Square Squabble

Before I ever moved to New Orleans, a boyfriend gave me a sign that he stole from the fence in Jackson Square that said Jackson Square Artists Colony, New Orleans Oldest and Only Artist Colony
And how poignant that I would one day, 10 years later, work there and still own the sign. It was a fabulous experience, for seven years, while at the same time a royal pain in the ass. An article has been written about the most recent drama on the square and i was interviewed for it. There are a number of responses below the article and this one was my response to those responses. It was the first time I got to say all of is and it felt very freeing.
“First of all let me just say, that in all of the comments so far, I cannot find one from a “buyer” who is siding with the elitist faction that is against prints. In fact they all are in favor of having access to prints for sale. And would’nt good business sense be to listen to the voice of the buyer if you want to be successful?
Secondly, kudos to the artists who are standing up for their rights and “breaking the print rule”! Without the countless others like them, who stood up for their civil rights, we would not have many of our key human rights today. Freedom to express your self as well as to have access to art are two of these basic rights. Whose side do you really think the courts are going to take? Seriously?
I also think it is very funny how those that are the most opposed and most angry seem to be the ones hiding behind fake names on these comments. What are you afraid of? That if any potential buyer knew how spiteful you are, they would never want to buy a painting from you in the first place? (as the police officer above has said). Or that you will have to admit that you are one of those that hold secret meetings to determine the fate of the entire square without honestly representing the other artists? Or perhaps you would have to admit that the only reason the same committee members have been in place for over a decade is that you never announce public elections to the entire community, only to your chums who will undoubtedly vote you in again? Or maybe you would have to admit that you are the one that holds back information about bank statements regarding the square (which should be public for any Jackson square artist to see) because you do not really want them to see where the money from filming goes (like maybe to a lawyer for your side, who knows?)?
Sounds like a totalitarian government to me. NO Democracy in any of it.
Instead of always pointing the finger, why don’t the rest of you long time committee members (Sandra, Lee, Bill, Joan) take a look at how you yourselves have broken more than a few MORAL laws: secret elections and meetings (I know I was excluded from your meetings even after I was elected as a committee member), lying (when I confronted you about things you said in meetings you claimed you never did), and general backstabbing (calling the police on Tanner and others over the years without good reason). Take some responsibility of your own! Do you plan to live the rest of your lives set in your ways of negative reactions and behavior?
And lastly, I don’t think there has been this much open dialogue between the artists for decades. Thank you Richard Webster for bringing this subject to public attention and to City Business for offering a place and opportunity for an ongoing dialogue to be heard by all. “