Gallery Show- Follow up story...it's a doozy

So, remember awhile ago when I had to put together framed prints of my henna work because I was asked to do a gallery show? Exciting, right?
I scrambled and made the deadline with barely a breath to spare (thanks for the advice to all who gave it!).

We went to the opening night and it was wonderful. Walking in and seeing a WALL of my art was just...overwhelming and so fantastic! There was another henna artist there, we shall call her JM, offering to actually henna people but she had no work on display. Her selections were from books from Tap Dancing Lizard and what she put on her friend was, well...

People are milling about, talking about the different work and such. I overheard really wonderful comments about my pieces and was glowing until...

Someone said that they were impressed with the JM entered into the show but not with her quick hand pieces.
Huh?
I spoke up and asked which pieces were hers and they pointed at mine. It seems before I arrive miss JM took credit for my pieces, even though MY NAME AND BUSINESS CARDS were on every single one of them. Evidently, she even posed for photos.
I absolutely set the room straight in a polite, delicate and professional way (when what I really wanted to do was jump on a soapbox and tapdance on JM's face). She laughed nervously and apologized for the "misunderstanding". Prior to this she had only decorated one person, and after no one took her seat. She offered to "lend her services" to my business at which point one of my crew members, bless his gorgeous heart, jovially informed her "Well, we're all contracted and trained by her so you would have to make that commitment." JM mouthed an "O" and shook her head as he winked at me. I would never have anyone so dishonest on my team ever but his handling of it was superb.

So yeah. It was a wonderful experience and I am so looking forward to doing it again for the local Fringe Fest! Thanks for the advice again!

OMG... what hutzpah! Glad you called her out on it.

I'm so proud of you! Yes! Seems like it was a scene from a movie. Did you get photos of you in front of your work??? Share, share.

D.

Crikey!! That would have made my blood boil...I cant believe the organisers would have let that happen also..Well done on handling the situation.
I am so happy for your success.

sheesh some people, glad you were dignified, good job!

Sounds like you are always dignified and well thought in your profession. Some thing I really admire and aspire to

Oooh. I would have been seeing red! How dare she! Proud of you for keeping your cool and getting credit where credit was due.

Wow...unbelievable!!! Good for you for standing up for YOUR work!!

Unbelievable!!!

Did you ask the organizers why they hired someone like that for your show?

Oh. My. Gosh. Good for you for setting the record straight!

Why would anyone allow another henna artist to be at YOUR gallery show?

Thanks all! I did see red but managed to contain that until I left the show.

It wasn't MY show. It was an art show with a theme of tattoos, so I was PART of it. I was the only henna artist featured. All of the other artists were permanent tattoo artists. The person who set up the henna table was a friend of the gallery owner and she was charging a fee, not hired in. The gallery owner wasn't even aware that JM did that until other people mentioned it (I didn't, I just corrected people. I was not about to play the part of tattletale).

Denise, I admit, I didn't get a photo of me in front of it. My hub took a photo of the wall for me while I schmoozing. :-) I felt too schmucky standing and posing with my art in a room full of people. lol

Yeah for you, Lynnie!!!