THE BATTLE IS WON!

On Friday, January 20, 2017 I viewed the  "Central Bear Through The Years" displays at Central (yep, "displays," one in the hall by the media center, the other hanging in the gymnasium). 

I wish I could say I felt proud to finally see my public credit and acknowledgement, but after the battle I fought, the resistance I met, to simply get the EVSC and Central to simply just admit the bear they used for all these years was my artwork, the actual feeling I have is that of vindication.

My mother accompanied me to the school, and when we both entered the school I noticed immediately that the "Welcome to Central" banner, which had been hanging there at the beginning of the school year -- The banner which featured my drawing -- had since been removed.

I noticed online and such that school sites, social network pages, and other places that used my bear drawing have replaced it since I brought up my battle again this past year. As you will see in my photos of my trip, they weren't able to remove all traces (not counting the displays, natch).

When I spoke with the secretary, there was apparently no word given to the lady that I was coming to view the display. Paul Neidig and Pamela Hight did show up on time, however.

Mr. Neidig was cordial enough, but Ms. Hight was more obviously cold and short on words towards me or my mother. No surprise, there, as she was perhaps the most persistent at denying me credit st the August meeting I had with the EVSC over my art. Hight was almost ecstatic at the conclusion of that meeting when she thought I was going to accept their offer to credit me for a recreation of my older drawing. I'm sure it unnerved her when I ended up rejected that solution and continued my fight for crediting me for the actual artwork in question.

They arrived and took me to see the displays before Principal Andrea Campbell arrived. I asked Mr. Neidig if he would like to pose with me in front of the display, knowing he would almost certainly decline. Decline, he did, but offered to take my picture. I agreed.

Mr. Neidig did allow me to take pictures in the gym, and then he and Ms. Hight accompanied my mother and me back to the school offices, where he parted minutes after Principal Campbell showed up. She was nice and pleasant, in sharp contrast to Ms. Hight, who was still being distant. It was clear she really hated having to concede to me. Not that Neidig was much happier, but Hight wasn't doing much to mask her resentment at having to bow to pressure and give me my rightful credit.

I am sure Ms. Hight was also not too terribly thrilled that I spotted a fabric computer cover on a secretary's desk that sported my image of the Central bear. I asked Principal Campbell if I could taker a picture, and she cheerfully said, "why not?" Ms. Hight did not look so approvingly. Tough for her. She had sought to downplay how much the school been using my image over the years, after all.

So, it appears that except for a few stray examples, and now the displays, my drawing of the bear will be retired. I did not receive any official word on that, but it's pretty obvious. That's fine. I mentioned before that this ordeal to get the school and the EVSC to recognize me for my artwork has robbed me of any pride for the work.

I noted to both Mr. Neidig and Ms. Hight how interesting that Jon Sia, a famously North alumni and former North teacher was the co-creator of the new image of the bear commissioned in 2016. Ms. Hight seemed to bristle at my insinuation, noting the other contributor to the art, Scott Wannemuehler (creative director at Acclaim Graphics) was a former Central student.

Still, a North guy designed the new bear logo. Particularly interesting, as I brought up Jon Siau at the August EVSC meeting, noting how North has always been proud of him, and how sad that my own school and the EVSC was fighting to even credit me for my work and contribution.

So, even though the school seems to be retiring my artwork during the 30th anniversary of my having drawn it, it was used longer than any other image of the bear to represent Evansville's Central High School. I noticed that I am the only artist credited on the display who was still a student when the artwork was drawn. The other instances being professional graphic artists or a teacher who were commissioned for their work.

Excuse the length of this post, but this is obviously one of the final posts where I will have to discuss the matter, now that it has been resolved.

Let me finish this post by giving a huge, sincere, heartfelt THANK YOU to every single friend, family member, former classmate, and concerned individual who showed me support on this cause. I know I said it more than once, but I can't stress enough how much it has meant and how very appreciative I am that so many of you stood with me. 

Thank you.

The Central Bear Art Credit Proposed Resolution and Status

The last entry I entered for this blog concerning the status of my pursuit to get official, public credit and acknowledgement for the artwork I did of the bear mascot for Evansville Central High School (which the school used as the predominant image of the mascot for three decades) was the lowdown on the August 2016 meeting I had at the Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation building with officials of the EVSC. If you are not aware of the history regarding this situation, check out the earlier entries of this blog that detail pretty much everything up to the point of this entry.


THE PROPOSED RESOLUTION

On September 13, 2016, I received the following message from EVSC Chief of Staff, Paul Neidig:

Good morning Mr. Hawes,

I bring you good news...  We have decided to create a display at Central featuring the evolution of the Central Bear.  Celebrating the history of Central in this way will be a great way to pay homage to all that have contributed to the school's mascot over the years.  In that display you will be given credit for the version of the bear that you drew while a student at Central.

I am truly sorry that this has upset you.

Paul Neidig, M.A., C.A.A
Chief of Staff"

I informed Mr. Neidig that this would be satisfactory to resolving the issue for me if I am credited as stated. I further asked if there was some sort of time frame for the completion of the display, and asked if I would be invited to attend its unveiling.

After not getting a response to my questions, I waited another week and asked again, more insistent on getting a response. Having dealt with the EVSC for the past few years on the matter of my art credit, I have learned not to put stock into what the EVSC says without substantive evidence. Mr. Neidig responded after I pressed the issue, writing the following reply:

"We are moving forward with the creation display.  I will let you know when it is finished."

I wrote again for an update a month later, in October of 2016, and received the same basic response. I wrote again the next month, in November, and Pamela Hight of the EVSC responded this time with the following message:

"We are working on the final layouts and design. We will let you know as soon as it is done."

Yet another month went by, and I was not alerted to any new developments regarding the display, so I wrote the EVSC once more, before the new year, seeking an update. I once more asked when the display was planned to be completed, and also asked again if I was going to be invited to see the display at its unveiling. Mr. Neidig responded with the following message:

"Good Afternoon Matt,

I trust that you had a Merry Christmas and are looking forward to a Happy New Year.  I stand by my September 13, 2016 statement to you.  As you can imagine it is taking quite a bit of time to research the history of the Central mascot. We simply don't have a date set to complete and unveil the history of the Central Bear. I am sure it will be ready within the next several months.  We will let you know when it is completed.    

Paul"

I replied noting that I know all too well about the time it takes to research, having done plenty of research on my own (much of it on display in other entries in this blog). I challenged him on whether it should take them so long, though. I offered to assist in researching the display, letting him know that I am willing to go to Central and help go through files, etc., pertaining to the history of the mascot. I even offered to help with the construction of the display. Mr. Neidig has yet to respond again.

On January 5, I decided to be more public in my questioning, and asked about the status of the display on the Twitter page for the EVSC. This time I got a response from the EVSC (presumably from Pamela Hight, who handles the communication for the EVSC on Facebook, and I believe Twitter, as well):

I asked if the display would be completed within the 2017 school year, and was told "yes."

Noting that at the least the EVSC was responsive when asked in a public forum, I followed up be pressing the issue of my offer to help research and construct the display. This is what I got in response to that:

"Yes, work is almost complete." (EVSC, Twitter post, January 13, 2017)

Interestingly, looking back on this string of responses, Pamela Hight told me they were "working on the final layouts and design" in the email dated November 30, 2016, but the email from Paul Neidig on December 27, 2016 -- Nearly a month later -- makes it sound as if the are still in the midst of researching the display. Does the January 13, 2017 Twitter post really mean the work is almost complete, like sooner rather than later, or is it another stalling maneuver from the EVSC?

Going back to Paul Neidig's email to me from September, 2016, he mentions that the EVSC and Central, through the display, will credit me for the bear drawing I did for the school as a student. This, after the EVSC tried desperately to deny me any credit in my exchanges with them in messages and at the August 2016 meeting. If the EVSC is at the least not fighting me on whether the drawing is my work any longer based on that email, why is there such a hold up on putting out the display? Surely, they would be as eager to resolve this matter as I have been all this time?

I have been clear that all I am seeking is the rightful credit and public acknowledgement for my work. The cause for the recognition for my art has been something I have only become more steadfast in seeing through to its conclusion ever since the letter Mr. Neidig sent me in 2012 that sought to discredit me for that artwork. I have tried everything I can to settle this matter between us without having to seek out legal recourse. I simply want them to acknowledge publicly that the artwork is mine.

The proposal to give me that recognition in the form of a display detailing the history of the Central bear mascot was their idea to resolve things. I had already informed them that such recognition could be as simple as placing a framed document on the wall at Central with my bear drawing in it, crediting me for my work. Obviously, the EVSC has decided a display would benefit their interests more in some fashion, and as long as I get the credit for my art I have told them I am fine with that.

But, I do expect the EVSC to, you know, actually, truly, really go through with it. I also think it's more than generous enough to expect the display to be finished within five months time.

I remain hopeful that the next blog entry I make on this subject will be to announce the completion AND unveiling of the display. One thing is certain, until that happens, my cause will continue.



Central Bear Art Credit Facebook Page!

The Meeting With The EVSC Over The Central Bear Art!

If I were to accept what I was offered as the proposal from the EVSC for settling the matter over receiving proper, official credit and recognition for my bear drawing that Central High School in Evansville, Indiana has used for three decades now, the best it may be described as would be a sort of pyrrhic victory.

It appears that short of escalating the matter to a legal one, the best concession I can get from the school was pretty much a worthless gesture where the EVSC would continue its stance on refusing me official, public recognition for my contribution to the school, while I simply would have another, similar work displayed in a case at the school which it would most graciously acknowledge was mine and yet still not acknowledge the older work and its usages by and for the school.

On Friday, August 19, 2016, I met with Jason Woebkenberg, Chief Communication Officer for the Evansville-Vanderburgh School Corporation, Pamela Hight, Director of Marketing and Social Media, and Paul Neidig, Chief of Staff/Director of Athletics at the EVSC Building at 951 Walnut Street in Evansville. I went there along with my mother, Charlotte, who was witness to the proceedings. 

The EVSC members that attended the August 19, 2016 meeting.

While they conceded that my artwork has been used by the school during this meeting, they still argued that the bear image they have used repeatedly is not my art in instances where it is clearly the same drawing to any objective viewer. And, moreso, even with the couple of instances where they would admit it was my drawing -- At least to me in person -- they would not agree to acknowledge this fact publicly.
All three EVSC employees asserted that since my work was based on the mural in the gymnasium, as I was instructed to do by teacher David Koehler in 1987, that somehow the use of the drawing on items where there was no signature present was somehow not my work. They reasoned that without the signature, it was just too close to say for certain.

Can YOU tell the difference between the bear drawing in the top row, far right from the other bears in that row? Jason Woekenberg told me he couldn't see any difference. The bottom row shows more images of the bear drawing I created. The second figure in the bottom row which is in color Paul Neidig said he colored on computer in 2005. That is also when he said he made other changes to the art. Other than the color, do YOU see any discernible differences between that bear and the black-and-white one to its left? 

 They raised a point that if a person recreated the Mona Lisa in pen and ink form that artist would not get credit for his or her work. This was simply an inane suggestion to which I quickly set them straight that indeed the artist would be entitled to receive credit for the recreation. Particularly in such an example when the medium was not paint, but pen and ink art.

To counter their position, I asked them if they knew of the artist Andy Warhol, which, of course being college-graduated school teachers they should. They said they were familiar, and I went on to point out that not only had Andy Warhol made a career of appropriating images from other sources for "pop-art," but that he had taken images straight from comic books, and there was no question he received credit for his works. 

What I did, based on instructions by my teacher David Koehler, basing my drawing on an existing mural at the school, was still done in a fashion that is actually more distinctive from the source of inspiration than the art Andy Warhol had done did in some instances, in fact. I maintain, the style of the bear drawing in question is mine, and distinct from that mural, in any case.

The creator of Batman was also brought up, which they sought to use to prove of another instance in which the original creator was credited, that other artists who have drawn the character were not credited. One shouldn't use comics books against a person who is not only a fan of the medium, but also has made his living from the industry for more than 20 years. 

I pointed out that most definitely later artists have received credit, I asked them if they knew the movie "Sin City." They did know of it. I explained that the man who co-directed that film and the comic on which it was based, Frank Miller, also wrote and drew "The Dark Knight Returns," one of the most celebrated Batman stories of all time. I pointed out that Miller is even credited from his contributions in the recent "Batman v Superman" film, and Frank Miller certainly received credit for his works on Batman, as well as great acclaim for it.

Behind the Central Honeybears in this photo is the mural commissioned by Central from artists Larry Johnson and Kip Husk in honor of the memory of Scott Cowen.

During the discussion about the mural, they mentioned the names of the artists that painted it, Larry Johnson and Kip Husk. The artists not only rightfully received their credit for the work, but was in fact paid for their services by the school.

I asked about that credit and why would the same not be applicable for me and my work? Pamela Height came back with the position that they were adults and were paid to paint that mural, as if that is an acceptable reason to deny me credit. This was something she stressed repeatedly when that mural was brought up in the discussion: They were adults, they were paid.

I shot back at her that just because the other artists were adults and paid for their work does not mean that somehow the school should have exploited a minor and took his work for free. Of course, she could not sufficiently defend her remark, though she did attempt to do so.

Ms. Hight then used the tragedy of a former Central High School student, Scott Cowen, to bolster the stance the EVSC was taking on the matter of my credit. Scott passed away in 1982, sadly, and the mural was commissioned in his honor. She tried to somehow spin this poor boy's death into reasoning why the drawing I did was actually, somehow, not my work, but the mascot and that it's continued use was in honor of his memory. 

Such obvious, disingenuous, and manipulative maneuvering I found to be VERY unseemly. To suggest that exploiting the image I drew by using it on all manner of merchandise over the years was somehow an extension of the reason that mural was created was a weak and frankly disgusting tactic to deprive me of credit for my art. My mother also could not believe that Ms. Hight actually used the death of this young man from over 30 years ago as fodder in the EVSC's attempt to deny me any acknowledgement.

Another shot of the mural with students in front of it.

There was the instance where my signature was left on a printed item from the school, that I recalled being a pocket folder, yet I was presented at the meeting with a basketball program sporting the drawing. Yet, later, after the meeting I realized that the scan I made back in 2003 or 2004 would have had the text at the bottom about basketball, such as the program book has in the picture shown below. Maybe both items were produced with my signature with the added "Evansville Central" illustrative text superimposed over my bear drawing? 

Regardless, it was proof they couldn't deny that showed I drew that bear image, even though they still continued to argue that the exact same bear image on other items could not be proven to be mine simply due to a missing signature.

The 2003-2004 Evansville Central basketball program which bears my signature (sorry for the pun). Even with this evidence, the EVSC will not acknowledge my contribution. This copy of the program was given to me by the EVSC at the meeting, meaning they don't contest that is my signature and it is on that cover. 

In further attempts to further their assertion that several bears images look too much alike, and therefore it would be much too difficult to assign me credit for my art without a signature present, I was presented with several scans of different bear drawings. I recognized more that came from that Walter Foster "How To Draw Bears" book mentioned in my past blog. I did spot my bear in that mix, and drew their attention to it. There was also something else I noticed that escaped their notice: Another instance where my signature was left with the drawing. It had been placed at a different spot by another artist that added a busted brick wall in the background, but there it was, with a reproduction of my bear drawing!

This CHS "Senior Activities" booklet from 1999 is another example of my art being reproduced with my signature. No, not an official acknowledgement, though. In fact, the EVSC members at the meeting didn't even realize my signature was on the piece until I showed them where it was.

The red circle I added to show where my signature is on the cover. Compare it with the cover to the basketball program booklet. It was cut and moved to a new spot by the artist that added the background, but it is there.

It's almost amusing, if sad, how they unwittingly had in their own evidence another instance of my signature left on a use of my bear art, which ironically supports my claim even more.

Jason Woekenberg was quick jump on the signatures as being proof that I have been credited before. But I pointed out to him and the others that the fact that there were at least a couple of instances where my signature did not get fully removed was not in itself an official public acknowledgement or credit for said work. 

The basketball program, according to Paul Neidig, had actually been printed for Central outside of the school, so maybe that is why the signature did not get removed in that instance?

And here's something to chew on: If Jason Woekenberg believes those signatures are sufficient acknowledgement, then why is it that the EVSC maintains a position where it will not recognize identical, yet unsigned reproductions as my work, and why would he tell me that the ESVC and Central will not publicly acknowledge my work now?

Another interesting thing was how he, and Ms. Hight, in particular dismissed my attempts to examine the history of the drawing as being in the past, and somehow not worthy of discussion, when to understand what Central has neglected to do here it is relative to discuss that past. 

Yet, if the past is irrelevant to them, then certainly giving me my recognition now, in the present for the use of my art which still graces the halls of Central would still be in order. Also, if Ms, Hight seeks to invoke the past herself by using the passing of a teenager in 1982 to justify not giving me my art credit, is she not also bringing up the past after deeming it not pertinent in the discussion of the credit?

Neidig and the EVSC claims they don't have possession of my original artwork. But, Neidig also tells me that he scanned the bear drawing into a computer in 2005 and "cleaned it up" and added color to it, too. The fascinating thing is that the two examples I now have that retained my signature both predate 2005, one being from 1999, the other from 2004. He said he had to clean up the artwork and darken it to make it usable for reproduction, yet these earlier examples prove that was not needed as he stated and I pointed this out to him. He could offer no suitable argument. 

Ms. Hight, when bringing up the painted bear mural again, said she was concerned that Kip Husk and Larry Johnson might take issue if I were credited for my drawings somehow. This was most confusing logic. If what she means is the EVSC fears legal action from those other artists, then what's it matter who is credited for the bear drawing that I know to be my art? First, the bear mural itself was obviously appropriated using the two bear images from the Walter Foster book, itself. Secondly, my version is distinctive enough from their work, even more than their work was distinctive from the Walter Foster publication. 

The arguments presented by the EVSC are simply without substance, and I think they know it. There was a lot of spinning and double-speak going on at that meeting. 

Here is the proposal they are offering me:


They have agreed that if I want to offer up a new drawing of my bear and sign it, that they would display it at Central High School in its "Hall of Fame." The catch is this: They basically are saying that, "Yep, that new drawing is from Matt Hawes, a former student of Central" Meanwhile, they would not be willing to publicly acknowledge me for the 1987 artwork and it's various uses by the school for going onto 30 years.


I asked Neidig what about having something stated in the frame from the new drawing that acknowledges my past contribution. He just replied, "We'll see what we can do," or words to that effect, but it was clear that the kind of recognition I am seeking would not be granted.

There is much resistance from the EVSC to grant what is really so simple a request. Is it the fear of opening themselves to a lawsuit from Larry Johnson and Kip Husk? They seemed to be wary that giving me credit would somehow do that, but what basis would exist for such a suit in that instance?

I have contacted Kip Husk on this matter by e-mail and at the time I posted this blog I await his response.

So, yeah... This looks like as far as I can take this short of seeking legal counsel. I have tried desperately to avoid escalating this matter. I nearly conceded to go along with their proposal, but on reflection I cannot do it. It's not right.

Credit where credit is due. Never give up, never surrender.

SUPPORT THE BEAR CREDIT CAUSE for HAWES!!!

BUY A BEAR SHIRT and Wear It To SHOW SUPPORT!

I have a Cafepress page where I put out an image of my NEW bear image on different items (I will NOT be donating that bear drawing to Central).

I MAKE NO MONEY WHATSOEVER FROM THE CAFEPRESS PAGE!

The cost of the shirts and other items are the base costs set up by CafePress. I am using this as a means to get the word out about my artwork, and not making money. 

Check with CafePress if you want to see how its' "base price" works. I have elected not to go beyond the base costs, as this has never been about the money. 

The price given is what Cafepress charges to print up the items.

I would like to raise awareness about the history behind that artwork. GET THE SHIRT THE EVSC DOESN'T WANT ANYONE TO WEAR! It's 100% MY ARTWORK, and I own the copyright to it, so the EVSC has NO say in the sale of this shirt.

SIGN THE ONLINE PETITION and TELL EVSC TO GIVE CREDIT WHERE CREDIT IS DUE!


Thank you sincerely, with deepest gratitude, everyone who has supported me, and I hope will continue to support me on this issue!

30 YEARS: A LONG, SAD BEAR'S TALE (with new discoveries)!

by Matthew Hawes

The Central Bear drawing by Matthew Hawes in 1987.
 ONLINE PETITION for CENTRAL BEAR: CREDIT WHERE IT IS DUE

FACEBOOK PAGE for 30 YEARS of THE CENTRAL BEAR!

At the end of the 1987 school year, Evansville Central High school teacher David Koehler approached me to ask if I would want to take part in some sort of contest to draw a version of the Central Bear mascot. The drawing was to be based on the painted mural that had been hanging in the school gymnasium the past couple of years prior. I agreed and drew the bear and handed the drawing over to Mr. Koehler. The school year ended, I graduated from Central, and I never heard another word from Mr. Koehler or the school about the drawing or the status of the contest.

At the end of the 1989 school year, my younger brother was set to graduate Central. My parents had ordered graduation invitations from the school and that is when I first saw that my drawing of the Central bear was being used. I was somewhat taken aback that there had been no word to me from the school about its use, and I did not receive any acknowledgment or credit as being the artist of the drawing the school used.

As the years passed, I noticed more and more that my drawing was being used by Central for several different purposes. The image appeared in newspaper articles relating to Central High school, both sports related and academic. The class of 1996 donated a street sign bearing my drawing of the bear which faced First Avenue for years before being replaced and located to a ball field or other area on school property.

This street sign donated by the class of 1996 features my artwork of the Central bear. It faced First Avenue in Evansville, Indiana in the front of the school for many years before being replaced.

Many people I know would tell me that I should approach the school and ask about receiving credit for the use of my artwork, but I feared that the endeavor would prove futile. I just figured that if the school was going to be decent enough to give me some sort of acknowledgement for my work it would have happened all ready. The teacher who commissioned me to draw the bear, Mr. Koehler, had since passed away. It wasn't until the matter of the bear drawing was brought up on my Facebook page in 2012 that I decided to see what could be done about getting some credit for my work.

A former teacher of mine from the high school, Jim Wootton, since retired from teaching, saw comments about the drawing on my Facebook page. He wrote to me in a message telling me, "I do remember when you drew this." 

Mr. Wootton offered to contact some people at the school on my behalf about getting some sort of recognition for my art. He sent a letter to Darla Hoover, principal of Central High, in May of 2012.

Wootton wrote to Hoover, "...I think Central owes Matt an apology and an ongoing acknowledgment."

"...I remember when he did this and had no idea until now of the injustice."

As far as I knew, there was no further conversation on the matter. Months went by until October of 2012 when Mr. Wootton messaged me again through Facebook and informed me that he took the initiative and contacted Central again for a follow-up on the credit situation. He received a reply from school secretary, Sue Mattingly, who wrote to him that she had brought it to the attention of Paul Neidig, Deputy Chief of Staff, and Central High principal, Darla Hoover. 

The response from Neidig and Hoover said that they supposedly had discovered that the bear in question appeared in yearbooks prior to when I had said I had drawn the bear. This was not possible, and I stated as much in a response I wrote and sent to the concerned parties at Central and the Evansville Vanderburgh School system.

In my letter I went over the history much as I have here. I strongly disputed the claim made by Neidig and Hoover that the bear drawing -- My drawing -- had appeared in yearbooks prior to the year I said I had drawn the bear. 

In reaction to this, I did my own research. I did not need any proof for myself, naturally, that I had drawn the bear in question, but I wanted to see what other representation of a bear was used in a yearbook prior to my contribution. I wanted to verify whether or not there actually was a similar-looking drawing that maybe they were thinking about.

The covers to every Evansville-Central High School yearbook from 1909 to 1987, minus 1944, and including the 1908 cover to "The Record" from Evansville High School. The EHS/CHS yearbook began officially in 1909, but was discontinued until 1912 when it resumed publication annually, which continues to this day.

In my research, I only discovered only one bear drawing that came close to resembling my drawing. This bear drawing was on the cover to the 1983 Evansville Central yearbook. To prove my points, I went as far as to create a video that I posted on the website YouTube that examined the issue and showed examples of the use if my drawing, and comparisons to the mural. A person commenting on the video noted that the art from that 1983 yearbook was taken from the publication, "How To Draw Bears" by Joseph Maniscalco, published by Walter Foster.

This was interesting, I thought.

This is the Walter Foster publication which features artwork that Central High of Evansville took and used for its 1983 Yearbook and for the painted mural that hangs in the school gymnasium.

I figured that the school had taken that 1983 yearbook image from some sort of clip-art publication, and now I had some confirmation on its origins. I decided to look up this publication on eBay, which I found and then promptly purchased for my evidence. Sure enough, that exact drawing on the 1983 yearbook cover came from that art book. Even more interesting, though, was that within that art book there was another drawing of a bear that had the same pose as the one on the mural in the school's gymnasium, on which I had based my drawing.

With some cleaning up, removing the other bear heads, for instance, this is the drawing of the bear from the Walter Foster publication that Central High School took and put on its 1983 Yearbook.

The mural was in fact a combination of the body of one bear in that art book, merged with the head from another bear drawing. 

From the Walter Foster art book. Central took one part (the body of this bear drawing) and...

...added merged it with the head from another bear drawing in that same publication in order to...

...have someone at the school (sometime around 1984 as far as I can tell) project the Walter Foster merged art and paint the large mural that remains in the Central gymnasium. It is this mural which my drawing was based upon, but my art retained distinct details that differ it from this source.

There was no proof of a bear drawing that even looked exactly like mine ever having been used for a yearbook at Central, and my drawing was not an exact replication of the bear mural, either.

While my drawing was based upon a mural, as per the  instruction by Mr. Koehler, my drawing was still distinctive in a number of ways from the actual painting.

My drawing of the Central bear mascot.

And, it is my actual artwork that is being used to this day by Central High school. It continues to be used on official Central High products, items, and signage to this very day.

T-shirts, signage, folder art, student ID cards, website graphics. school vanity plates, and so much more: Central has used and profited from my artwork for three decades without any acknowledgement or credit given to me as the artist.

The above image shows the distinctions between my drawing and the mural. The image Central has used for 30 years is my work and looking over the images here on this blog should make that clear to anyone.

I received  a letter from Paul Neidig dated November 13, 2012 in which he wrote:

"We have investigated your claims concerning the Central Bear mascot and find that although you have, in the past while a student, contributed to the mascot's design, the basic 'bear' drawing compilation now in use was in use prior to your contribution. Thanks for your concern."

(Above) Official letter from Paul Neidig. It curiously attempts to continue to discredit me, while unwittingly acknowledging I had contributed to the mascot's design. Since my only contribution was the drawing in question, would that not be an admission that I drew the bear in use? Was this an example of  Neidig clumsily attempting "lawyer-speak"?

The details of the investigation by the EVSC and Central were not discussed in any detail. I assume that Central High School must surely still retain the original artwork from which all the various reproductions are made. If that original artwork still exists, and has not been altered, such as to have been cropped or marked up by other persons, then my signature should still be on that piece.

Interestingly, Neidig's comment that, in their findings, I did contribute to "the mascot's design" there is no clarification given as to what that contribution was. If it is not the artwork that is still in use by CHS to this very day, than what exactly did the investigation show as having been my contribution?

That was my contribution: the artwork!

It seems that Neidig thought by using the phrase, "in the past while a student" somehow weakens my argument in some way? In fact, I would suggest that it verifies what I have said all along, and actually strengthens my position. After all, why would the fact that I drew it in the past, as a student, affect my claim? Rather, it points out what I said was true, that I was approached in my senior year as a student at CHS in 1987 by teacher David Koehler to draw the school mascot for what I was told at that time was a contest of some sort. 

The comment by Neidig that the basic bear compilation now in use was in use prior to my contribution seems to be some sort of dodge to me. My claim is that the artwork being used on the ball fields, and on jackets, and jerseys, posters, folders, pins, websites for the school, vanity plates, and whatever the school could slap it on, is reproduced from my actual artwork. It is not reproduced from the huge, painted bear mural, nor is it the same artwork that appeared in any yearbook prior to 1987, nor from any other publication. 

If Neidig, Hoover, and anyone else from the EVSC or Central High would challenge my claim any further, I would ask that they offer indisputable proof by producing for examination the original artwork of the bear drawing in question and show it to be intact, without any sign of attempts to cover up the signature. 

I would also ask for the name of the artist that they might claim did the drawing. Neidig says the matter was investigated, so surely he can offer substantive proof as to who did draw it, if he insists it wasn't drawn my me.

I have heard back from friends who were my classmates at the time I drew the bear, and like Mr. Wootton before them, they also can recall me drawing it. They wonder why is it that Central High and the EVSC would not want to acknowledge the contributions of a former student? They figure that it must surely be that the Central and the school system fear that I would seek some financial recompense. 

I frankly cannot accurately answer why I am not only denied my credit, or even worse, why the school has made attempts to actually discredit me. I have made clear in my communication with CHS and the EVSC that I am not making a financial claim, I simply want acknowledgement for my contribution, credit for my artwork.

A friend of mine that currently teaches at Central has told me that my drawing appears all over the school, and that the secretary keeps the original closely guarded like some sacred tome. It pains me, and even somewhat angers me, to think that the school and the EVSC would willingly and deliberately attempt to discredit me.

After one last attempt to appeal to the decency of the people in charge in 2014, I figured that my initial concerns about approaching this matter years ago had indeed been proven to be correct, and that my attempts to get proper credit and recognition would indeed be futile endeavor.

The time of this writing, August of 2016, is the beginning of the 2016-2017 school year. It will be the 30th year since I graduated Central High School, and the 30 years since I drew the bear drawing.

Perhaps it was serendipity, or maybe even fate, but this summer I chanced across two items that would further strengthen my claim. These two items I had for some time, but were buried away in the corners of my home. If these items do not serve to make any impact to further my claim and hopefully achieve the recognition I seek, then I don't know much else that will do that job short of some sort of public attention or legal means that would make Central produce for evidence the original artwork itself and settle the matter for once and for all.

The first item I came upon as I was going through old copies of "The Centralian," the high school's newspaper. I did the comic strip for that publication from my sophomore year at the school until my senior year. As far as I know, no other student was on the paper for the length of time, as the usual requirement for being on staff was that a student be in the junior year of school, and enrolled in the journalism class, neither of which applied to me. Anyway...

I was pulling out these old school newspapers, organizing them by date, when I came across an article in the October 10, 1986 edition. The article was titled, "'Bear' is officially adopted." In the article written by staffer Blake Rogers, it is reported that "there is not just one drawing of a bear that would be identifiable as Central's mascot." It is also noted, "This might change shortly."

The October 10, 1986 edition of "The Centralian."

The article goes on to mention that a committee of students and advisers met to agree on choosing depictions of the Central bear, one comical, the other more realistic and fierce-looking. The realistic bear was planned to be used for more formal occasions, while the more comical bear would have been used for "such things as t-shirts and stationary." 

Teacher Mr. David Koehler were noted as having "played a big role in the whole project." Other school staff participants mentioned in the article were Mr. Phil Jarke, and Mr. William Asbury. The article concludes, noting that "So far, the committee has decided that the 'tough' bear will be the one exhibited in Gym B."

The article from the October 10, 1986 issue of "The Centralian."

There it was, a smoking gun of sorts for anyone not dodging the blast!

 It is apparent that I was approached after this decision, after the article was featured in the school newspaper, but it (pardon the expressions) bears out what I have stated all along. 

The very same school year I was approached by David Koehler was the same school year where he was instrumental in the decision to formalize the look for a school mascot, a mascot to be based on the painted mural hanging in the school gymnasium.

When the decision was made to use an official image, Koehler drafted me as a student to take what existed then only as a huge, painted mural and redraw it in a form, in black and white and on paper that could be used to make reproductions for all the various uses that the school had in mind for the drawing. The idea of the more comical bear obviously was dropped, and my artwork based on the bear mural was officially adopted.

Short of a signature, can there be any more solid proof to back my claim?

Well,... there is that other item I mentioned.

You see, years after I had graduated, but also years before Mr. Wootton contacted Central High over the matter, my nephew was going to Central as a student. This was sometime around 2002-2003, or so. Now, my family and friends had all ready been made aware of my unhappiness over the lack of credit for my bear. I would point out how, as far as I knew, I never received any formal acknowledgement or credit for it. That remained true at the time I was visiting with my brother and his children, but there was something I noticed on the folder that my nephew had brought home from school. My bear drawing graced its cover, but more importantly was what I saw at the bottom of the drawing, but the bear's rear paws:

The printing of the scan I took of a pocket folder that I recently rediscovered. It actually has my signature in abbreviated form! The one instance I have been able to find where my signature is not removed. What would Paul Neidig make of this, I wonder?

A signature!

It was an abbreviated signature, but it was indeed my signature. The staff at the school had obviously overlooked it, otherwise it surely would have been removed as it was in every other instance I had seen before or since. 

Not an official credit, but this one time my signature escaped notice of the staff and went out to the students. I made a scan on my brother's computer, but at the time I had no other way to take the scan with me other than to print it out, which I did. Over the years, I remembered seeing that folder, but I forgot that I had actually made a scan and printed it out. During the same time I was going through my papers at my home and found that old copy of "The Centralian," I also came upon the scan I had made!

Examples of my signature from the same period surround the abbreviated signature in the illo above.

For anyone who would question the signature, I had searched out artwork I had done for the school as a student from the same period to compare the signatures. The one on that folder was abbreviated, as I mentioned, but it clearly was my signature, and the corresponding letters in the signature match with the way I wrote my name during the same time frame.

So, in light of these recent discoveries backed with comments from former teachers, students, and other evidence that I did indeed draw the bear in question, will Central High School and the Evansville Vanderburgh School System finally do the right thing and give me the proper and official acknowledgement and credit I deserve? 

Shouldn't there be some accountability when the school and the EVSC actively seek to continuously discredit me? 

Is it not fair to ask that they also back up with evidence their own counter-claim argument?

Thirty years.

Three long decades!

I ask Evansville's Central High School, and I ask the EVSC, to at long last show some decency, to exhibit some honor, to display some integrity, and give me my proper credit for my artwork which has served that school well, so very, very well, for so many, many years. 

It's blatantly obvious that my art has done so very much for the school, what with all that has been made from my art for three decades now. Central High and the EVSC might even want to consider offering some small apology for denying me credit for what is my artwork. It should never had had to gone this far.

 I want a reason to be proud of my former school, even if it didn't have enough respect for me to let things go this far, and for so long.

SHOW YOUR SUPPORT at the FACEBOOK PAGE for CREDIT WHERE CREDIT IS DUE!

Video response made back in 2012 to Paul Neidig's letter. This was before I came across the article in "The Centralian" newspaper and the folder which shows my abbreviated signature. Posted here for posterity and reference.

August 4, 2016