One of the things I love about street art is the evolving temporary nature of the beast.

Non story for me... if an artist is commercially savvy to sell a few prints, have an exhibition, travel the world expressing themselves through a medium they love (+ 1000's love viewing) so be it...

Thanks for posting. I just want to note that if you read the post when it was first posted, we've added some updates and edits before I (not Peter) made an error in believing the rumors that Rom from StreetArtNews manages DALeast. Instead, they seem to just have been business partners on this and other projects, but Rom is not DALeast's manager. Sorry for jumping the gun on that.

Thanks Echiff, I dont think you are wrong to be weary as there are always people out there looking to exploit this artform.

On a side note How do I get Media above my name like Vandalog. haha

Haha I would tell you but I don't know myself.

street art isnt forever, thats the beauty!

Story of the year! Oh wait, who gives a shit?

good point!  Let's fawn over the latest shite release instead!

and mrkyuss, that's a hell of an accusation.  Would be interested to hear more if it was objective and fact based.

It certainly is. Nick, are you working for VL? What's your story?

Yesterday I should,
and what happened tomorrow?
Today I forgot.

There's a thread on that here G: urbanartassociation.com/thread/107474/daleast-streetartnews

No,i was'nt ,i was watching 'The Apprentice'.

Anyone who is a consistent enough reader of SAN to also be a forum regular is, yes, probably aware of some sort of ties between SAN and DAL, or at least of the print releases that SAN does. But I don't think that's most people. And doing a print release or even two is not really an extended relationship. There's little reason to believe that just because SAN sold some DAL prints months ago that Rom still had a strong financial interest in DAL's projects. There's a difference between working with artists in the past and having an ongoing financial interest in them.

If I had to always note it every time I wrote about an artist that I've worked with at some point in the past (whether on a project where I had a financial interest or not), the disclosures would be so regular that they would be devoid of all meaning. Should I mention that 3.5 years ago I included Roa in a show every time I post about Roa even though I haven't had any financial interest in his career since? Doesn't seem useful to me.

Yes, I can certainly be guilty of something along the same lines as what Peter accused Rom of. And I appreciate people calling me out for it when there's merit to the claim. I post on Vandalog about artists I've worked with because I try to work
with artists that I like. The difference between what I do and what I
see Rom doing is that I try my best to be honest about when I have a
financial interest in an artist's career. And if
I'm dishonest, I appreciate having a discussion about it.

And sure, I often
give a disproportionate about of attention to artists that I'm working
with around the time that I'm working with them. No doubt about that. A few people in London recently told me that they thought I was covering The Yok and Sheryo too heavily earlier this year. That was due to a combination of factors (I like the work, they send me the work they do, they were painting a lot to hype up a show...), but I'm sure it also had to do with the fact that I knew they were going to paint something for the project that I help out with (without compensation) in Little Italy. Once they painted that piece in Little Italy, I said on Vandalog that I was involved in organizing the piece. Even without the direct financial incentive, should I have said something sooner when I was posting about their work? Maybe. If you think so, call me out for it (as you've done with Hanksy) and let's talk.

Working with Hanksy was an interesting experience. I had completely written him off, but once I got to know him, I realized that he doesn't take himself seriously, and so my fear of another MBW wore off and I just began to enjoy the work for what it is: Some quick puns that people who could care less about street art love. It's not great art, but he doesn't intend it to be. But yes, that change came through working with him on a project. But I have still posted about him since even though I have no financial reason to. Still, I can see why you bring him up, since my opinion about him did shift once I began working with him and I know how that looks.

Honestly, I don't think that my dad's collection has as much of an influence on my posts as some people think, at least not in the way they think. I don't list or note every artist whose work he collects because it's not my place to do so (unlike where it clearly is my responsibility to be clear about the artists that I'm working with), but the value of his collection is not something that plays into my posts, in part because I'm pretty sure I couldn't have any influence over the price of Faile prints for example even if I wanted to. I've written positively and negatively about artists he collects. After all, if I know he's reading the site, and maybe my writing does have some small influence on him if I'm lucky, why would I say "Man, I think this Cartrain piece is amazing!" when what I really think is "Wow this Cartrain piece is terrible and I hope my dad doesn't try to buy another Cartrain and hang this one in my room." I also don't make a secret of that collection, even if I don't point it out all the time, and hopefully it's a clear and consistent financial incentive that people are aware of when they are reading Vandalog. I may not think it influences me, but I'm not too bothered if you keep it in the back of your mind while you're reading the site. Rom doesn't seem to want the thought of him having a continued financial relationship with DAL anywhere in our minds. That's a major difference.

I have always been weary of the print business for these same reasons, i have heard my fair share of Gossip and backroom talk about how crooked these 90% or more of these print releases are. I cant grasp why anyone would pay some of the prices that are going for these prints even at the best quality an Original by a lesser known seems so much for personal, even if a drawing or on paper. Speculators drive most markets, and then then there is the powers that can manipulate markets. Both these 2 combined make for a terrible combination. I think a forum like this is great for beginners and such that have no clue what to expect. This could be a whole other thread in itself.

Ill get back on topic and respond to some of what vandalog said. I can relate to some of what he says in this post but our positions are different. I think Vandalog does a good job of trying to stay true to the journalistic side of things, reporting on news and so forth. The problem is reporting on news and having an opinion involved checking facts and so forth. Newspapers have set rules, blogs have less and we all get that. This article with a negative slant that was later unconfirmed and edited doesnt look good for a blog that is trying to get the story right. If you are going to try to report on the happenings and news so to say Its important to be correct. I like the style Vandalog portrays a mixture of honest opinion based articles and coverage, mixed in with some news. Its a great product. Unfortunately for you the more readership that looks your way the more they expect of you I guess. Most don’t know the personal information you mentioned here, and when people who have money invested in the artists you are covering feel slighted well you are going to get taken to the shed so to say. This is a key component though of the conversation, blogs should not have that much power over peoples spending habits. A blog much like myself just might want to share his favorite artists, or murals with the world. We are not saying hey this guy is the next banksy so make sure you buy him. We are saying this work is amazing look at how impressive it is we hope you enjoy it as much as we do. SAN seems to have started that way but seen an opportunity and taken it. Opportunity has presented itself to RJ, Myself, SAN and so forth. Its easy for people to think we are larger than we are because they read what we print. Like anyone else in these positions, some could take advantage of it. I am not saying anyone or do i know anyone doing this but it is common sense to think that there is a percentage that does.

My point is that Vandalog, myself, SAN, Arrested Motion and so forth should only be research not taken as actual fact. We have our relationships with certain artists, genres of art, cities, galleries, and so forth Its impossible not to be biased. Hopefully you can understand that those Biases atleast in my case and RJ as I can make that judgement are not financial. I am pushing for something larger than a print release. I am trying to bring a larger dialogue than how can I get money in my pocket or a certain friend. The whole artform needs to push forward and break more boundaries, books, museums proper academic discourse etc. etc. Thats just my take on the whole thing. Like I said I know the market is crooked in many ways I make no excuses for that. I only try to argue that blame should be placed not on some blog for hard earned money being lost. Read things for what they and please buy something with more information than what some blog put or Hype. Real purchases should take place regardless of financial losses or gains.

Agreed and I messed up on this one. No doubt about it. But even with the inaccuracies clarified, I think the basic point of the post still holds true.