Association of Mouth and Foot Painting Artists of the World
The Association of Mouth and Foot Painting Artists of the World (AMFPA) was founded in 1956 as the Vereinigung der Mund- und Fussmalenden Künstler in aller Welt, e. V. (VDMFK),[1] in Liechtenstein in 1956. This self-help organization was created by mouth and foot painting artists with the scope to further the painting skills of any mouth or foot painter, to promote their artwork and to support them financially. This support considers also the artistic level of a mouth or footpainter and the price level of his country. Although profits out of the commercial activity are used to sustain the more than 800 mouth or footpainters worldwide, the association is not a charitable organization. Because of illness, accident or congenital disability, mouth or footpainters have no use of their hands. They use their mouth or foot to create a painting.
The parent company in Liechtenstein acquires the reproduction rights of a given painting and distributes it internationally. The original works are also sold at exhibitions held throughout the world.
The main product of the company is Christmas cards with motifs painted by the member artists. These cards are sold every year in the months leading up to Christmas via direct mailing in 46 countries around the world (2004). Other products available through AMFPA include postcards, art prints and calendars.
The AMFPA represents 811 mouth and foot painting artists in around 70 countries around the world. They receive grants or are taken on as members and receive a regular income for their artistic proficiency. Works produced by the members could be seen in the UN Headquarters in Geneva or the European Council in Strasbourg.
Objectives
The Association's objectives are:
- Find as many mouth and foot painting artists as possible.
- Safeguard and promote the interests of the mouth and foot painting artists, improve their working and living conditions, promote and improve their artistic abilities and skills, in particular, by promoting the commercial use of their work.
- Conclude and negotiate contracts with publishers in countries all over the world.
- Grant scholarships to promote the development of mouth and foot painting artists.
- Collect and make available to its members or Student Members the literature and medical or other aids owned by the Association or by others.
- Organise exhibitions by mouth and foot painting artists.
- Collect, catalogue, and administer the works created by the members.
Organization
The Association is a self-help organization and run as a "democratic co-operative’. All the member artists have a voice in how it is run. Any mouth and foot painter of unimpeachable reputation living anywhere in the world can become a member of the Association provided they are 18 years of age and their works are considered artistic by the Jury who then recommends them for membership to the Managing Board.
The management procedures are governed by the statutes, which require that a Delegates Convention or General Assembly of all members must be held at least once every three years.
For electoral purposes, the Association divides the world into four regions: Europe, Africa and the Middle East; the Americas; the Far East; Australasia and Oceania. Each region deputes at least one delegate for every five members.
The managing board members and the president are elected by the members of the association. With the exception of the legal representative, every managing board member has to be a recognized mouth or foot painter.
International Exhibitions
During the last 50 years paintings and artworks of mouth- and footpainter haven been shown in numerous museums and town halls around the world. International exhibitions were held for instance in the following buildings:
- Town Hall of Madrid (Spain), March 1981
- Uno Headquarters in Geneva (Switzerland), September 1981
- Guildhall Art Gallery in London (UK) in September 1982
- Oslo Concert Hall (Norway), November 1991
- Council of Europe in Strasbourg (France), November 1996
- Palace of Nations in Geneva (Switzerland), August 1998
- Museum of Contemporary Art in Sydney (Australia), March 2000
- Woodruff Art Center in Atlanta (USA), May 2003
- Shanghai Art Museum (PRC), April 2005
- Albertina Museum in Vienna (Austria), April 2007
- Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall in Taipei (ROC- Taiwan), October 2012
- Hofburg in Vienna (Austria), Juli 2013
- Zappeion in Athens (Greece)
- Town Hall of Copenhagen (Danmark), October 2015
A. Erich Stegmann
The first president of the association – Arnulf Erich Stegmann – was a prominent figure in the development of mouth and foot painting. Born in 1912 in Darmstadt, Germany, Stegmann lost the use of both arms from polio at the age of two. Regardless, his artistic talents were soon recognized and supported by his teachers. He was proficient with a variety of brushes and styles, using only his mouth.
He was educated at the School of Higher Education for Book Trade and Graphics in Nuremberg and studied with the artists Erwin von Kormöndy and Hans Gerstacker. He made a living selling his art cards and prints at marketplaces. After the Second World War Stegmann established his own publishing company with the poignant name "Dennoch" ("Anyway").
In 1953/54 he organized the group "Lodge of Mouth and Foot Painting Artists" as a type of artist community. From there, the international "Association of Mouth and Foot Painting Artists" was formed and A. E. Stegmann was voted president for live. The criticism includes:
- That AMFPA effectively poses as a charity organization although it is purely a commercial venture, in effect conning charitable people out of money.[2][3][4]
- That high salaries, favourable loans and property lease contracts are given to AMFPAs long-time legal adviser Herbert Batliner, his friends and family and other lawyers employed at the AMFPA.[2][4] Herbert Batliner retired in 2013.[5][6]
- That funds are being diverted to unknown parties via a network of "mailbox" companies.[4]
- The secrecy maintained by the company.
No claims have been made suggesting any illegal activity by AMFPA. The criticism has been centered on what is perceived as bad ethics.
AMFPAs responds to the criticism
The AMFPA has in some news reports and court hearings responded to some of the claims, stating that AMFPA has never intentionally presented itself as a charitable organization, but instead has explicitly pointed its commercial nature out to consumers. AMFPA has also stated that 80% of the worldwide profits are distributed among the artist. AMFPA declined to present financial records to support this claim.[7]
Litigation
In June 2007 the company sued Danish Broadcasting Corporation and Danish daily Ekstra Bladet for libel after negative coverage during December 2005. On October 10, 2008 the High Court of Eastern Denmark ruled in favor of the accused journalists, stating that there was sufficient factual basis for statements like: "Behind the scenes we found a well-oiled money making machine with economic puppeteers, who are scraping in money with arms and legs", "People think they are supporting a charity, but in reality we are looking at money making. AMFPA has not appealed the decision.[8]
References
- ↑ "VDMFK International". VDMFK International.
- 1 2 Helmut Lorscheid: Alle Jahre wieder... . Telepolis, 24. December 2004 (German)
- ↑ An Postkarten von Mund- und Fussmalern verdient vor allem ein Lichtensteiner Wirtschaftsunternehmen. Stern, 22. December 2000 (German)
- 1 2 3 Mundmaler und Hilfsorganisationen – Wer steckt dahinter? MDR, 30. november 2004 (German)
- ↑ "It is a Spider Web" Center for Public Integrity, 8. November 1999
- ↑ Colorado district court ruling, 29. October 1998
- ↑ Danish press ethics council ruling, 14. June 2006 (Danish)
- ↑ DR vandt sag om ytringsfrihedens grænser AVM, 10. October 2008 (Danish)