Local Artist Dr. Bob to Simon:
“Stop Copying Me Or Leave”

Exhibit A

BYWATER — Art forgery dates back more than two-thousand years. Roman sculptors produced copies of Greek sculptures. During the classical period art was generally created for historical reference, religious inspiration, or simply aesthetic enjoyment. The identity of the artist was often of little importance to the buyer.

The age old issue has been foisted upon the City that Care Forgot.

Local folk artists Dr. Bob and Simon will do battle in court soon. The two are filing simultaneous copyright infringement lawsuits against each other claiming that the other has stolen ideas and styles and implemented them into their own work.

Dr. Bob, famous for various “Opened/Closed” signs on businesses around town and the ever-infamous “Be Nice or Leave” art, has fumed over the issue calling Simon a hack.

Dr. Bob, through a statement issued by attorneys at Rock, Swineman has expressed in pressing criminal charges of art forgery and grand larceny.

No comment has been made from the Simon camp.

Novices and enthusiasts alike argue that the work between the two do, indeed, share astonishing similarity. Toomey Starks, area eccentric and art critic, remarked:

“Established taxonomists brood over the differences that separate Indonesian horned wood beetles from Malaysian horned wood beetles the same way that established art critics try to distinguish a Simon from a Dr. Bob.”

Pending the filing of criminal proceedings, the civil case is underway. The case has been assigned to Judge Paulette R. Irons, Division “M”of Orleans Parish Civic District Court.

Judge Irons is expected to order microscopic image analysis to find any difference at all.

Some New Orleanians are already touting it as what could be considered the touchiest local spat since the Al Copeland/Robert Guidry fiasco of 2001.