I am sitting in my den looking through the window and admiring a snowman that a group of my neighbors built with their kids in the park directly in front of the building. I thought of how nice it looked as it smiled at me. I was happy to see that people were enjoying the snow with their children on a Sunday afternoon. About half an hour later a group of pre-teens, four of them to be exact, three boys and one girl, passed through the open space in the park where the snowman stood proudly. All four of them ran towards it. I thought that they were happy to see the snow man, too. But no! They ran towards it, pushed it and destroyed it. They kicked it and jumped on it, and then continued walking through the park as though nothing had happened. I watched with a shocking look on my face and I wondered why did these kids have to destroy the snowman? Why couldn’t they have added to the snowman structure to make it nicer? Why did they feel the urge to destroy someone else’s work? If the same four kids were to walk by another form of art that was displayed publicly, such as a statute, would they also destroy that? How would they feel if that was their snowman, and someone came along and destroyed it? As I continue to write this I keep staring at the pile of snow that once was a snowman. Maybe these kids meant no harm, and to them a snowman is just a temporary structure that would melt anyways. Clearly, they didn’t think about the effort that went into making it. Tomorrow when I walk into my class, I will share this scenario with my students and engage them in a discussion about the moral implications of the destruction of the snowman. I want them to uncover the hidden problems behind this event, and how the abolished snowman is a metaphor for what goes on in our contemporary society.
The art work that I used in this blog of a snowman is created by a talented artist Tracey Riedel. More of her art can be found on http://www.artwanted.com
I thank Tracey for creating such beautiful pieces of art!
By: Tracey Riedel on October 31, 2011 at 4:15 am
Hi! I came across your blog today. The artwork pictured here is mine. As someone who often has her work stolen & copied I also share your sentiment: “Clearly, they didn’t think about the effort that went into making it.”
Posting copies of my work on the World Wide Web with open access has the effect of publishing. Many think that a work published on the web constitutes public domain (like the snowman in the public park). My market and marketability may be harmed even though the piece was not physically destroyed like the snowman. For example this particular work was produced as an ACEO (Art Cards Editions and Originals) It is a niche form of art that began in 2004. These are purchased and traded based on being one of a kind. The original was sold on Ebay in 2007. When the art becomes readily available to anyone – to do with what they wish- the value can be diminished. I would imagine that the owner of the original work would be very disappointed to find it being used everywhere.
Not obtaining permission for use or properly crediting an artist’s work, is what goes on in goes on in our contemporary society. The web puts distance between the creator of the art and anyone who chooses to use it. Do you think that the kids would have destroyed the snowman if they knew the family or if the family was still there? Having my work used without my permission is a chance I take when I put in in the “park” and walk away from it. You hope no one walks by and destroys it. You rely on the ethics and morals of the ones that you share it with.
I hope you can see the irony in my post. With all that being said I am requesting that amend your post to you give me credit for my work.
Sincerely,
Tracey Riedel
By: mkrstovic on November 3, 2011 at 6:58 pm
HI Tracey,
My sincere apologies for using your art and not giving you credit for it. I absolutely see the irony with how I took your art without your permission and my blog – how shameful of me. You must have felt upset by this. After reading your comment I immediately went to my blog and at the bottom of it I added your name and inserted your website link.
Thank you for creating this wonderful piece of art that adds more meaning to my blog. I chose it because it was the best out there.
Thank you again, and I am sorry for not having giving you credit immediately.
Sincerely,
Mirjan