Kinda wish I hadn't been quoted out of context without my okay. Still, I agree with most of what you said.

I second what Kay says. "No" means NO! I did NOT agree to be quoted, and am shocked, dismayed, disappointed and angry to see my quotes included in this piece, even if I agree with some of what you say.

Alec Clayton asked if he could quote me for this article, and I said no. I did not give my permission for my name nor my Facebook posts to be quoted. I seriously question the ethics of this kind of journalism: the ends do not justify the means in this instance.

All of the quotes I used were made up names.

it is still unprofessional (even by Volcano standards) to take comments from someone's personal Facebook page and publish them without permission. most of the people quoted are not cool with this trollish behavior.

I spoke with Alec this morning in regard to the quotes used in this blog post. When he originally submitted the piece I made the determination that using quotes drawn from Facebook - with fictional names - was appropriate. Facebook is a public forum, and the act of using content posted on social media sites has become a common one in media.

That said, had I realized the extent to which the people quoted did not want their quotes included I probably would have simply asked the writer to paraphrase. I stand behind the piece, and Alec -- as I'm the person who at the end of the day posted the story and gave it the go-ahead -- but I also understand why it has angered some. I should have clarified with the writer about why the quotes were attributed to fake names. If I had known we were quoting people against their will (even using fake names) rather than simply quoting people anonymously that we hadn't been able to contact, I would have taken a different route.

To the artists quoted in my article on City Hall art, I apologize. The quotes I used were chosen because I thought they succinctly and intelligently expressed opinions that I agreed with and thought were important. I thought that it would be all right if I made it clear that the sources were made-up names with no last names just as in fiction writing it is common practice to change names to "protect the innocent." Please accept my apology.

unfortunately, you have already made me and my friends skittish about expressing their (OFF THE RECORD) opinions. Thanks for shutting down an important conversation that should have gained momentum had this been a more well thought out post. I have now defriended both Alec and Matt (as well as the Volcano, and Gabi for good measure), since I no longer feel like I can trust you.

And Alec, if you don't understand the difference between "the common practice of changing names in fiction writing" verses quoting people who either did not want to be quoted or did not know they were being quoted for a NON-FICTION article, then I suggest you need help with reality. seriously.

Made up names? My quote is attributed to "Jen", Ruby's to "Ruby", Tom's to "Tom", Kay's to "Kay"... And for the record, the odd segment of my little diatribe that was used in the article should, by rights, be credited to Vonnegut.

"Ruby" quick question. Why would you make such a grandiose statement to the "artists" of Olympia--which in turn is a straight diss to City Hall--then get all 'skittish' because you got quoted without your permission--in an attempt to further a conversation that almost everyone agrees needs to happen? I am completely baffled at how you can be so vociferously commanding on Facebook, a public forum no matter what your privacy settings are, and yet so sensitive because you were quoted against your wishes under a fake name? Privacy shmivacy. Don't want it to be seen, don't put it on Facebook. Period.
And questioning the Volcano's "ethics"?
Do you even read that p.o.s?
Comedia Puro!

dearest Devil's Advocate: yes, you are so right, my New Year's resolution for 2011 is to only post pictures of LOL cats on FB and to only comment on cute videos about cute kitties, anything else will be held against me, it is the 21 Century and Big Brother is everywhere, so we must hide behind silly pseudonyms and post anonymous comments or pay the consequence of being quoted and then ridiculed.

ever think that I naively thought that I was posting to "friends"/fellow artists (of Oly)? and that being "grandiose" and "vociferously commanding" on Facebook is different than being outspoken in a true public forum? and that I am not a public figure nor involved in a scandal and therefore did not think that one of my friends (because I did consider Alec a friend) would betray me for the sake of an on-line story? Thanks for reminding me, I need to cull my FB friends list some more.

as for a "straight diss to City Hall": the Olympia City Council "dissed" (straight or gay, you tell me) the Olympia Arts Commission and the Olympia art community by this action; a few months prior, Karen Rogers was quoted in the Olympian saying (and I am paraphrasing here) why pay for art at City Hall at all, when artists are willing to show their work for free, like at Arts Walk.

Visual artists are not being valued (why buy the cow ... ), visual art is not being valued (when you get the milk for free).

So do you, DA, care about the issue of art in Olympia, or merely want to put down an already downtrodden artist who made the mistake of posting something on Facebook? (and the other artists who made the mistake of responding on FB, and who also had no idea that their comments would be used in this manner).

1) I love funny cats. Do post.

2) As a former graffiti writer in my youth, I always laugh when "visual artists" complain about not being "valued". Have you ever been in a fist fight, had a gun pulled on you, or run from the cops or train bulls to do your art, just to have it painted over or dissed by someone less talented? The value placed in the creation of the art is it's ultimate price, not what some critic or collector deems its worth. I have scraps of paper from dead friends more valuable than all the water colors or still life adorning the famed galleries of Olympia.

3) Olympia is a great economic fountain of support for artists. And by that I mean great place to catch chlamydia and rot in bars, making driftwood sculptures and found art, playing in bands and cutting your hair funny, all while waiting for a state job to open up so you can finally afford to drink at the Fishtail and buy a Subaru.

4) Regardless of how personally insulted you are at Karen Rogers' notions of frugality during a time of great economic hardships for many people. Look around downtown at all the increasing amounts of 'struggling artists' begging for weed money. She actually brings a valid point.
If we expect a responsible city government (dream big here) to spend our money wisely, especially at this crucial juncture in our economically burdened time, and especially when they built a fancy new city hall, should they really be wasting thousands of dollars beautifying walls in an already ridiculous and realistically, unnecessary expenditure?
I personally don't care if they got a bead on a Picasso on eBay for a steal of a deal, if that money can go into something better than aesthetics during a fiscal crisis, then she is showing true leadership, especially in going against popular opinion (which only goes so far as the coffee shops anymore as far as Olympia is concerned, save the black clad anarchists) and inviting more members of the community to share their artistic abilities by encouraging rotating exhibits.
What truly encourages an integration between art and community more than allowing everyone in the community the possibility of exhibiting in a high traffic, high-profile place like City Hall, or paying one "artist" a lump sum once for a permanent installation, which may or may not engender even more silly comments in the blogosphere or actual reality.
While it may provide the stepping stone in the furtherance in one single artist's career, it truly only involves one person's bank account increasing, and a public left to contemplate their tax dollars at work, artistically.
You may clamor about how it will provoke thought or conversation in visitors or passers-by, and you may be right, but how many essential services or additional paychecks for city workers will the hot air of conversation bolster?
As an artist who struggled in Olympia for the better part of 20 years, I learned to employ the struggle and degradation of the artist's life as a driving force to get over my need to get paid to do it, and to quote Nike, "Just Do It". Once I did, I realized I had been paid more than I ever needed, and my ability as an artist grew exponentially.
Many famous artists died broke and unappreciated.
I hope your fate is not theirs, and you get everything you hope for, but in the end, it's all about what you put into it, not how you feel about City Hall or the accursed violation of your social networking site by a local art critic whose good intentions were besieged by his eagerness to spur on and provide a continuing platform for community debate on a hot bed issue.
A debate which is now being quashed while we hash out our psycho-emotional constructs in public.

The artist, in the end, is the true piece of art, not the finished product.

DA - That's awesome that you have learned to live and create brilliant art without money. Like most of the artists I know, when I get a commission, I stash the money in my personal bank account, rather than buying groceries or clothes for my growing kid or paying bills. That's how I've become so rich on the $5 or so per hour that I earn as an artist. I agree that art should be reduced to private collections and what people like yourself are willing and able to create for free.