Atlanta Arts vandalism

On Saturday evening after show close several artists had their tents slashed by vandals. The show is held in Piedmont park, a very large park in midtown Atlanta, and because of the size and layout of the park security is difficult. I give the organizers credit, they wrote checks to all the artists that had damage even though they didn't have to.

This past year vandalism is certainly on the rise, at the VB Boardwalk festival this year someone tried to set my tent on fire (didn't succeed), tents slashed at Delray, fires set in tents in Sarasota, cigarette butts thrown out of a second story apartment window down on the tents below, gang tags on tents, and the ever popular drunk relieving themselves on your tent

As if our chosen profession isn't difficult enough, now we have this to contend with. Some shows have very good security, others it's non-existent. With the rising booth fees I don't think it's too much to expect that our belongings should be protected, 1 or 2 cops patrolling 150 to 200 tents isn't enough, especially if their idea of security is sleeping in their cruiser (I've seen it).

That's my two cents, how do you feel?

I was at the Piedmont Park Arts Festival in mid-August this year and did not hear of any vandalism. It rained the entire time so maybe the scumbags didn't want to get wet. But I agree with the other comments here that with jury and booth fees being as high as they are, better security simply must be provided! I went to art school and back in the late 60's and early 70's. I left the art world (in terms of making a living) because I couldn't find a way of having any kind of financial security. Now that I'm approaching retirement years I have come back and am not happy to find that the promoters are literally "running the show". The same issues that existed way back then still exist today. Yes, there is insurance out there that an artist can buy, but that is just one more expense. I already think the artist is the one being asked to take the majority of the financial risk when entering a show. Vandalism is not an act of nature that the promoters cannot control. Vandalism is something the promoters should purchase insurance against. Even in a place as big as Piedmont Park, security is possible, but it will cut into the profits of the promoters. In my opinion, that is a cost of doing business. These promoters did the right thing, but my sense is that many would not have stepped up. Just my two-cents worth!

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Comments

Jolene Cazzola September 17, 2013 at 1:07pm

I was at the Piedmont Park Arts Festival in mid-August this year and did not hear of any vandalism. It rained the entire time so maybe the scumbags didn't want to get wet. But I agree with the other comments here that with jury and booth fees being as high as they are, better security simply must be provided! I went to art school and back in the late 60's and early 70's. I left the art world (in terms of making a living) because I couldn't find a way of having any kind of financial security. Now that I'm approaching retirement years I have come back and am not happy to find that the promoters are literally "running the show". The same issues that existed way back then still exist today. Yes, there is insurance out there that an artist can buy, but that is just one more expense. I already think the artist is the one being asked to take the majority of the financial risk when entering a show. Vandalism is not an act of nature that the promoters cannot control. Vandalism is something the promoters should purchase insurance against. Even in a place as big as Piedmont Park, security is possible, but it will cut into the profits of the promoters. In my opinion, that is a cost of doing business. These promoters did the right thing, but my sense is that many would not have stepped up. Just my two-cents worth!
Jacki Bilsborrow September 16, 2013 at 9:31pm

Wow, what a shame. I do think it was really great of the show organizers to compensate artists even though they didn't have to. That was good of them.

I hope the best for those who were vandalized.
Virginia Dauth September 16, 2013 at 6:33pm

FYI - to add to the list of slashings, Magic City Arts Fest, B'Ham, Al.

Darn, That is so awful. I usually do the Atlanta Art Show but had a conflict. Julie Tepp is a wonderful person who runs that show and am sure she really felt very badly for everyone. I found that during the daytime there were plenty of Atlanta PD, they are always walking the whole show and they were very nice to speak with. I always try to talk to the officers at the show as my son is a K-9 officer in Sandy Springs.

Now, You will think I am Crazy, Last year we had the option of packing up on Monday as verses at the end of the Dogwood Festival. I decided to come back Monday am. Well!!! the fella next to me and I were the only tents left in the whole park. Thankfully nothing was harmed or stolen but will never do that ever again anywhere. I guess my guardian angel was sitting on top of my tent for me.
Pat Falk September 16, 2013 at 2:15pm

My heart goes out to these artists. I know what it feels like as I had my van stollen while I was doing a show a number of years ago while it was parked in a secure lot. The cop was sitting on the corner playing games on his computer.
Connie Mettler September 16, 2013 at 12:33pm

Always a bad thing. I've seen security sleeping in cars also, Lori. When that happens they need to be reported to their superiors.

That being said, Paul has it right. Best you can don't leave anything that you don't want to lose. Buy insurance. There are very reasonable policies available that are worth every penny. Please check out ACT insurance ad on the front page here, contact your local insurance agent, get protection.

This park is huge. Keeping it all covered at all times is way beyond any security's capabilities. Try as it might no show organization can completely protect a show that takes place in such a large area. We must protect ourselves. Be smart. Be aware.
margaret luttrell September 16, 2013 at 12:08pm

I was at the Atlanta Arts Festival this last weekend in Piedmont Park and didn't know about the slashing. I am so sorry for the artist's involved. You feel so vulnerable anyway leaving your total livelihood under a tent overnight and then to have things like this happen is just depressing. I was there solo and couldn't get out of my booth to go to the bathroom no less walk the show. Booth sitters were pretty nonexistent. The show was really well run though, especially in terms of load in and out. Honestly, nobody messes with the Atlanta cops, even the upstanding citizens that live there...they are a grumpy and scary group overall to say the least. So I am surprised to hear that this happened. Sucks, really sucks.
Gloria Irla Marlow September 16, 2013 at 11:08am

I've been really lucky so far but many of the shows I've been in have a clause that excluded the promoters from responsibility for loss, stolen or damaged items. One show we do in November requires us to have a $1,000,000 insurance policy covering the show and the city in case of liability actions due to customer injury. But they are not liable for damage or loss during the event if we are vandalized or robbed. These shows are expensive and I realize they have expenses but I feel like they should carry some kind of insurance to protect the artists for damages during an event.
Christine Lush-Rodriguez September 16, 2013 at 10:36am

I have not done theVB Neptune Festival in 2years. The last year I did it, the painter next to me had a homeless person vonit in his booth and go through all his paper work. Then the jeweler on the other side was cut open and things stolen from them. When getting the only cop on duty, he told us that it is one cop for 10 blocks, did you hear that? 1 cop for 10 blocks.... impossible to watch .... So I never went back after that...
lori kay September 16, 2013 at 10:36am

Paul that was the reason I decided to add this post this is happening more and more and yet no one is talking about it. It's up to us to take care of ourselves and our belongings we can't depend on security. Forewarned is forearmed
Paul Flack September 16, 2013 at 10:27am

Senseless crime is rampant in urban areas yet not publicized. Two years ago in Piedmont park the director of Dogwood was talking to us someone robbed an artist's purse not one tent away. There is no way the police can protect our valuables. Oddly enough, we had to set up on Thursday for a show that began on Saturday, leaving out things in that God-forsaken park for a day unattended. Nine tents in all were slashed. Those victims were recompensed a fraction of what it costs to repair the damage. The show itself was horrible for most.

For myself, I chose to bring inexpensive chairs rather than expose my more comfortable festival chairs to the mayhem.

Artists need to be forewarned. The protected environs of suburban and smaller shows is far more preferable to large open urban surrounds such as Piedmont park and Baltimore's Artscape.