

Ash

[BobD]

By the way, Ron D., if you are reading this, here is a description:

Alfie's origional is a Native American-style salmon on a slab base with wood-burned and painted Native-style markings.

The copy, which isn't painted nearly as well or burned as well, has the exact same shape of body, fins, and markings. But it looks to be mounted on a deer antler.

Bob

[squbrigg]

Alfie......please listen to BobD, he offers good advice! The other magazine and the competition need to be made aware of this and immediately. The bozo (sorry I couldn't spell gentleman) who used your piece for the competition should know better, so he needs to be reigned in as well!

I appeal to you my carving brother, do not put down your tools! I am sure that they bring much joy to yourself and I know they bring much joy to us, your admirers. I am serious Cola, do not deprive yourself of the pleasure that your carving brings you, it would be a grevious injustice to allow this incident to sour you on carving. The world if full of copy-cats, but there is only one Alfie Fishgap! Do not let the buggers win!!!

Bob

[Clifford_Parker]

I would definitely contact the editors of the magazine and the people who organized and ran the competition. Include pictures of the original piece and of the WCI article to show that your piece was created first.

Don't let one or two bad apples ruin your love for the art.

[GeorgiaCarver]

I agree with all the comments.

[Just Carving]

Alfie,

BobD is right. Listen to him. The only other advice is to seek legal advice simply because someone has stolen your work. In my book, your a victim of theft, and you should seek compensation. But lawyers cost a bunch, and it'll be 5 years before you even see a nickel--if that at all. So, listen to BobD.

And ya better not give up carvin--otherwise ya gonna have an awful lotta people showin up at yer doorstep to give ya what fer. And thems people eat an awful lotta salmon!

[artolver]

Fishgap, I dont really see that as an exact copy. The tribes over on our ocean carve a lot of salmon very simular to those. What I see that I don't like is the deerhorn used for a stand.
art