The Bull of Red Bull, an Artist's Perspective
One lone artist makes a stand satirically through art against Red Bull's policy requiring all artists to sign their rights away who submit art to their upcoming 'Art of Can Exhibition' in Washington, D.C.
New York, NY (PRWEB) May 20, 2009 -- One lone artist makes a stand satirically through art against Red Bull's policy requiring all artists to sign their rights away who submit art to their upcoming 'Art of Can Exhibition' in Washington, D.C.
Pop Artist Olan Montgomery makes a stand against Red Bull's policy through his new work entitled 'BULLshit,' a 55x55x1.5 mixed media satire of a young girl in a bikini at a nightclub full of patrons over run by Red Bulls. In fact, the young blonde in polka dots is giving her audience 'the finger' as she dances among the Red Bulls under a disco ball.
"I found out about this competition from a gallery in Brooklyn that had something to do with Red Bull. I think Red Bull had donated a prize for one of their show competitions, so I guess the gallery figured they should advertise the Red Bull 'Art of Can' competition in return. When I found out what they make artists sign to even be considered I was horrified," states Olan as he sips his coffee. "I prefer not to throw my brethren under the bus and would like to personally state my disapproval of this rape of artists and their works of art through my own artistic tribute."
According to the Transfer Agreement for the 'Art of Can' exhibit in D.C., which could be downloaded from the official website for the event up until the mid May 2009 deadline, an artist had to sign a transfer agreement entitling the company to the art as well as the artist's rights to their creation.
When asked about why the artist chose to create such a dramatization in the piece Olan replied, "Maybe we are all expected to give our homes, lives away for nothing these days through legal paper work. I just know it's wrong and should not be tolerated. That girl is just giving it back to them in my painting -- exactly what they gave us," says Olan.
"Artist's create art to inspire, to live, to contribute -- and when an organization creates an opportunity for an artist to create and be seen many times the artist is more than willing to give their creation without hesitation for this recognition. But when a major corporation like Red Bull makes artists sign away their rights to their own art to be in their traveling art show - I begin to have a problem!" states Olan.
In a quote from Red Bull's 'Assignment and Transfer Agreement' for their upcoming "Art of Can" exhibit in Washington D.C. under the section entitled "definitions: the artists are asked to sign a waiver of their rights to their submissions with "rights" defined as,
"All rights, title and interest worldwide; all property rights in, associated with, attached to and embodied in the Work, including all personal and intellectual property rights, including all copyrights, moral rights, publicity rights and any and all other intellectual property rights."
The 'Transfer Agreement' goes on to state signing the agreement "irrevocably transfers and assigns to Red Bull all Rights in and to the Work" as well as "Red Bull may reproduce the Work in any medium, and may make any modifications or derivative works, and may include the work in original or modified form, in compilations or collective works in its sole discretion."
"That means they can do whatever they want with your work, change it if they feel like it. It even states in the agreement Red Bull isn't even responsible for squat -- loss, damage nothing. I would ask why does RED BULL feel's so entitled they must first have an artist sign a legal waiver stating that they give all of their rights away including any rights to ad usage in total to RED BULL?" asks Olan.
Olan reads through the PDF of the agreement artists must sign before they are allowed to submit their art and states, "Maybe the corporates up at Red Bull should have copies of this shoved on their desks demanding they sign it before they do their work -- maybe they would like to give their hard earned education's and talent away for free with 'name credit' only."'
In section five of the transfer agreement it's stated, "Credit: For all depiction's of the Work produced by Red Bull for display at Red Bull Art of Can held in Washington, D.C. from (Exhibition Dates TBD), 2009, Red Bull will include a credit to Artist in the form of "Artist: <artist's name>", defining how the artist will be credited should their art be chosen for the show.
"Why would a corporation do this to a single artist, when they make millions and have plenty of their own ad guys whom they pay enormous salaries to come up with artistic ideas on a daily basis? Why ask some poor artist to create something and not give them anything save for their name on a plaque in a show at a train station in D.C.?" Olan asks.
"I present my own entry not for your consideration and definitely I will continue to retain all legal and professional and 'moral' rights to my artistic creation. OK Red Bull...I keeping them all just to be 100% clear!" exclaims Olan, "my art is being presented NOT for your consideration but instead for the defense of my own peeps."
"Got that Red Bull?", asks Olan.
About the Artist:
The artist's work is a visual stimulation to remind people to simply look at one another and see through the layers of a complex personality. According to Olan, "In our world today fame and pop stardom are sometimes reduced to '5 seconds of fame,' In some respects we can blame or thank the mass media for contributing to a jaded social value of 'been there, done that.' Regardless, my work is an effort to capture an essence within that fleeting context and place it into a perpetual freeze-frame."
Olan is also known for his tribute to local bank tellers at Chase Manhattan in New York written about by the New York Times in an article entitled "Tellers in Tangerine" published in 2003 where the artist created art about a segment of society asking the viewer to simply "look more closely at the individual standing beside you." Olan has created art of many noted celebrities and been written about and published by magazines like NY Arts, The Village Voice and Heeb by writers such as pop culture guru Michael Musto.
Olan further states about his art, "My work has a simple message: see the individual through color and light. By doing so, one's individuality can be more fully understood."
For additional information on artist Olan Montgomery please visit his website at www.lipstickchic.com or his agent's website www.VogelPOP.com), contact STACY VOGEL at at 908.439.9537 for inquiries about the painting or to arrange a personal interviews with the artist, Olan Montgomery.
Contact:
Stacy Vogel
VOGEL POP L.L.C.
908.642.7465
www.VOGELpop.com
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