Im delighted to hear it. REgarding Marla Olmstead, I will be bold and quote myself.
I dont know if the Olmstead family ever sees this, but I for one want to say think you very much for a great documentary. I think it's awful what 60 Minutes did to you, no matter how justified anyone could say they were totally merciless and without any aforethought to your family's well being. Beyond that, obviously a child when 4 or 5 is always seeking parental direction. In fact, in my opinion, if the child wasnt asking for help, and you werent helping the child paint in some ways at all, there'd be something wrong with you. And it amazed me how much the paint ended up on the canvas rather than anywhere else. It impressed me how honest you were about all your doubts. As an artist who has been similarly incriminated by others (with far less apparent fiscal reason in my case as I never sold anything for more than a hundred dollars), what I can add is that the hate letters you received seemed at first totally astonishing, that total strangers could write such things. What I have to add is, that maybe you have heard from less people, they were probably not written by total strangers. They were probably written by other people who were also trying to sell children's paintings and were trying to eliminate you as a competitor. There isnt really a rational explanation otherwise, and when I have challenged people who have similarly vilified my work, I never got a clear sense that their replies indicated otherwise than they were attempting to destroy my reputation for their own career benefit. That said, it does not help to say so. They simply hide behind a cloak of anonymity and increase their level of spite. And they hold you to an ever more ridiculous level of righteousness without revealing their true selves at all. I hope you take some of that college money, go have a grand time in Hawaii or something, and paint beaches with joy. Thank you very much again.
And I wish the same to others in similar plight. If you want to side with those who would rather write hate letters to her parents, then please leave me out. Im really not that important any more to warrant your attention. Thank you.
