Cool or Not Cool: The Smithsonian Selling Your Art Without Permission?

Andrew Theodorakis for the New York Daily News

That's just what happened to Park Slope artist Margaret Bowland, whose oil painting was featured at a Smithsonian exhibition from March 2009-August 2010. The painting, titled "Kenyetta and Brianna," was given a People's Choice Award. At the end of the exhibit, the Smithsonian had difficulty contacting Bowland to let her know that she could retrieve her art. The New York Daily News explains:

"In the final weeks of the show, the Smithsonian sent two emails to Bowland about returning the painting, but the messages were sent to an old email address, according to the complaint filed in Brooklyn Federal Court." 

When the museum couldn't get a hold of Bowland, they contacted the Klaudia Marr Gallery in New Mexico, where the Smithsonian initially discovered the painting. The gallery told the Smithsonian to ship the painting directly to David Naylor, an interior designer who paid $40,000 for the work. According to Bowland and her lawyer, the New Mexico gallery had no right to sell the painting, and the Smithsonian no right to ship it without her knowledge.

Here's my question: Couldn't the Smithsonian like, get Bowland's number from the New Mexico gallery owner? Didn't ANYONE have this chick's phone number? We're not talking about loaning your prized copy of Twilight here, this is a nationally recognized AWARD WINNING PAINTING.  

The Klaudia Marr gallery has since closed, so Bowland is suing the man who purchased the painting. She told The Daily News that the price of $40,000 is a low-balled price: '"I worked like a dog on the painting and it is a big deal to me,' she said."

The Daily News doesn't mention if Bowland accepted the $40K or not, but if she has yet to cash that check, here's hoping she'll be able to get her artwork back.

So, FIPS'ters -- is this a case of Get-your-shit-together-Brooklyn-artist-and-update-your-contact-info-when-you-know-the-Smithsonian-is-featuring-your-work?

OR

Those-peeps-at-the-Smithsonian-are-money-grubbing-monsters-who-really-should've-tried-harder-to-get-in-touch?