I need an artist's perspective! PLEASE READ!

[Medved35]

Should YOU as an artist spend 70 dollars after the fact the time and effort YOU spent on creating YOUR work to be judged by random people at hope for a grand prize of a whopping $300 dollars and your very own show( expenses most certainly are not paid for). But wait there's more....your piece(or pieces, at most 3) must only be at most 6inches by 6inches. Now think about a gallery filled with all these small pieces. Now think how much money they make and think of how much you lost(not just in dollars). NOTE, this is in Bulgaria and is obviously a scam. BUT THERE'S EVEN MORE. Before I paste my email and their reply here is a link to their competition
http://www.lessedra.com/mixed_media_con ... tions&l=en
I sent them(her, him, whoever) this in an email:
"A very small size and large amount of money. You people are criminals and in no way art enthusiasts. Do not ever contact me about any future "opportunities". I'll watch my work burn in a blaze of fire before i submit any of it to your gallery. I'm sorry that you were the one I had to unleash my distaste for taking advantage of artists in a disadvantage, but it just worked out that way."
And the reply I received:
Hi Collin,

Yes, you are right from your point of view
and without aggression we may take more advantages...

If I do not like an work of art I am not going to destroy it,
or of an artist is not my favorite I am not going to kill him or her...

Only for your information hundreds of artists from all over the world
are sending works every year for both of our projects.

For free is only the cheese in the mousetrap!

Wish you Good Luck.

Georgi
Lessedra
End quoted email

I'm not going to reply to Georgi, but I was wandering about your feelings towards this issue. As an artist, does this do anything for you?

[Singular]

WOW! That is atrocious.

[ehoeveler]

When I got back into painting I had the Agora Gallery contact me, saying the loved my work and that they'd be happy to show my stuff at their place in Newww York Citayy!
I was impressed and jubilant until I read their contract. First, I had to plunk down 3k for PR, cocktail party and wall space. Secondly I had to pay for shipping and insurance. Also, everything had to be nicely framed - more$$$$. These people didn't want to see if I sold anything or not - they wanted all the money up front. It's what you call a Vanity Gallery.
Medved, your work is great - you do not need a vanity gallery. Sorry you got tapped by a
shyster - happens all over the world.

[Medved35]

Vanity galleries, figures that there's a word for them. They don't teach you that in college. To be honest, I just feel bad for the people that got suckered. It's disturbing how people will eventually find ways to take advantage of everything and anyone.

[ehoeveler]

People don't mind being suckered because
they're in denial about the quality of their own work.
Don't feel bad but I will always encourage beginning artists
to never, ever pay a gallery up-front. The vanity gallery doesn't believe
in their stuff and they don't care - it's alll about the dollars.
A reputable gallery will gauge an artist's work and will be ready to
'take a chance' if they truly believe the work will sell. If the work sells,
then the gallery gets their cut and that's how it should be.

[sonya.ball]

Definately sounds like a scam! Scams are so easy to spot at my age, but I might have fallen for that in my twenties and thirties. All I can say is RUN very fast, and change your mailing address to a p o box for a while, and all of your passwords maybe too. These kinds of offers tend to go hand in hand with cyber crime.

[www-ksart-se]

When I got back into painting I had the Agora Gallery contact me, saying the loved my work and that they'd be happy to show my stuff at their place in Newww York Citayy!
I was impressed and jubilant until I read their contract. First, I had to plunk down 3k for PR, cocktail party and wall space. Secondly I had to pay for shipping and insurance. Also, everything had to be nicely framed - more$$$$. These people didn't want to see if I sold anything or not - they wanted all the money up front. It's what you call a Vanity Gallery.
Medved, your work is great - you do not need a vanity gallery. Sorry you got tapped by a
shyster - happens all over the world.

Same gallery contacted me a while back. I too turned them down. This seems to be more common then i thought.

[ehoeveler]

OMG, Christian; You too, have been 'Baptized'! E

[artdeva]

I may wear rose-colored glasses. I can't help but wonder what this world might be like if people put their energy, intelligence, and talents to work creating instead of trying to scam/rob.

[Cristo]

I've never been contacted by a vanity gallery, or any gallery for that matter. But if I was contacted by a scam gallery, I would know what to do now thanks to this forum

[jenn_iam]

Craziness!! Your instincts were spot on for that one... Yikes!