I guess some people never learn. Below Jason brags about plagiarizing Peanuts cartoons and handing them out to kids at the Pavilion. After Schulz died Disney took ownership of the cartoons copyrights. There is nothing wrong with drawing these toons for his own use and pleasure, but using them as marketing for the Pavilion, even if they are not being sold, is a No, No, unless they got consent (which they might have, but I highly doubt it).

But this isn’t Jason’s first rodeo doing this. Schulz never appreciated it when he was alive either.

Jason also took a stab at Star Wars.

I wonder if Jason knows about this handy contact list?

The troubling part is that Jason is doing this while representing the Pavilion as the Visual Arts Director for a city contractor on city property. If Disney gets wind of his plagiarism, a lot of people could be in a lot of hot water besides just Mr. Folkerts.

Jason, we both know you are talented enough to draw your own cartoons, so next time, hand out Folkert’s originals.

TV Host, Cartoonist, Artist, Youth Director . . . there isn’t nothing this guy can’t do.

I had to take a double take when I read this;

The Visual Arts Center in Sioux Falls will have a new leader starting next month.

The Washington Pavilion announced Thursday that Jason Folkerts has accepted the position and will start on August 2.

Before joining the staff at the Washington Pavilion, Folkerts graduated from the University of Sioux Falls and worked as a youth pastor for 12 years. He is also a full-time artist and owns his own business that specializes in murals, cartooning, and live art.

Folkerts used to be the editorial cartoonist for the Argus Leader. He was relieved of his duties after a couple of local cartoonists made the newspaper aware that he may have plagiarized a Pulitzer Prize winning cartoonist. But the AL just couldn’t get enough of Jason’s work so they brought him back, until he was suspected a second time of plagiarizing another international cartoonist (who ironically was the president of an anti-plagiarizing organization). The AL relieved him permanently after that. (You can read all of Jason’s comments about the incident HERE in the comments section of this blog post).

Besides his lack of integrity when it comes to other artists creative property, what baffles me even more is that the Pavilion would hire an individual that doesn’t even have a degree in art, art management, etc. Heck, he doesn’t even have a degree in regular management or business, he is a youth pastor with a seminary degree.

Running a Visual Arts Center isn’t like running summer Bible Camp folks.

I have been told though that the qualifications for the position have been drastically changed since the last director left (it was also changed a little before she took the job).

The Pavilion management and board are apparently losing their freaking minds. There needs to be a National search for an ACTUAL art director with the experience to run such an important division of the Pavilion.

I’ve been saying this past election cycle that the KCPO local political talk show ‘The Facts’ has just been a mouthpiece for the SD GOP. The one time they let someone from the other side on the show, Jan Nicolay, she gets pumelled by everyone’s favorite cartoonist turned book illustrator, turned plagiarist, turned TV host, Jason FolkArts. While Brandi Whine Gross from the anti-choice side gets to spout whatever crap she wanted too.

Well it didn’t work. It seems your show is about as successful as your cartooning.

And BTW, a special note too Kristi (Stewart) Golden who appeared on the show awhile back with her election predictions – John McCain didn’t win in a walk. Maybe it had something to do with your ex-employer, Larry Pressler endorsing Barack Obama. (Gawd, that has to burn)

Just when I thought the Gargoyle Leader could not have more then one blunder in a day (endorsing McCain) – I turned to page two of the VOICES section of the dead tree version and saw they brought back FolkArts. (I like how he changed his signature to initials now-man, you tricked us).

But I’m not gonna rag on Jason – good for him – get it while the gettin’ is good.

Does the AL ever learn? Do they think if they hide something for a few months, the problem will just go away? Apparently they do. Jason has been caught copying other cartoonists ideas in your newspaper – why would you hire him again? It’s like borrowing money twice to a friend who never pays you back.

By hiring him all you are telling your readers is that you don’t have a problem with his actions. Which scares the crap out of me. I have often scoffed at the AL’s opinions, but now it seems I have to start questioning if they really are their opinions and ideas.

Pretty lame.