Fatali Schoolhouse of Photography

Sadly after many months of contact with Fatali himself, his true colours have probably been shown. After my relatives purchased two photos in his gallery in Park City, at $ 600 each (at considerable prices, a lot cheaper on ebay if you look) framed in his ‘special method’ at $ 700 each frame (but is sourced to others, as stated by Fatali) we are left with one that is in a condition to be hung and another that breaks your heart.
Shipped to our home for a relative to pick up on their next overseas trip to the USA, the one frame was awesome, the other had loose screws and clips that had fallen in between the frame and glass, cracked frame on the back, dust in between the two pieces of glass in which the photo is suspended and on the photos, use of regular masking tape and cardboard (not acid fast), edges of the backing showing through the glass, a bowed back so it wouldn’t hang flush on the wall.
After going back and forth; Fatali recommended taking it to a local framer and him working with the framer to repair and also picking up the tab, we did this… Gave Fatali a work contact, home phone and cell phone of the framer; seems he was never able to get a hold of him. When he did, we received a call from the local framer letting us know how rude Fatali was. Framer was able to fix some of the framing issues, but not the dust… we ended up paying the $ 100 bill (because at this time I didn’t trust Fatali to honour his word and it wasn’t the framers responsibility), no refund from Fatali, not even a mention despite being sent the invoice. Last contact with Fatali, basically blew us off and is taking no responsibility. Refuses to have the art sent back to him to repair.
In his defense, we received the photos in August, we opened the package and checked there was no breakage during transport, but didn’t take them out and inspect them closely as they were not our pieces of art. We waited for the ‘new owners’ to arrive in October before we noticed the poor framing. I regret letting my family down and not inspecting it more carefully… But knowing it came from such a high end gallery, I never dreamed this would be an issue. Surely they inspect work before its shipped??? Turns out no, its shipped directly from the out sourced framers… But honestly — I expect better from one who ‘sells’ himself as a high end artist.
So is this a posting from a disgruntled customer… absolutely… though based on his lack of concern and inflated sense of grandeur I felt the need to share, as my family members, who live overseas now have two pieces of relatively expensive pieces of art sitting on the floor in my office in the USA as they no longer represent an amazing adventure… which is why we all buy this type art, to remind us of something amazing… and remind us of the emotions of that moment… Sadly this art no longer has that appeal for any of us…
As a reflection of Fatali and his attitude, despite it being quite some time ago I would also draw folks attention to his guilty plea to setting fires and causing damage in more than one national park in order to ‘teach and obtain better photos’… Very sad reflection of someone who supposedly holds nature in such high regard.
…
Please if you choose to purchase one of his (really) stunning pieces of art; consider the source, do your homework and buy one that is already framed where you can inspect it, back and front. And know that it is not probably framed using quality material (their argument is that the framing material does not touch the photo, so cannot cause damage). And know there are many available on the open market, at much better prices…
Thank you all for listening…