Graphic Artists Guild

The New York Chapter is the largest and oldest (inc. 1971) chapter of the Graphic Artists Guild, a labor union of commercial artists and related industries. Since 1967, the Guild's mission has been to raise industry standards and help improve visual creators' professional careers. Stroll through our site and see what we can offer you. Upcoming events and news are listed below, and on the Calendar page.

Jamie Fogle, former NY Chapter President, passed away April 28.

Jamie was a wonderful friend, fun colleague, and kind mentor to new Guild members. He is sorely missed.

Condolences can be sent to:
Fay Kaufman
28 Tiffany Place, Apt. 1L
Brooklyn, NY 11231

Chapter Event

Copyrights, Contracts & Legal Issues

What Graphic Artists Need to Know

to Protect Themselves and Their Work!

Thursday, June 19| 7:00-9:00 PM
Pratt Institute | Manhattan Campus
144 West 14th Street
Room 213

Advance Registration Fees: Members $20 | Non-members $35
Student members $5 | Student non-members and seniors $10

Come join us as renowned lawyer and arts advocate Daniel Abraham speaks on what artists need to know about copyrights, contracts and other legal issues that every graphic artists need to know to protect themselves and their work.

Daniel Abraham will speak on the practical aspects of copyright law, starting with the practical aspects of registering your copyright, how to do it, knowing your rights and negotiating all the contracts involved. Bring your questions and learn more about how you can protect you and your creative works.

Register by phone / credit card:
call Tamara at the office at 212-791-3400 ext 11

DANIEL ABRAHAM is an attorney in private practice specializing in copyrights, trademarks and licensing. His clients include illustrators, designers, photographers, writers and other creative professionals. Before establishing his full-time legal practice, Daniel was an illustrator for 25 years and served for 15 years on the national board of the Graphic Artists Guild, where, as Vice-President for Public Affairs, he directed responses to legal and legislative issues facing the industry.

A co-founder of Artists for Tax Equity, Daniel helped draft and successfully lobby for 1988 legislation that granted artists and photographers Congressional exemption from the tax capitalization provisions of the 1986 Tax Reform Act. He was a key figure in the Guild's initiative to revise California's sales tax laws, drafting legislation, revenue impact statements, the amicus brief in Preston v. State Board of Equalization, and portions of the regulatory changes following that court victory.

Daniel has submitted testimony to Congress on copyright issues, and negotiated with the Copyright Office over the copyrightability of graphic design. He has lectured on contracts and copyrights at the Society of Illustrators and other venues. Daniel created the Legal Easel folder on the Ispot's Art Talk to address illustrators' legal questions free of charge.

In addition to managing his caseload, he is currently an adjunct professor at FIT. To learn more about Daniel and his work you can look at his website:

www.legaleasel.com

Announcements

2007 Volunteers of the Year:
Giselle Palacios Del Mundo + Clovia Ng

Congratulations to Giselle Palacios Del Mundo and Clovia Ng, who were both recognised for their supreme efforts on our Chapter's behalf this year at the National Board Meeting Awards Ceremony in Las Vegas on November 6th.

Giselle (left) is our chapter board secretary, but also champions the cause of membership, runs a membership / information table at events, designs t-shirts as well as all of our event promotion graphics, and is able to handle all these efforts with amazing grace under pressure, as well as uncanny turnaround speed!

Clovia (pictured below with painting) is the founder and chair of the very popular Children's Book Circle of Illustrators (CBCI) interest group, a highly successful group that brings publishers in to review and comment on member portfolios, gaining an unusual and extremely vaulable insight into what it takes to be hired in this industry. Somehow Clovia still finds the time and energy to promote membership and generate new ideas for other chapter activities!

We are very grateful for both of your contributions to the Guild - cheers to Giselle and Clovia!

Clovia Ng Wins Watercolor Award

Congratulations to Children's Book Circle of Illustrators (CBCI) Chair Clovia Ng on winning third place, watercolors, in the Bendheim Gallery show at the Art Society of Old Greeenwich in CT. The title of the painting is Artist's Point at Yellowstone River 2006. The piece sells for $1,200. Congratulations Clovia!

Update on Health Care through USFSB

The United States Federation of Small Businesses (USFSB) has secured coverage for sole proprietor membership with Atlantis Health Plan. That means freelancers (ie. businesses with only one employee -- you!) are eligible.

If you are interested in this plan, contact USFSB's New York City office at 718-701-0087 for more information on the plan or Click here for more info.

Member Discount

The Joy of Code:

A 12-Week Online Course in Creating a Website. Click here for more info, or visit www.joyofcode.com and mention "gag".

Getting ready for taxes?

Susan Lee

CPA to the artists, has a new website at www.freelancetaxation.com. She has posted several pages of valuable information on topics such as a list of deductible expenses for artists, tracking your income, and financial disaster kits.

Heads Up Column Wants Your News

Have you received an award, job, great contract, etc. that you'd like to share with your fellow NY Chapter members? Any other positive news you'd like to impart? The Heads Up! column of the bi-monthly NY Chapter newsletter, The Update, wants to hear from you. Limited to maximum of 100 words. Email your copy to us at: ny@gag.org. We'll let you know if and when we plan to publish it, so you'll know to look for it.