Lakewood is Art

[chris richards]

What is amazing is that the original "Lakewood Is Art" is back as well, working on their program
of putting public art into public spaces.

FWIW


.

Ah, well, that is interesting... so there are now two Lakewood is Art organizations in the city?

You are aware that LIA, with Ruth Koenigsmark as President, is still active and working with organizations to promote art and events in the city correct?

You are aware that we never stopped running the organization under the name Lakewood is Art correct?

I'm starting a new thread so that this is more visible. Also to provide the website for Lakewood is Art since the LO refused to allow us access to the domain name, or log in to update the LIA website. There can be found several projects currently in the works, including OneWorld Concert series, and the Car Kulture Show.

[chris richards]

Chris

When you emailed me last year about the "website" I explained to you there was more involved than just a simple transfer of a name, and all of the properties that accompany that "name." That it would be easy enough to do, but a meeting was needed. Do you remember your answer? So lets be honest.

.

you explained nothing. i have all of our correspondence. you stated that "The LO started it, Ruthie given usage, as long as she kept her promise." Ruthie is still president, the organization is still active. that is what she promised. but the LO is a for profit business. and no one person or group of people can own a non profit organization. the LO supplied the domain name and the website. we requested a transfer of the domain name after no longer being able to log into the site to make updates. i told you we were still using the Lakewood is Art name, but not the website. to which you stated "oh then I will use it, as we are grandfathered in with the name."

you left LIA under the leadership of someone else. you cannot simply say, oh, well, i don't like how it's being run, or, i want it back, and start another organization under the same name.

and as far as my answer to you: "We needed access to a website, and so I created the one we are currently using. I wasn't told or shown paperwork by anyone that the LO has an legal right to the name of the organization other than that the LO owns the domain name. I am just trying to promote our new website."

i'm still waiting to see where anything states that the LO owns the non profit organization named Lakewood is Art.

[chris richards]

Chris

My answer was and still is. It is all easy enough to sort out. So let's meet. One of the
many issues to discuss is, how does the non-profit version work. Lakewood Is Art was
never a non-profit as the belief of the founders was that patrons should support the
arts not government grants. That the Lakewood Art Community could support the effort.

Never claimed to own the non-profit that was started and built on the hard work of those
that came before Ruthie. It was not that I wanted it back, it was that the founders saw it
as hijacked.

I would say that a person chosen as a director of let's say United Way, or the local
block club, does not mean that person now owns United Way. Even if they go out and
go against the groups charter and form a business they own called the same thing.

This is not about ME or any of the founder wanting it back. It is about going back to its
stated goals, and why it was created. It was if this has happened how does that group
function? Who is on the board, how is el presidente chosen? Is it a job for life? Why is
it not serving the needs of some of the non-profits that have called and asked for help?

The reason I brought up the Ruthie promise, is, it was that promise that addressed
the intellectual property of Lakewood Is Art, and how it is run. I asked for a meeting.

A year later I read this.

FWIW

interesting that you deleted your post quickly after making it. at some point, and this is before my involvement, the board of Lakewood is Art put to a vote to be a non profit. founding members left the organization. that happens. when i first learned of LIA, i believe you were president. and recall seeing that the website stated it was a nonprofit.

if the founders felt that the organization was hijacked, then they should volunteer with LIA, get elected to the board and if someone wants to be president, then run for that office in the organization. there are by-laws in place. then it can be voted to change the mission and type of organization LIA is, or keep it the same.

out of curiosity, how, if you feel that grant money shouldn't go to supporting arts, would you pay for public art?

and, how did is LIA's mission not including public art? are you not aware of the recycle bins that were painted? are you not aware of the public art competition by the city for the rta stop on warren and detroit, that we helped to promote and that Ruthie was selected as a juror? are you not aware that we are currently raising funds to restore the Schreckengost sculpture outside the high school? or is that not public art?

also, we support and assist many other non profit organizations. i'm not aware of any that have contacted us directly that we have turned away.

if you want to change Lakewood is Art, why aren't you involved with Lakewood is Art? why don't you put in the volunteer hours? why don't you run for a seat on the board?

[Jim O'Bryan]

[
you left LIA under the leadership of someone else. you cannot simply say, oh, well, i don't like how it's being run, or, i want it back, and start another organization under the same name.

Well there is the first misunderstanding that has gone on to long. I did not leave the
leadership under... Ruthie was brought on as the director, not the president. I am not
starting a new organization under the same name. It would seem that others did. I
am not looking to run it, the founders would merely like to see it returned to it original
purpose, and what the original charter said.

I would say that a person brought in to run, lets say "United Way,"does
not mean that person owns it. Merely that they are the director for that period in time.

i'm still waiting to see where anything states that the LO owns the non profit organization named Lakewood is Art.

I have never claimed to "own" the group that was started on the hijacked work of those
that came before. As you have stated, the project was started by myself an other members
and while we did not take someone else's name and start a new group, we still own the
intellectual property.

I nor anyone connected with "The Original Lakewood Is Art" ever solicited funds for any
of our projects. It was our thought that the art community it was there to help amplify
along with patrons of the arts and citizens of Lakewood would support the various
projects. To simply imply the website was started for "Lakewood Is Art part duex" by
the Lakewood Observer is an outright lie.

The only way to sort any of this out was through a meeting, the only way to force that
meeting is the control of the intellectual property. But that call for a meeting
was never answered. While discussions can happen online, business is best handled
face to face. Just because that request caused a member of LIA to form a their own
non-profit that they could run the way they wanted and start another website. Does not
negate the call for a meeting.


.

[Jim O'Bryan]

interesting that you deleted your post quickly after making it. at some point, and this is before my involvement, the board of Lakewood is Art put to a vote to be a non profit. founding members left the organization. that happens. when i first learned of LIA, i believe you were president. and recall seeing that the website stated it was a nonprofit.

Chris

I deleted my post because it was inaccurate, and I wanted to clarify some of the points. If
you look above you will see the rewrite of that post. I am not hiding or changing anything.
My talent for non readable posts is legendary.

That story above is not correct. That is not why the founding members left, and to be
honest that is not even a point of discussion. You might recall seeing something that was
changed after I was president. There is a huge difference between non-profit and no
profit. The thought was Lakewood artist and patrons would support the program.

if the founders felt that the organization was hijacked, then they should volunteer with LIA, get elected to the board and if someone wants to be president, then run for that office in the organization. there are by-laws in place. then it can be voted to change the mission and type of organization LIA is, or keep it the same.

Chris

So the founders should ignore their original bylaws?

out of curiosity, how, if you feel that grant money shouldn't go to supporting arts, would you pay for public art?

Well actually, yes. As would have others we had spoken too. One of the founding ideas
of the group was based upon the Lenin statue and the story of that statue in Redmond
Washington. That there was extremely nice public art being scraped, that could be
recycled in the 20 various locations we had identified with the help of Keep Lakewood
Beautiful.

and, how did is LIA's mission not including public art? are you not aware of the recycle bins that were painted? are you not aware of the public art competition by the city for the rta stop on warren and detroit, that we helped to promote and that Ruthie was selected as a juror? are you not aware that we are currently raising funds to restore the Schreckengost sculpture outside the high school? or is that not public art?

Chris

Of course I am aware, I funded one of them.

Yes I am aware of the competitions. Yes I am aware that there are many grants for the
arts. That does no mean I personally believe that art needs to be funded with grants. I
am one of those people that think if people want ballet, then they should go and support
ballet. People should not speak of supporting the arts unless they are buying art.

I take it you are aware that my graphic company AGS offered all sorts of support on that
project, including the complete underwriting of saving of the murals at Lakewood High
that was part of the same program?

also, we support and assist many other non profit organizations. i'm not aware of any that have contacted us directly that we have turned away.

Chris this was one thing I had changed in my post. I thought I would once again check
the person calling a couple weeks ago to make sure it was a turn down, not just simply
a "never had time to return the phone call." I was trying to be fair about this.

if you want to change Lakewood is Art, why aren't you involved with Lakewood is Art? why don't you put in the volunteer hours? why don't you run for a seat on the board?

Chris

Thanks for the conversation.

[sharon kinsella]

I'm reviving this thread because I want to remind people that there will be a census, coming to Lakewood homes this summer for Lakewood is Art.

What do you do?
What should we all do?
How can we have fun?

I look forward to all your responses and participation.

Thanks!

Sharon Kinsella
Census Chairperson - Lakewood is Art

[Missy Limkemann]

you know back in the day I was a pretty damn good artist. I really need to get back in to it. I enjoyed it, and it was relaxing....hmmm...maybe that will be my "next" thing to tackle.

[sharon kinsella]

That would be so good for your soul Missy. My writing brings me joy and keeps me happy.