Thanks for that. Adds a lot of dimension. I've gotta say, broad strokes here, but I think the article gave a good sense that she was a talent who was badly bruised and betrayed. Despite some criticism of the MJ reference, I got something from that - along with the comments about her obsession with being thin. That she…

I'm glad you decided to share your story. I know a lot of people in abusive relationships end up being abusive themselves (either from stress/Stockholm syndrome/what have you) and I was kind of hoping that the woman who created all those bright color animals from my youth wasn't ALWAYS a crazy, bitchy overlord lady…

I worked there in the early 2000s. It was my first job, and felt like the luckiest person when I got hired (being star-struck and all). I don't ever regret working there. I went to a not-so-great college, and taught me shit about my field of expertise. My first director there taught me so much about the business, that…

Thanks for sharing? What year did you work there?

Of course I do. Capitalism is a part of the world we live in. I've explained this elsewhere on the thread... When you are poor, disabled and unemployed there is little choice in buying into the system in some way. I prefer 2nd hand, freecycling etc. if possible because, with charity shops, the money goes to people who…

I think most, if not all artists are willing to create items that are not strictly within the bounds of their medium for the sake of paying for things like food, clothing, shelter or whatever goods and services they might like.

Frankly, I find a lot of this commentary pretty demeaning to whatever native craftspeople she was purchasing from. She commissioned them to create whatever it was she wanted to create and paid them an amount of money that apparently both parties found agreeable. Everyone seems to be taking the view that she must have…

Good point about the cultural preservation! I hadn't thought of that aspect of it. :)

As a former employee, this story is pretty darn accurate.

Um, this 26-year-old is sooooo into that neon, metallic leopard print pattern. *hangs head in shame*

If you can't expect Rainbows to be shot up your ass at Lisa Frank, where can you?

I worked for Lisa directly in the early 1990s while I was still in high school. My mom was her original bookkeeper, before Lisa hit it big. To this day, it was still one of the best jobs I ever had. I worked for her in a mostly personal capacity, functioning somewhat as a personal assistant. I have been in her…

Oh yeah, I know how it works and that it is integral to our society. I just don't necessarily like it. Personally I prefer giving stuff away for free. But we do all need to eat! I mean don't get me wrong; I love stuff! Without capitalism there would be no stuff & I would be terribly bereft. LOL. I just wish there was…

So you must hate all of retail too? How do you shop if you never buy resold goods?

I was not under that impression, no. She is specifically buying from people that she knows is economically disadvantaged & selling at a profit. Despite being independently wealthy. Whilst this may be a cornerstone of capitalism, it doesn't mean we have to agree with it!

So reselling artwork is somehow inherently evil?

She took the stuff from AZ to MI - where people probably cant buy said artifacts - and she did BUY them. I dont really see how her suppliers are necessarily being victimized, since she was giving them business and repeat business at that.

It sounds crappy, but this is the basic model for almost every other product based business.

Were you under the impression that most/all goods that you purchase aren't made by one party (native or otherwise) at the behest of another party and then resold by them or perhaps a third or fourth party, all of them selling at a markup?