Pexels/Reddit
Few things sting more than watching someone else take credit for your hard work.
So, what would you do if a teammate who once took public credit for your collaborative art project came back asking for your help again?
Would you lend a hand for the sake of collaborative art? Or would you refuse, given what he did last time?
In the following story, one artist finds himself facing this very decision and is leaning toward he latter.
Here’s what happened.
My partner and I proposed a large-scale public sculpture. Our idea was accepted, and we hired a guy named “Z” to help build the structure.
I handled all the proposals, design documents, safety plans, budgeting, and insurance (which was a nightmare to find.)
My partner and some collaborators designed an LED display with programmed visual effects, while Z made a wooden square frame to hold the display in place.
We decided to list everyone involved in the project on the signage at the show. It was a dozen names because we believe art is collaborative. Heck, I went out of the way to ask the venue to reprint the signs in order to make sure everyone was acknowledged.
Though he handled almost everything, Z took public recognition for the project.
After the show, I was the one who found storage, organized transportation, and dealt with logistics. Z refused to help. Eventually, I was able to get the college to keep the piece and display it.
A few months later, the college published articles and put up signage crediting Z as the lead creator, using text I had written.
I didn’t know about this. My partner’s and my names were moved to the side. Z also gave incorrect technical info and didn’t credit the CS students who helped.
Now, Z says the college media wrote the articles that way for “marketing purposes” for the CS department and that it wasn’t his fault, but he admits he read the article and never corrected it.
Now, Z is asking for more help.
Recently, he’s been asking me to send him my design documents and logistics info as a template so he can use it as a guide to apply for his own art project.
He didn’t even tell me it was for that until I questioned him. It is the same event we are applying for.
I told him that it felt hurtful, given how he handled the last one.
My partner and I feel taken advantage of. We worked for months to make this project happen and gave credit equally, only to have someone else take ownership publicly.
AITA?
Eek! That guy sounds like something else.
Let’s check out what advice the readers over at Reddit have to offer him.
Here’s someone who thinks Z is wrong.
According to this comment, he should never work with him again.
For this person, it hits close to home.
That is pretty ironic.
He should go no contact.
If you liked this post, you might want to read this story about a teacher who taught the school’s administration a lesson after they made a sick kid take a final exam.