Art exhibit disaster x 2

[Eric Gourieux]

Our town's art's council wanted to display our club's turnings, and we had a nice reception last Friday night to kick off the 2 week exhibit. Seeing an opportunity to support the local arts, I entered a variety of turnings for display. You have seen some of these but not others.

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When I arrived at the reception, the director took me over to the eucalyptus burl hollow form (4th from the left ) and explained that she dropped the finial and broke it during set up. I was disappointed, to say the least. About an hour after the reception started, one of the customers backed into the podium on which my buckeye burl HF was sitting (3rd from the left). She knocked it off onto the floor and broke the finial and base. Unbelievable! Two pieces were broken. The only good to come out of it was that ONLY the finials were broken. Both "globes" remained intact. There is no way to recoup the loss. I can turn new finials but wouldn't be able to replace the unique wood for the hollow forms. I haven't decided how I am going to repair the base for the buckeye burl piece. The other 4 pieces are still on display and will hopefully be intact when I pick them up next week.

Here are the broken pieces:

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[Doug Herzberg]

What a shame, Eric. They are all beautiful pieces and everyone here knows how much work went into them.

[Rich Greinert]

I'm stunned. What happened to "You break it... you bought it."
Sorry for your loss.

[Michelle Rich]

I am so sorry, Eric. I know your pain.

[daryl moses]

Wow, unbelievable!! I hate it for you.

[Thom Sturgill]

I would think the art council should have insurance that would pay for the pieces, but then again you may not have been interested in selling. Truly a shame as they should understand how to handle art works.

[William C Rogers]

Eric, very sorry to see such beautiful pieces damaged. I hope you can figure out some way to save them.

[John K Jordan]

Large bummer. :-( Hate to have to double-sticky tape everything down with "Touch it you die" signs.

Once someone accidentally crushed one of my fragile pieces while handling it. Another time someone dropped and dented a piece but it didn't break. But then I recall the times I dropped or broke my own things!

[Sam Beagle]

I would be sick. I look at your pieces and wonder even how you made those. I am new to turning, but I'm loving it. I'm starving for more lathe time each day. I have had my lathe a week now and have made 6 bowls already. Everyone is a bit nicer. Sorry to rant, I do feel sorry for you. Those pieces are truely art.

[Roger Chandler]

Bummer for sure, Eric :( Great looking turnings, all!

[Sid Matheny]

I would have removed all my pieces at once!

[Tim Rinehart]

Eric, that sucks big time and I can feel your pain. I've got less and less patience for that sort of thing, and will try to place as much control on where the pieces are set to prevent it...but sometimes (*&^ happens.
I'll offer a thought for pieces like those. Try attaching a bit of "museum putty" or somtimes called "mounting putty". My wife calls it "teacher's putty", as it's the stuff that is used to affix precious pieces of many a 6 yr olds art to walls of the classroom. It really does provide some stability.
Good luck getting things fixed back up, glad to see the body of the pieces stayed in tact.

[Tim Boger]

Our town's art's council wanted to display our club's turnings, and we had a nice reception last Friday night to kick off the 2 week exhibit. Seeing an opportunity to support the local arts, I entered a variety of turnings for display. You have seen some of these but not others.

313101313102313097313098313099313100

When I arrived at the reception, the director took me over to the eucalyptus burl hollow form (4th from the left ) and explained that she dropped the finial and broke it during set up. I was disappointed, to say the least. About an hour after the reception started, one of the customers backed into the podium on which my buckeye burl HF was sitting (3rd from the left). She knocked it off onto the floor and broke the finial and base. Unbelievable! Two pieces were broken. The only good to come out of it was that ONLY the finials were broken. Both "globes" remained intact. There is no way to recoup the loss. I can turn new finials but wouldn't be able to replace the unique wood for the hollow forms. I haven't decided how I am going to repair the base for the buckeye burl piece. The other 4 pieces are still on display and will hopefully be intact when I pick them up next week.

Here are the broken pieces:

313103313104

Eric, have you asked the organizers what they think should be done? I can't imagine how they wouldn't feel responsible and act accordingly.

[David Delo]

That really is sad news Eric. Hopefully, somehow someway things get made right. What is the wood ID for your 2nd vase pictured in your lineup. Boy is that sweet looking wood and form.

[Eric Gourieux]

Thanks for all of the comments. The director was very apologetic. I know she truly was sorry, but no compensation or solution was offered. We did sign a brief contract that contained a "hold harmless" statement. I did have the eucalyptus burl piece up for sale but immediately removed it, once the director broke the finial.

David, the 2nd piece is walnut.

[Thom Sturgill]

... We did sign a brief contract that contained a "hold harmless" statement...

I think that I would have refused at that point.

[Eric Gourieux]

I think that I would have refused at that point.

I assume that some type of liability relief is pretty standard for this type of art show. I haven't been involved in such a show before, so I don't know for sure. Had I just know... 20/20 hindsight. I do sell some pieces at galleries, and they all have similar protection.

[Thom Sturgill]

John K had a thread about showing in artist owned co-ops and the 'hold harmless' clauses. Why he only shows in professional galleries. While I do have a few pieces in such a place, they are there solely to help my niece who has part interest in a 'what-not' shop and is trying to turn it into more of an art gallery.

[charlie knighton]

Piedmont Art's Expression show opens tonight......you pay a fee to enter and put an insurance value on your work.....its open to the public til july sometime.....any small or fragile items are put on pedistals with plexiglass covering......never heard of any problems.......one piece is tragic, two pieces go to gibbs rules

[Mike Nathal]

John K had a thread about showing in artist owned co-ops and the 'hold harmless' clauses. Why he only shows in professional galleries. While I do have a few pieces in such a place, they are there solely to help my niece who has part interest in a 'what-not' shop and is trying to turn it into more of an art gallery.

I am having trouble finding this thread --- can you post the link? Thanks

[Thom Sturgill]

I am having trouble finding this thread --- can you post the link? Thanks

Actually the thread was not started by John, but by Brian Brown after a similar incident.
http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?228081-First-time-in-a-gallery-show

John made several insightful comments that stuck in my mind.

[John Lifer]

I don't make art pieces. Not talented enough. That said, I really don't think I would sign a hold harmless agreement if I had any of those pieces and put on public display where it was able to be touched or handled. If a location had behind or beneath displays, I would expect no handling and I would probably sign. I would expect no matter what, a reasonable expectation that the managers understand fragile pieces.