An Objectionable Practice in African Art

http://ift.tt/1gOE3sY An Objectionable Practice in African Art -There is only one way to avoid criticism: do nothing, say nothing, and be nothing.- -Aristotle Dear Friends: As you know, each year I travel several times to major cities to exhibit important items from my extensive inventory during Fairs and Pop-up events, and of course to meet my extensive clientele. Dealing and collecting African Art is always exciting and enjoyable, but among dealers the competition to acquire new clients is frequently extremely aggressive. To my astonishment, during one of my last exhibitions in a European city hosting an art fair, I received a strongly worded communication from a well-known dealers association, and after the event, I received a lawyer's -cease and desist- letter asking me to stop presenting my goods during their organized event. I strongly disagree with these attempts to disallow me to professionally display my inventory in European cities. As far as I know, the basic principle set in European law is that of free competition. Organizations sponsoring an event do not have a monopoly on the sale of tribal objects during the tenure of that event in any given geographic location, and simply cannot claim exclusive rights in this regard. I have officially participated in group and solo African art exhibitions as part of my professional activities in such major cities in Europe and the United States as Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam, New York, Lisbon, Cannes, Arnhem, and others. As just one or two specific examples, I participated in the New York City Tribal Art event in 2012, and among a number of Paris venues, I participated at the 5th International Exhibition of Tribal Art at the -Hôtel Dassault- at the rond point of the Champs Elysées in 2002 I have also displayed at a number of temporary Pop-up exhibitions and group shows during organized art events in a number of major venues. Representative of this, I have rented a, established gallery several years in a row at in the same European city at various times of the year, including during major art fairs, and I have also enjoyed my own Pop-up shows during December and January, when no other special events were offered. Additionally, I have frequently rented gallery space in another city to create my own Pop-up events. When I organize an exhibition in Paris (or other major city), or when I participate in a collective exhibition, I usually announce my events by e-mail to 6000 contacts who read my newsletter on African Art and by mail to 1500 people, all from my private established mailing list. Given the fact that I never claimed to be a member of the -association- who sent me the injunction, this action against me seems unwarranted, highly objectionable, and probably without legal stature. More specifically, I do not cause in any way what they call -commercial parasitism,- and I do not breach any of these -organizer's right- by exhibiting independently and on my own behalf in a city during their events. My shows are held under a banner that is clearly mine, and thus I do not create confusion in any way. Consistent with my professionalism and my long-established business ethics, you should look forward to my exhibiting in a number of appropriate contexts in the future. I hope you enjoyed listening to me, David Norden +32 3 227.35.40 http:--http://ift.tt/Ntdvpo http:--www.africanarts.info