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I have a gallery/studio in an 'Arts Community' in Gatlinburg,TN. Ive been here about 5 years and my business has been thankfully very steady. I sell mainly to tourists who come through to visit the Smoky Mountains, Dolllywood etc.

There are rules and zoning laws for this arts community that state the artists and craftspeople who get a gallery here are supposed to make 51%, minimum ,of what is in their shop.
(This is an 8 mile loop of artists and craftspeople).

Since last year there have been a few empty spaces next to me, and Ive been anxiously awaiting who my new neighbors will be.

This morning when I went to open my doors a new neighbor had 'arrived'! I was excited to see what art medium he worked in.

Welll.....the first thing I noticed was what looked like a flea market that completely invaded the halls . Our 'complex' is a nice intimate art mall with about 22 artists and crafters in it. He had the hall filled with  what I could only call SOFA PAINTINGS! Big, ugly and most obviously NOT originals! :(

He had these massive wood frames filled with what I could only see as cheap copies of artists work. More like ripoffs of Thomas Kincaid, pictures of bears and other critters that were obviously just posters from Walmart or a similiar place.

SOFA PAINTINGS , in an 'arts community'! SIGH..

and what made it worse for me was that he was RIGHT next to my gallery , where I have to look at him and his merchandise all day every day. 

Most of my framed work is $85- $125  and I do have some framed originals up to $350. 

His large artworks were sellling for the whopping price of $29.99 (written tackily on cardboard signs with black magic marker!)

He SAYS that he makes the frames and that he doesnt see any difference in what he does from an artist who makes their art and puts it in an already made frame!



SIGH.

Any thoughts on this scenario? Do you think his statement has any merit?

Thanx. I