I was at the Frederik Meijer Gardens Galleries for their meet the
artist night. The artist was Patrick Dougherty http://
www.stickwork.net, who is a very nice guy, standing by his own art
work. I thought that this meant that I would be able to photograph the
art because the artist was there! I approached an older tall, thin
woman with a lanyard and id card and asked if she was staff ( so many
of our brothers and sister are wearing them lately) She said yes, I
said may I photograph the art? She laughed rearing her head back and
said "Oh he's fine with that." The laughter stopped and she made
serious eye contact with me and said in a slightly menacing tone "But
we are not, as far as we are concerned it is stilled borrowed art"

What would have been a reasoned and sophisticated response in this
situation?

Turns out of course that she was the head dobee.

The wine ,those tiny one inch cakes and the the chocolate were
excellent, I will certainly renew my membership.