What should I do?
 

Sorry about the vague title... Anyway, here's my situation.

I entered one of my paintings into a "call for art" submission at a nearby technical college. Months later, the college informed me that my piece had been chosen for purchase and display in their permanent collection. A price was agreed upon and I delivered the artwork.

Days passed and I received a phone call from the college. It turns out, they didn't like that my work had little "flaws" like texure, paint build-up and minor scratches and things associated with aging. I told them that those were natural occurances from my process and time. I paint rather thickly in some parts of the canvas.

They told me that unless I fixed the problem, my artwork would be returned. Now, I'm not a legal buff, but I think there's more to this than that. I told them I wouldn't fix the problem, because there was none. That's how the painting looks and that's how I submitted it, sold it. If they wanted an alteration, it would cost them. Well, now they're talking things over with their arts committee...

Basically, I just want to know if there's anything I can do legally, if they decide to return my work.

JJ

Sounds like you should talk to a lawyer. There is an organization called, I think, "Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts" or something like that, who work for either very little or perhaps even on a pro bono (free) basis for artists.