Content provided in partnership with

Art association splits in N.O. Jackson Square ranks

New Orleans CityBusiness, May 7, 2008 by Richard A Webster

Opponents of the sale of reproductions on Jackson Square subscribe to the domino effect theory. They believe if people are allowed to sell prints, the historic art colony will descend into crass commercialism and the rest of the French Quarter will soon follow.

This is the argument put forth by the Jackson Square Artists Association, the leader in the fight against reproductions and a vocal advocate for the preservation of the "tout ensemble" of the French Quarter.

The JSAA is billed as an all-inclusive, representative body for the licensed artists around Jackson Square and boasts the support of City Councilwoman Jacquelyn Brechtel Clarkson, who pushed an ordinance banning the sale of prints in 2004.

Most Popular Articles in Business: Research and Markets : Tesco Plc - SWOT Framework Analysis; Do Us a Flavor - Ben & Jerry's Issues a Call for Euphoric New Flavors; eBay made easy: ready to start an eBay business? These 5 simple steps will ...; Katrina's lawsuit surge: a legal battle to force insurers to pay for flood ...; Wal-Mart's newest distribution center opened last month near the southwest ...; More »

But some say the group is not what it seems.

Barbara Yochum has sold art on the square for 38 years and was once a JSAA member. During her involvement, its primary function was to act as a self-governing organization that would enforce mutually agreed upon rules, she said.

But in 2004, a group of anti-print members led by Lee Tucker, a 37-year veteran of the square, took control of the group, incorporated it and made themselves lifetime members, Yochum said, effectively casting out everyone who might share a different opinion. The decision was never put up for a vote and was done without the knowledge of longtime JSAA members, she said.

"They do not represent the artists," Yochum said. "They took our group and turned it into a private organization. Before this happened the association worked for everyone, but now it's used to bully the people they don't like."

Artists gain membership in the JSAA when they apply for a permit to sell art in the square. The city has capped the number of permits at 200, and Tucker estimates there are 140 current members in the association.

Members in dispute

Holly Sarre filed a lawsuit against the city in 2005, claiming the ordinance that bans the sale of prints on Jackson Square restricts her constitutional right to free speech. The case remains in court.

Tucker said JSAA was incorporated to protect individual members against such lawsuits.

"If these people with prints decided to sue, it would be the corporation that would be liable, not the individual," said Tucker.

Contrary to Yochum 's claim, Tucker said the JSAA held a full vote and the majority cast their ballots in favor of incorporating.

"We didn't appoint ourselves lifetime members, but we are the charter people who started this," Tucker said. "The print people may no longer consider themselves part of the association, but they are by virtue of having a license to sell on the square. We never kicked anyone out."

Artists in favor of prints accuse Tucker of being disingenuous since the only reason for incorporating was to protect himself and other members against the pro-print efforts.

They also accuse the JSAA of using its position to collect money in the name of all the artists on Jackson Square and then failing to share the funds.

Movies shot in Jackson Square often make donations to artists as compensation for lost wages during filming. Typically these donations go to the JSAA. But instead of sharing the money with everyone on the square, the group uses the money to fund its legal battle against the sale of prints, said artist Jennifer Marrus.

"All that goes to the association to fight people like horrible me who sells prints of their work," Marrus said. "It's insidious."

Tucker said at no time do JSAA members misrepresent themselves, but he did not deny the money collected from movie studios is used to fund their legal battles against the sale of prints.

"The movies make donations specifically to the association. If the individual artists want something, they can approach the movies themselves," Tucker said.

City opposes prints

The city has sided with the JSAA in this debate while former members such as Yochum have been forced to hire attorneys to stop from being permanently evicted from Jackson Square.

This proves that politically connected and well-heeled organizations will always win out over the independent business owners, she said.

"The JSAA does not represent all of the artists on the square and they're trying to push out everyone who disagrees with them. That will rob it of all its diversity at a time when we need as many people out here as possible," Yochum said.

The city contends the sale of prints will permanently damage the historic nature of the French Quarter and as proof presented affidavits from artists such as Tucker who backed up their claims.

Tucker cites the decrease of people selling original art as proof that prints have had a damaging effect. He said his own business has decreased over the past several years but admits a variety of factors could be at play.

Sarre's attorney Brian Begue said the city needs to realize the JSAA is not representative of the entire Jackson Square art colony. Members such as Tucker are not experts on the financial impact of prints and have a vested financial interest in chasing off artists who sell prints.

Art association splits in N.O. Jackson Square ranks

New Orleans CityBusiness, May 7, 2008 by Richard A Webster

Find Research Guides for:

Find Featured Titles for: Technology

Most Popular Articles in Business

Most Popular Publications in Business