Looking at Art:

Appropriation is the use of existing images or artwork in another person’s art without permission from the maker. This practice is very common these days and for a long time the original artist has been protected from copycats by copyright laws.

In a recent article in the New York Times Magazine, members of the of a popular indie rock group, Beach House, were interviewed. They were asked how they react to having their music distorted and changed on social media. Scally, a member of the group said, “ …we have to be okay with  releasing the music to the world and letting whatever happens to it happen.”  

Has appropriation become so common that our ethical standards about art have changed?

Work in the Studio:

It may be more difficult to appropriate sculpture that is not yet famous, because there are no photos that will show all of the ins and outs of each view of a piece, particularly if it is abstract and complex. One of the challenges for sculptors is that sculpture in the round is three dimensional and must flow from one plane to the next in order to achieve a successfully designed whole. My sculpture, shown here, is an example of the twists and turns that can make up a three dimensional piece.