(Or, how to send all of the editors of a publication a vague solicitation, rebuff an effort to direct the solicitation to the right editor, slam said publication, accuse said publication’s art director of “stealing the intellectual property of others,” and threaten to ‘tattle’ on said publication for above referenced “riff/theft.”)

As happens several times a day, someone dropped us an email with an unsolicited writing sample—this one in the form of a simple URL to a blog called “‘Sheri Cherry’s Valu-Best Puppet Troupe-Adores’; Most impressive is “The Guide,” a large smiling puppet made mostly of air, with a colorful pair of shoes accentuating his dialogue.” (Anyone have a crazy-to-English dictionary handy?)

We set up a page of info on submissions a while back, so in an attempt to be helpful, I sent this person—John Figler—a quick and friendly note with the link.

Minutes later, I get this right back:

Amy,

Did it ever occur to you that you might be missing something special by sending out this sort of form email?

Much of your arts writing is ignorant and poorly written, relying on cliches and tired “bad-ass” attitude. You need more help than you realize.

Figler

It’s mid-afternoon—not the best time of day for me, attitude wise (I blame low blood sugar). So I respond.

That kind of attitude sure as hell isn’t going to help you get published.

I don’t have anything to do with arts—I’m the news editor. But did it occur to you that I’m trying to help freelancers get a foot in the door by making sure they know who to put their stuff in front of?

We get a lot of email each day, and knowing whom you can personally send things to helps it get noticed.

Figler fires back—with all kinds of “‘bad-ass’ attitude”—by sending a months-old writing sample, in which he’d slammed this Mercury illustration:

“That kind of attitude sure as hell isn’t going to help you get published.”

Oh my God! Thank you so much for this “insider’s” advice. You know, that would never have occurred to me!

Where do I send this article on art in the media?

‘Nam Era Protest Poster Found at Graphic Arts Chop Shop

An open letter to Portland Mercury editor Wm. Steven Humphrey and Portland Mercury art director Demo Fregosi:

I’m surprised to see that Mr. Fregosi’s illustration for this week’s Hempstalk Festival story is so …deeply influenced by a 1967 poster called “End Bad Breath”. The poster, created by venerable, top-flight graphic designer Seymour Chwast, depicts an aerial bombing occurring inside Uncle Sam’s mouth. Within my frame of reference, Chwast’s is a pretty famous image, but I wonder if Mr. Fregosi is banking on its relative obscurity elsewhere. A risky bet, sir. Though Mr. Fregosi might claim that he is not stealing the intellectual property of others, but is merely quoting Chwast’s work, or paying homage to it in the same way that artists can - and frequently do - quote James Montgomery Flagg’s “I WANT YOU” Uncle Sam, Chwast’s image has only modest cultural currency and none of the earnest and/or ironic associations Flagg’s has acquired through repeated use and reuse….

This is getting exhausting (I’m so overdue for my afternoon snack). If you’re still with me, Figler carries on after the jump.

I reply:

I've already seen that post—Demo quite literally said "I've got this idea that's a riff on a propaganda style poster," when he discussed that illustration. He's heard of it, you've heard of it—it strikes me that it's not so "little known."

Figler shoots back, twice in a row:

Then we agree to disagree -- on several points. I haven't sent it to Mr. Chwast, but I intend to, to get his opinion on the "riff/theft" divide. I'm simply curious, and frankly feel that emailing Chwast would be interesting anyway.

Do you know of Pushpin?

and

My sense of fair play compels me to mention that Chwast's career has thrived on appropriation and creative reuse. He's very likely to regard me as a silly boy. And as one of the most financially successful graphic artists in the history of our planet, he is unlikely to perceive a grubstake in the question.

John

Isn't the fact that Chwast is "one of the most financially successful graphic artists in the history of our planet" a direct contradiction of Figler's assertion that the End Bad Breath poster is obscure and little known? (Forget the fact that there isn't a "well known" threshold something has to cross before it can be parodied.) I ask him.

Figler:

No, because the general public, which you "serve" (as journalists used to say) knows jack sh** about the source of the image presented as original. But, as trendy-attitude-folks still say, tiringly, "WHATEVER!"

Enjoy. Over and out.

I think we should assign this man a feature, stat. Perhaps on "trendy-attitude-folks."