WGXC-90.7 FM
Locally-based artist loses multi-million dollar case
Apr 07, 2011 3:55 pm
[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="200" caption=""Reparations," by Woodstock-based artist Norm Magnusson, digitally repairs a work by Richard Prince back to its original form as published by Patrick Cariou in his 2000 book, "Yes, Rasta.""]
[/caption]Here's a major art AND copyright story with a local angle nestled right in the WGXC listening area. Last month, a New York federal court ordered artist Richard Prince, who lives in Albany County, to destroy a group of paintings for having breached copyright laws. Prince, known for his appropriations of pop culture imagery, as well as his million dollar auction prices, was sued after reworking a series of photographs by the French photographer Patrick Cariou. The ruling, which may lead to an appeal, could cost Prince and his gallery, the Gagosian, quite a lot of money. Eight works from a 2008 show sold for more than $10 million, and 7 others were traded for other works of art together worth $6m and $8m. Prince, who settled a similar copyright infringement case in the 1980s for an undisclosed amount, tried using a "fair use" defense and described the original photos he slightly altered as being "not strikingly original’ or ‘distinctive’ in nature.” Prince, who moved to the Rensselaerville area in 1996 and started making "upstate art," donated a showcase installation of his art and 80 acres to the Guggenheim in 2005. In 2007 the piece, entitled "Second Home," was struck by lightning and destroyed.
[/caption]Here's a major art AND copyright story with a local angle nestled right in the WGXC listening area. Last month, a New York federal court ordered artist Richard Prince, who lives in Albany County, to destroy a group of paintings for having breached copyright laws. Prince, known for his appropriations of pop culture imagery, as well as his million dollar auction prices, was sued after reworking a series of photographs by the French photographer Patrick Cariou. The ruling, which may lead to an appeal, could cost Prince and his gallery, the Gagosian, quite a lot of money. Eight works from a 2008 show sold for more than $10 million, and 7 others were traded for other works of art together worth $6m and $8m. Prince, who settled a similar copyright infringement case in the 1980s for an undisclosed amount, tried using a "fair use" defense and described the original photos he slightly altered as being "not strikingly original’ or ‘distinctive’ in nature.” Prince, who moved to the Rensselaerville area in 1996 and started making "upstate art," donated a showcase installation of his art and 80 acres to the Guggenheim in 2005. In 2007 the piece, entitled "Second Home," was struck by lightning and destroyed.