Christopher J. Gervais, Wildlife Art Shows, Western And Wildlife Art Magazine Collects show fees, cancels show and no refunds Ardmore Pennsylvania

I, along with artists across the United States and Canada have fell victim to an art show scam. Mr. Christopher J. Gervais of Wildlife Art Shows sends out call for entries and invites to artists across the country, inviting them to participate in a prestigious art show, to be held in a well-known, elaborate venue in their area. Although the advertising states these shows are juried, anyone who pays is in. His website, wildifeartshows.com, which has now been revamped and had all the discriminating evidence removed proudly advertised that he is a businessman, show promoter, of shows across the US and now Canada. Looking at the shows advertised, one may think that he is a very busy man and knows what he's doing when it comes to organizing and promoting wildlife art shows. Most of the shows advertised are actually not his and in fact, no one has heard of this man. He also goes by other alias such as Troy Marsh, Gervais Art Shows, Southwest Florida Arts Shows or Palmetto Art Shows.

After having each artist pre-pay for their spot in the expected venue, either the venue is changed to smaller venues that don't require much of a rental price such as school gymnasiums, or it is cancelled all together with numerous reasons why. The issue though is that his contract clearly lists the larger, more elaborate location as the venue and also reads that no changes shall be made to the contract unless agreed by and signed by both parties. When the venue for the show I was booked in changed, I wrote a letter reminding him that by changing the venue on my contract is actually a breach of contract and asked for my money back. He ignores that fact and persists that collectors will still come to an elementary school gymnasium, and their decision to attend is not based on a so-called glamorous location. My question then would be, why sell the artist the glamorous location? Because we know that location and presentation has a lot to do with a successful show. Mr. Gervais has cancelled shows for reasons such as economic crisis, the venue originally booked did not disclose all the hidden fees to him, his father is ill. After receiving a tip that this man is a con-artist, I did my own research calling every show advertised on his website.....not one show took place.
When a Canadian artist blew the whistle on Mr. Gervais, investigations into his actions increased once the shows were scheduled in Canada and people were catching up with his scam. The BC show, which is the one I was booked for, was moved from the Abbotsford Tradex to the Abbotsford Curling Club. I contacted the Abbotsford Tradex and their report was although they sent out the contract to Mr. Gervais, he never returned the contract. He then moved it to a curling club. With reference to the Abbotsford Curling Club, he never paid the fee by the deadline and then when questioned it seems quite convenient that all of a sudden all shows for 2009 have been cancelled due to economic crisis and refunds will be forthcoming. To date no refund. If either venue for the BC show has never been paid for.I'm wondering why the delay with refunds. There is no longer any information what so ever offered on his webite wildlifeartshows.com, no show history (as before), no upcoming 2010 events (as before), no links (as before)nothing. He's been known to use artists images without permission to promote his shows. He also has another website - www.westernwildlifemag.com or westernandwildlifeartmagazine.com. Here is advertises shows, but has changed the format, not listing a location. Keep in mind that some of these shows that he is advertising aren't ones he organizes and the actual organizers don't know who he is they should recognize the name if they did advertising with him and his magazine wouldn't they? Of course there's nothing wrong with advertising someone else's show for freeis there?

Artist
Chilliwack, British Columbia
Canada