Looks like we can add art fraud to Ward Churchill’s resume of falsehoods: ‘Original’ Churchill Art Piece Creates Controversy. (Hat tip: MikalM.)

BOULDER, Colo. (CBS4) An exclusive report by CBS4 News indicates embattled University of Colorado professor Ward Churchill may have broken copyright law by making a mirror image of an artist’s work and selling it as his own.

Placing Churchill’s work beside that of renowned artist Thomas E. Mails and the two look like mirror images. But one is a copyrighted drawing. The other is an autographed print by Churchill.

When CBS4 News tried to talk to Churchill about a possible copyright infringement, we received an angry response.

“Get that camera out of my face,” Churchill said.

CBS4 News reporter Raj Chohan: “This is an artwork we’ve got called ‘Winter Attack.’ It looks like it was based on a Thomas Mails painting; it looks like you ripped it off. Can you tell us about that?”

That prompted Churchill to take a swing at Chohan.

The exchange continued:

Chohan: “Sir, that’s assault, you can’t do that. Can I ask you about this? It looks like you copied it.”

Churchill: “I was just grabbed by the arm. Get that out of my face.”

Chohan: “Sir, we’re allowed to take pictures, this is a public space.”

Churchill: “He’s not allowed to grab my arm.”

Chohan: “He didn’t touch you sir, we’ve got it all on tape. Sir, this is called Winter Attack. It’s an artwork by you. It looks like it was copied from Thomas Mails artwork. Can we talk to you about that please?”

Churchill made the serigraph in question in 1981 and called it “Winter Attack.” He printed 150 copies and sold one of them to Duke Prentup for about $100.

UPDATE at 2/25/05 8:46:33 am:

LGF reader DaZoid created an overlay of the two images; they’re identical. Click here to see it.