SO HEARTBROKEN TO POST THIS BUT I AM BEING CHALLENGED AS A VISUAL ARTIST BY AN ENTIRE AMERICAN CITY, PORTSMOUTH, NEW HAMPSHIRE. ALL IMAGES ABOVE ARE MY OWN WORK PRIOR TO 2020, OTHER THAN THOSE NAMED.
EVIDENCE:Â https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1mkog-Z1T7zWHAS8XlH_VmzABV-L0Fzkl?usp=share_link
In the past calendar year I have been finalist for my drawings of public sculptures in NINE U.S. CITIES, and I have won two of these commissions with another pending. I have created a number of public sculptures for cities including my maritime “Waves” series, since 2017. In September 2022 I submitted my drawing, img 2, to the insta @ portsmouthnh400 committee (they blocked me). In November the fellow six other finalist artists for this open-ended national competition for $200k was revealed to each other during our interview sign up process. My screenshot here shows that. In early March 2023 Sijia was selected and announced, and I brought the past works to the committee’s attention. Two weeks later I noticed a design nearly identical to mine was being advertised in @ seacoastonline (reporters there ignoring me), on the portsmouthnh400 pages, on insta @ sijiachenart website and on the city’s press releases for a $100k commission. I was absolutely shocked. After I inquired again, the committee also did not respond. They sent me a one line response from the city’s lawyer, Suzanne Woodward. Please DM me for the evidence folder if you can help. I have written many times over the past month to the mayor, the city council, the original committee and even the artist to PLEASE STOP THE FABRICATION OF MY ORIGINAL DESIGN. I have not once asked for money or to be credited. I simply want this circus to end. I spoke at city hall on Tuesday in Portsmouth and was ambushed by a surprise response of denials - the committee most likely illegally shared my letter with the artist in California over the weekend. She is denying all wrongdoing.
I am simply asking for the design to be removed from the internet and articles. It is too similar to my finalist design to be seen as original in this insane context, especially considering previous unoriginal works in the artist’s portfolio. Herself and the city act like I am “accusing” her of something much graver and asking for something else, never once speaking to me about the matter since the start of March 2023.
She is older and more established, I am a queer, disabled first generation immigrant. This is just so dishonorable, and unethical. Write to committee: [email protected] But they don’t care. I need help.
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