Call For Artists ~ Anyone Interested?

I received this Call for Submissions and thought I'd pass it on to all of you...

Making It: The Art of Contemporary Craft

(Swainsboro, GA) Gallery RFD seeks submissions for it upcoming exhibition titled
Contemporary Craft.

While the Industrial Revolution may have worked wonders for the production process in terms of output and standardization, it has arguably written the creatorial's role out of the process. As machines replace humans or minimize their necessity in ever more labor fields, we are witnessing nostalgia for the return of a human element, lest automation render us obsolete. Though few are clamoring to give up their tools of convenience, individuation and uniqueness are now novelties as witnessed in the rising popularity of mass-customization. Gallery RFD seeks submissions of work in any media that project evidence of a human hand or craftsmanship.

Submission deadline: Thursday, Oct. 31, 2008, 4 p.m. (EST)
Jurors: Christy Petterson and Shannon Mulkey, co-founders of the Indie Craft Experience in Atlanta, GA.

Exhibition runs Dec. 13, 2008 - Jan. 3, 2009
Opening Reception: Dec. 13, 2008, 5-8 p.m.

Further details and prospectus available on the Gallery RFD website: www.galleryrfd.org

Artistic Conundrum- Copyright vs Have I Changed It Enough To Be Safe and Still Get the Essence

Wow, that's the longest title, I've ever written. But let me explain.

I do a lot of customer requests, but I will not make copies of something that is copyrighted or someone else's work. Very simple and a rule I don't break.

There's always a "however" out there. I've had a request from a customer to make a Mighty Mouse style bead. She had a dear friend, a policeman who died from cancer, who used to call himself Mighty Mouse and she'd like some beads to commemorate him.

Needless to say, I told her I can't make them like that, but what are some different angles we could use to have an essence of Mighty Mouse, but still make it a different bead that is special to his memory? We have decided on a police hat, a face change and his police number on the chest, but I think there need to be considerable other changes before I feel comfortable with it.

I know it's mostly artists and artisans who read this blog, so please tell me what you think. How would you change this image to keep the essence and yet make it different enough? I'd love to hear your ideas and opinions.