Dead Metal Print after a nasty fall...

01/31/2013 04:44:58 PM · #1

So I just last week I hung just a small gallery in a busy venue I had never displayed in. I had to hang it using a ladder in a stairwell leading down to a basement. Not an easy task with vendors going in and out, but I got it up as orderly as I could under the circumstances.

Here is what it looked like...

It's hard to tell there is a stairwell in the photo because a wall hides it. But the lowest image I hung was about five feet off the ground and I thought safe from people running up and down the stairs. WRONG!
I went into the venue today and noticed one of the images was missing. An employee told me there had been a casualty and sent me up to the venue owner's office. The owner sheepishly brought out the missing image from behind his desk, and as I expected it would be, it was severely bent.

Here is the damage...

Apparently one of the employees was rushing up the stairs and she inadvertently hit the image with a mop knocking it to the tile floor. Stuff happens. The owner wanted to pay me the retail price for it and I told him thanks but don't worry about it. I said he would absorb the cost if a jar got knocked off one of his store shelves and as the merchant with the images I should do the same basically. He replied that a jar and a piece of art are not the same and he really wanted to reimburse me. I thanked him for that and told him I would think it over.

I am wondering what others here would do in the same situation??? I am still thinking I will just absorb the cost, or at the very most just take payment for the printing cost (about $130). Apparently the girl who knocked it off was almost in tears about the situation. That bothers me more than losing a few bucks, she was just trying to do her job I'm sure.

ETA: The venue owner is not taking a cut of any sales here either.

Message edited by author 2013-01-31 16:51:14.

Giles

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

01/31/2013 04:52:28 PM · #2

take a hammer to it bend it some more, bash it about frame it, its new art.....

its down to personal preference, id just take it on the chin and it might motivate them to sell some more of your print for full retail and its not like its completely ruined it can become a 3d art sculpture?

jaysonmc

Nikon D200

Nikon MF 105mm f/2.5 AIS

01/31/2013 04:52:30 PM · #3

I think this is a personal answer.

I would be the same as you and absorb the costs and just chalk it up as experience when hanging things next time.
But I might be inclined to come in as a patron sometime in the future, I'd bet the owner would give you a few discounts.

Message edited by author 2013-01-31 16:52:47.

Basta

Nikon D4

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

01/31/2013 04:59:03 PM · #4

I think you did the right thing. Life happens.

GeneralE

Canon PowerShot S3 IS

Canon 12x IS USM (S3 IS built-in Lens) -- 36-432mm (35mm EQ)

01/31/2013 05:08:47 PM · #5

Originally posted by Giles_uk:

take a hammer to it bend it some more, bash it about frame it, its new art....

That was my first idea too ... :-)

I guess I'd suggest writing it off as well, especially since you placed the image in that location yourself. You might be able to deduct the actual printing cost yourself when you file your taxes.

Ann

Olympus OM-D E-M1

Olympus 12-40mm f/2.8 Pro

01/31/2013 05:10:32 PM · #6

Bummer. I'd say that since it doesn't sound like you're paying anything to exhibit there, that the right thing would be to eat the cost. If this seems to be a place that you want to show at, maybe you could negotiate to get extra time, or a second showing later in the year.

LanndonKane

Nikon D800

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 16-35 f/4 ED VR

01/31/2013 05:17:09 PM · #7

Originally posted by GeneralE:

Originally posted by Giles_uk:
take a hammer to it bend it some more, bash it about frame it, its new art....

That was my first idea too ... :-)

i also had that idea. would be cool.

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS

01/31/2013 05:29:17 PM · #8

Wow! That was quick with some answers :)

Ha ha, you bring back a memory for me Giles with making it an "alternate" piece of art ;) In college I had a business throwing pottery and selling it in a tourist shop where I would sometimes actually do the throwing in a window while people watched. Anyway, while throwing if a piece got too far off center to continue throwing it I would just tweak it while not spinning and do weird stuff to it. I'd give these tweaked pieces a funky glaze and then put them up for sale. They sometimes sold for more than the "nice" pieces! ;)

With further thought, I am definitely going to just absorb the cost. I don't know how this venue will ultimately work out for sales. But as things stand there is no scheduled end to the display and I can keep swapping pieces out if and when they sell. Potentially it could be a very good thing for me, and some "good will" with the venue owner could go a long way :)

Thanks all! -B

EL-ROI

Canon EOS-450D Rebel XSi

01/31/2013 06:49:09 PM · #9

Relationships matter. You are making the right decision by absorbing the cost.

01/31/2013 07:23:40 PM · #10

Okay, I just went by the venue and filled the blank spot on the wall with another print of the same size I had. This time a canvas which with the wire on the back will at least bounce a little when tweaked. I will explore a more secure way of mounting them later when I have more time.

I also had a chance to meet the girl who "liberated" my print from the wall. It was nice that I could tell her all is fine and not to worry about it because she was feeling bad.

All is good! :)

Giles

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

01/31/2013 07:31:00 PM · #11

how had you mounted the metal prints?

01/31/2013 08:10:14 PM · #12

Originally posted by Giles_uk:

how had you mounted the metal prints?

The venue didn't have picture rail moulding to hang wires from so I had to put hooks in the wall. Ikea sells these plastic hooks that have three really small nails (almost like tacks) in them and when removed they leave really tiny unnoticeable holes. So I used those. I guess they make hooks with a spring load container I could use and I will look into getting some of those when I have some time. I'm reluctant to use anything that would make the image really hard to remove though, because again they are sitting in a stairwell where a ladder is awkward. Tough venue :-/

ETA: The metal prints have holes in their floating blocks for mounting rather than a wire strung across the back.

Message edited by author 2013-01-31 20:13:01.

sfalice

Canon PowerShot SX60 HS

01/31/2013 08:16:23 PM · #13

Originally posted by Brent_S:

Okay, I just went by the venue and filled the blank spot on the wall with another print of the same size I had. This time a canvas which with the wire on the back will at least bounce a little when tweaked. I will explore a more secure way of mounting them later when I have more time.

I also had a chance to meet the girl who "liberated" my print from the wall. It was nice that I could tell her all is fine and not to worry about it because she was feeling bad.

All is good! :)

Two things here,

Brent_S. First you will now know to make your mountings more secure. This is an important lesson and one well worth the "price of admission."

Second, you acknowledged to the woman involved, who was only doing her job, that she was not responsible.

I, too, have had images knocked from the walls. Once, because someone on an opposing wall banged a nail very hard and mine crashed to the floor. A novice then, now I use fixtures that hold my images where they belong.

Tamron SP 24-70mm f/2.8 Di VC USD Canon Mount

01/31/2013 09:06:25 PM · #14

Yep, I need to get smarter about hanging images in places where they can get bumped Alice. In my defense; this is a very busy venue with employees and vendors constantly going up the stairs. That I was able to hang anything at all by myself under those circumstances was a bit of an accomplishment. I had a window of time I was given to get this done and running to the hardware store looking for solutions was not an option. I had to just hope for the best.

I just ordered an assortment of spring loaded hooks and some double channeled quake hooks. The double channeled hooks look more promising as in theory I can still remove the images from a low vantage point. The spring loaded hooks will likely have me needing to get really high on an already unstable ladder in a stairwell to get those springs open. If I fall doing that; I will feel anything but "smart" :P

sfalice

Canon PowerShot SX60 HS

01/31/2013 09:25:36 PM · #15

Okay,

brent_S. I can understand your frustration. Still, did you not know beforehand that you would be showing in this space? A little scouting the location in advance can be helpful. And again, if you do not bring your own hanging equipment with you (ladders, etc.) it's probably useful to check out what's available in advance, so you know what you are working with.

Not picking on you, but advance preparation is SO VERY important when hanging a show especially in a venue where you are not familiar.

I am hanging a 6-month show of 17-20 images in February in a busy office area. I have already looked at the venue, checked out the hanging system (thankfully there is one in most of the area) and know just about how many images can go in the space but will carry extra ones just in case. Still, will I be surprised? Oh, yes. Stay tuned.

Mike

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

01/31/2013 09:33:51 PM · #16

i think you did the right thing and so did the store owner by offering to pay.

honest accidents happen.

BrennanOB

Canon EOS-1D Mark II

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Canon

01/31/2013 11:14:26 PM · #17

Two points. Here in earthquake country the smart thing is to hang breakables with a W hang. Two hangers on the outside level, one lower which is hung upside down to create pressure against lift. It keeps hangings on the wall in a vertical moment, be they earthquakes or people walking down the stairs.

Fixing the metal print is probable doable. the emulsion is soft so hammers are out, but wrapping it in soft cloth ( which will allow the metal to slide without binding on the emulsion and create tears). Velvet and Jorgensen clamps would be the ticket.

Message edited by author 2013-01-31 23:20:56.

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 16-35 f/4 ED VR

01/31/2013 11:42:44 PM · #18

Originally posted by BrennanOB:

Thanks Brennan! That W hang will be good to know for the future. If not for people hitting images, we have plenty of earthquakes up here in Seattle too :)

So as to not place too many holes, I really think these quake hooks I ordered will do the trick with just one nail. I can put a small wire on the back of the metal print. That wire will drop into a vertical slot slot in the quake hook, and then make a 90 degree move forward before dropping further into another vertical slot. This should be pretty resistant to a single bump at least, and hopefully easy enough to take down from such a tough to get at spot.

I think the metal print is toast though. In addition to the bending, some of the ink has come loose just like paint from a car body in a crash. But actually I have an even bigger metal print at home (30" X 45") that got similarly munched in shipping. I find I can just hang a hat from that one corner and nobody knows what is underneath. I have more hats for this image ;)

LanndonKane

Nikon D800

01/31/2013 11:47:59 PM · #19

Originally posted by Brent_S:

Originally posted by BrennanOB:
Two points. Here in earthquake country the smart thing is to hang breakables with a W hang. Two hangers on the outside level, one lower which is hung upside down to create pressure against lift. It keeps hangings on the wall in a vertical moment, be they earthquakes or people walking down the stairs.

Fixing the metal print is probable doable. the emulsion is soft so hammers are out, but wrapping it in soft cloth ( which will allow the metal to slide without binding on the emulsion and create tears). Velvet and Jorgensen clamps would be the ticket.

Thanks Brennan! That W hang will be good to know for the future. If not for people hitting images, we have plenty of earthquakes up here in Seattle too :)

So as to not place too many holes, I really think these quake hooks I ordered will do the trick with just one nail. I can put a small wire on the back of the metal print. That wire will drop into a vertical slot slot in the quake hook, and then make a 90 degree move forward before dropping further into another vertical slot. This should be pretty resistant to a single bump at least, and hopefully easy enough to take down from such a tough to get at spot.

I think the metal print is toast though. In addition to the bending, some of the ink has come loose just like paint from a car body in a crash. But actually I have an even bigger metal print at home (30" X 45") that got similarly munched in shipping. I find I can just hang a hat from that one corner and nobody knows what is underneath. I have more hats for this image ;)

just get a power saw and crop it

02/01/2013 12:19:24 AM · #20

Good idea Lanndon! ;)

Sony DT 18-70mm f/3.5-5.6 Aspherical ED Zoom Lens for Sony Alpha

02/06/2013 04:47:45 PM · #21

LOL! I just got an email from someone who previously saw this damaged print, heard of the mishap, and now wants to buy it! I was just going to take it home and hang a hat off the bent corner. I have no idea how I would price something like that???

I told him a reprint would cost about $130. And with that info he could make me an offer if he really is serious about wanting it. I'll probably take whatever he offers (and would not except him paying as high as full printing cost) as he manages the wine department at the venue where it was hanging and taking care of him would be seen and good will on my part.

I guess sometimes it's hard to completely kill a piece of art! :D

nam

Sony DSLR-A580

02/06/2013 04:53:55 PM · #22

You probably have outdoor sign people in your area - you might see whether one of them could repair it acceptably.

GeneralE

Canon PowerShot S3 IS

Canon 12x IS USM (S3 IS built-in Lens) -- 36-432mm (35mm EQ)

02/06/2013 05:21:08 PM · #23

Originally posted by Brent_S:

Maybe about ten times what you were charging for the original gallery print -- it is now a truly "one-off" limited-edition version of that print. Sign it with a Sharpie on the back, or maybe get a burin and scratch your signature right into the metal.

ETA: if you sell it, you should give the waitress a 10% ~~commission~~ finder's fee ... ;-)

Message edited by author 2013-02-06 17:24:35.