Artist and gallery director Tony Krol has restored some of my faith in humanity.
Tony is a muralist and director and curator of a gallery in the Tampa Bay area featuring artists from all over the world. On July 11th I received an email from Tony saying that he had “accidentally” painted one of my images on a building in South Bend, Indiana. The mix-up was related to several of his interns and a recordkeeping error (it’s complicated but that’s basically it). He thought he had permission to use the photo but he didn’t.
Tony apologized sincerely and offered to “to replace the image of the bird in the composition with an image that you did not take”, even though that would require that he make another trip from Tampa to South Bend in order to do so, or “I can pay you royalties on the use or buy a licensing agreement from you.”
This is my Horned Lark photo – the one that Tony used by mistake for his mural in South Bend.
This is part of Tony’s very large mural on the side of an industrial building in South Bend – the part that includes my Horned Lark.
After brief negotiation, Tony agreed to pay a generous amount to license my photo for the mural. I’ve now received full payment and the issue is resolved to our mutual satisfaction.
Followers of Feathered Photography are aware of how frustrated and angry I become over issues of image theft. Thieves regularly steal my images, often assuming I’ll never discover the theft and when contacted, many of them flat-out lie about the circumstances of the theft. Most do it deliberately, assuming I’ll never discover what they’ve done. I’ve had to go through the time-consuming process of registering thousands of my photos with the US Copyright Office and occasionally I’ve even had to get an IP attorney involved. It’s a pain in the ass.
So you can imagine how refreshing I found Tony’s approach to be. He made an honest mistake, owned up to it and rectified the situation in a timely and fair manner – voluntarily. He gave me some hope for humanity again, for which I’m grateful.
But there’s more to this story – a human-interest element that I thought my readers would enjoy.
Tony painted the mural this summer when he returned to South Bend, his hometown, for the funeral of his beloved grandmother. The Northern Cardinal on the right represents his grandmother who loved birds, photographed birds and had a “yard full of feeders”. My Horned Lark on the left represents Tony.
The red Studebaker in the middle honors Tony’s still-living 96 year old grandfather who worked at the Studebaker factory in South Bend. There’s lots of other familial symbolism in the painting but I don’t know its meaning.
This is Tony with his grandfather in front of the Studebaker.
I love his grandfather’s Studebaker shirt and hat.
As you can see, the mural is enormous. Tony told me that my Horned Lark is 16′ tall and I estimate the mural to be about 70′ long. Here’s a link to a short video of Tony painting my Horned Lark. It’s the first time I’ve seen the process of painting a mural, especially when it includes one of my photos.
Thanks, Tony. You’ve made me feel a little better about humanity. It isn’t a good feeling to always think the worst of your own species.
Ron
Below are Tony’s “thoughts on the wall”. Tony goes by Illsol.
“The piece is titled: Resurrection
– Artist – Illsol :
This piece is located in South Bend Indiana, and is a dedication to the city the artist grew up in, as well as his family, his grandparents Ed, and Rita Krol. The piece respresents the freedom that is found in looking at things in a new way. This piece has transformed plain blocks through the placement of colored pigrment as a testament to the ways that Art has changed the city of South Bend – a fresh outdoor mural movement is creating a renaissance of inspiration in a place that largely has suffered in the rust belt from closed industries of the past; such as the Studebaker manufacturing plants. A once thriving manufactering city is becoming once again a truly inspiring place through a focus on the Arts. The piece also represents transformation through the Arts – how creating art transcends suffering, there can be beauty found in the all aspects of creation, and the hope of the artists is that those who see the piece can find their own inspiration to create from their heart and share it with the world.
Reference Images Licensed: Horned Lark 3892 : Ron Dudley featheredphotography.com/blog”
How wonderful! Good people exist.
An uplifting story. Thank you
Nice to read a feel-good story today! When I was very young, the first family car I remember was a light green Studebaker “Lark” station wagon, What a coincidence that the painting of your lark and the Studebaker company were both featured in that mural.
Wonderful story and an absolutely stunning mural. And horned larks are some of my favorites.
kudos to Tony for being upfront & forthright, and to both of you for working together for a mutually satisfying outcome. The mural is really incredible, and it must be very satisfying to see your photo in such a prominent place – especially knowing all the “paperwork” is now appropriate.
Quentin, I’m generally not a fan of “paperwork” but when some of it is a check, it helps. 🙂
Beautiful post!!
Thanks, Joanne.
Just what I was going to post!! Yes indeed it is beautiful!
What a wonderful and uplifting post to start my day (late) with. Honesty and integrity seem to have often disappeared and it is lovely to read they still exist. A stunning mural too.
Glad you enjoyed it, EC. Thanks.
Wow. I really enjoyed this post. Fantastic!
That is quite a work of art, and a beautiful tribute to boot.
Happy ending and good feelings all around. What’s better than that?
“Happy ending and good feelings all around. What’s better than that?”
Not much, Michael. Thanks.
Glad it worked out!
Thanks.
See, Ron, honesty does exist. That’s one heck of a painting. My grandfather was an artist. He painted those posters outside of movie theaters in the 30’s, 40’s, 50’s, and 60’s. Not silkscreen either. Painted with a brush.
“See, Ron, honesty does exist..”
Sometimes I’m not so sure, Mikel. Then someone like Tony comes along. I just wish it happened more often.
In light of some of the other battles over stolen/uncredited images you’ve documented, this is certainly a “feels much better” story. Hooray all around!
Thank you for including the followup material, too. My family’s first car was a pale green Studebaker, and I remember sitting on our front steps in the evening waiting to see that shiny nose-cone appearing out of the dusk – my dad coming home from work. It was a wonderful car, and now I know where it came from – South Bend, Indiana.
Ron, I have learned SO MUCH from your blog, about so many subjects. The ethics stuff has got to be near the top as the most important. Thank you.
Carolyn, my best friend in high school drove a red Studebaker (it was his parent’s car) just like the one in the mural. I spent quite a bit of time in that old car.
What a interesting story about the painting and how it is done with spray cans. I would guess that would be very hard to do. Control would be very hard. Thanks for the pictures and story. Glad it ended well for you.
I’m glad too, Trudy. Thanks.
The mural is stunning! I’m in awe of Tony’s creativity and artistic ability, talent, skill, and hard work. It also seems fitting that a photographer with ethics and integrity is represented in a piece of art made by someone with the same sensibilities.
I keep scrolling back up to look at the images of the mural — and of Tony and his grandfather — and discover something new and meaningful each time.
Marty, Tony gave me access to many dozens of photos (and several videos) taken while he was painting the mural, and just after. I probably spent 45 minutes looking at them.
Wow, integrity… what a concept. Thanks for the upbeat news, Ron.
You’re very welcome, Ellen.
The mural is fabulous! Love all the symbolism, the colors, and the immense creativity. Bravo Tony!
I see life through ‘rose colored glasses’ that sometimes become clear much to my disappointment. Thank you for this story Ron. Great insight into the business of art – and the integrity of Tony.
I wish I had your rose-colored glasses, Kathleen. They would keep me from being discouraged so much of the time.
Ron – excellent story, but where did he see your Horned Lark photo to use? And how was it discovered that it was yours? Hope you haven’t covered this here and I have just missed it.
Everett, I don’t know all the details but see my response to Kris, below.
It was found here on my blog. As you’ll see if you follow the link below, he “flipped” the image.
https://www.featheredphotography.com/blog/2020/03/12/horned-lark-takeoff/
What a great story and mural! For me, the short video provides a lot of scale and insight into the amount of detail in the mural. Congratulations Ron, you are bigger than life.
“you are bigger than life.”
I don’t know about me but my Horned Lark sure is. 🙂 Thanks, Ken.
A fascinating story and image……I wonder how Tony “came by”
the image in the first place and how he discovered his error. I’ll
bet he came by his honest values in part through association with those grandparents.I also wonder about the relationship in time between the moldering wreck of a car and the shiny new one-
was it a restoration or was it simply the natural ending of us all ?
“I wonder how Tony “came by” the image in the first place.”
Kris, I got the impression that his interns search the internet for appropriate photos and attempt to get permission for those they want to use. Then there was some kind of error in record keeping.
WOW! Wonderful story and gorgeous mural! 🙂 Impressed that Tony owned up to what happened and was willing to make it right – in our VERY negative and “entitled” world it’s VERY refreshing. 🙂 Including the why of the mural and what it represents – luv it! It is amazing how they work with spray cans to create these master pieces.
” It is amazing how they work with spray cans to create these master pieces.”
I agree, Judy. In other photos I could also see paint cans, so I imagine he also used brushes and other tools.
Delightful story and mural, both. Thanks!
Thank you, Dan.
Great story Ron. I am reminded of the quotation from Anne Frank’s diary: “In spite of everything I still believe that people are really good at heart. I simply can’t build up my hopes on a foundation consisting of confusion, misery, and death. I see the world gradually being turned into a wilderness, I hear the ever approaching thunder, which will destroy us too, I can feel the sufferings of millions and yet, if I look up into the heavens, I think that it will all come right, that this cruelty too will end, and that peace and tranquility will return again.”
I have always held on to hope that she will one day be proven right. Your story today perhaps adds to that hope.
Sue, I try to be more of an optimist about a lot of things. I really do. But all too often I struggle with it. That’s part of why I appreciated Tony’s approach so much.
To Ron: Thanks for sharing this heartwarming story. Your photo of the lark is gorgeous!
To Tony: You are an inspiration in this world that seems now to be “all about me” and “I deserve what I want even when I have to be dishonest to get it.” Thank you for your honesty and respect. PS The mural is fabulous!
Thanks on all counts, Marcia. From Tony and from me.