D. Kim Lindaberry on wed 20 may 98
Barbara Lewis wrote:
>
> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> I learned the hard way so now when I give work I establish a minimum bid...
> I recently participated in an art auction where the artists established a
> minimum bid, which they received for their piece. Any money received over
> and above that amount went to the charity. This means that the charity
> might not make quite as much money, but this auction has grown in size with
> more artists wanting to participate.
I like this idea of the artists getting a few $'s. Maybe a percentage of
the sale price would work too. Maybe a modest 25 %.
Now for my rant about benefit auctions
I donated a piece of my artwork to a scholarship fund auction for
ceramic/art students a few years ago. I had two reasons in doing this.
One, was to help talented students get through school. I thought that
was a worthy cause. The second reason was self-serving. I knew the
reputation of some other participants and I knew they would draw in the
upper echelon of the local collectors. I figured it was a fair trade
off. They get the money for a good cause, and I get some exposure. I
donated a very nice piece because I wanted to catch the eyes of the
collectors.
The only problem is my piece was stolen before any of the collectors got
to see it. The person in charge of the auction only told me about the
theft after I got to the auction event. Then she said I should be
flattered that someone liked my piece so much they had to steal it. I
thought that was a pretty insulting statement, but then she made even
more foolish statements. I asked her if the theft had been reported to
the police, and she said, "No, why would I?" After some more discussion
with her she inferred that she didn't want the "embarrassment" of people
knowing something had been stolen from the auction. I insisted that she
report the theft to the police the next working day. I called her up
several days later to find out what the police had to say. Well she
hadn't called them up. She didn't think it was necessary, besides I had
donated the piece and why should I be concerned with what had happened
to it anyway. After all I had donated it for them to sell, with all
proceeds going to the scholarship fund. Only after I told her that I was
going to the lobby of her business and I planned on calling the police
from there to report the theft did she call them up. Her report wasn't
meant to help find the piece, but only to quiet me. Her lack of
co-operation with the whole theft was atrocious and inexcusable. The
fact that the stolen piece belonged to me wasn't even reported to the
police. I was able to locate the detective that had the case and I set
the record straight. If that piece ever shows up, I want it coming back
to me, not to that woman.
People that donate work should know that when you donate a piece of work
for a benefit auction the piece never belongs to the institution. It
either belongs to you, or the person that ultimately buys it. The
institution is only holding the piece in bailment. They never own it.
They are only entrusted with it for a specific purpose. If that purpose
is not fulfilled, the ownership reverts to the original owner. I wish
that the institutions understood this little fact.
Since being so burned by the total lack of responsibility and concern
for my rights by this benefit auction, I haven't donated any work to
anyone requesting it. I have some ground rules for donating now, and no
one has agreed to my rules yet.
#1 Any theft will immediately be reported to the police and I will be
given a copy of the report or case number.
#2 There is a minimum bid price. Any piece that fails to receive this
price will be returned to me ASAP, fully insured.
#3 I will receive a complementary ticket to attend the benefit event.
#4 I retain ownership of the piece until it is sold.
If an institution cannot agree to these simple rules of mine, then it is
their loss, not mine.
Kim
--
D. Kim Lindaberry
Johnson County Community College
12345 College Blvd.
ATB 115
Overland Park, KS 66210-1299
USA
to visit my web site go to: http://www.johnco.cc.ks.us/~klinda
to send e-mail to me use: mailto:klinda@johnco.cc.ks.us
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