[Baren]: The mailing list / discussion forum for woodblock printmaking.

Baren Digest               Friday, 1 January 1999       Volume 06 : Number 393

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From: "Ray Esposito" <brassring@brassring.org>
Date: Thu, 31 Dec 1998 10:07:20 -0500
Subject: [Baren 2451] Re: Greetings

Gary wrote:
>McClain's Printmaking
>Supplies in Portland Oregon, USA offers a video by Izumi Kuroiwa for $80

There is nothing like hands on instruction from a master but I have the
video Gary writes about and would recommend it highly.  It is simple and the
demos clear.  Having the video allows you to run parts over and over.  Well
worth the money.

Cheers

Ray

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From: "Ray Esposito" <brassring@brassring.org>
Date: Thu, 31 Dec 1998 10:26:41 -0500
Subject: [Baren 2452] Re: Triage 

Jean wrote:
>THANK YOU Bill Ritchie, for providing me with my only hearty laugh of the
>day.  Yes, I do indeed need triage.

Jean, it is always fun to read posts from Bill.  His long experience is
valuable to all of us.

>Then I feel like an idiot because Ray has magnificently been accepted and
>actually won something in a print competition ...

Jean, feeling like an idiot for anything is a waste of time and energy.
Your talent is obvious and you have nothing to apologize for.  As to losing
$15/$20, may I suggest that that is the wrong attitude.  As long as you
think of it as a "lost", it will always be a negative.  I consider these
expenses as they are - enterence fees and the cost of doing business.
Nothing more - nothing less.  I put them on the books as a business expense
and move on to the next exhibition.  I never look back.  Keep plugging.
Someone with your talent will surely prevail.  To me, the key is, if no one
ever sees your work, no one can ever buy it.

>Then the wonderful Bareners compare me to Dave, Andrea and the REAL pros,
>so now I feel like I have something to live up to, especially since I am
>totally IN AWE of those people's abilities.


You and me both.  But the GREAT thing about Baren is how everyone shares and
no one ever gets put down.  Even Graham and I do not make negative comments
about talents and techniques.  I have too much respect for everyone on Baren
to do so.  Having someone to look up to makes you better.

>If I have sold a total of about six prints in the last 10 years, then does
>that make me a professional?  It doesn't even begin to keep up with the
>expenditure on art supplies.  I have been thinking about doing a series of
>very large flying horses, enough to fill up a gallery somewhere.

Go for it.

>I am on the list to get the Dave video, but I am pretty sure I
>haven't received it yet.  However, I will look around the house to see if
>it snuck in while I wasn't looking.

If you want my copy, I would be happy to forward it.  Just remember the
rules - watch it, copy it, return it.

Ray

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From: Bill Ritchie <ritchie@emeralda.com>
Date: Thu, 31 Dec 1998 09:45:03 -0800
Subject: [Baren 2453] Re: woodcut and woodprinting workshops 

Regarding woodcut and woodprinting workshops (and Fatima Ferreira in
Portugal)

May I refer to someone you have never met as a friend--when all your
knowledge of him or her has come via a connection on the Internet and
e-mail?

Is it possible to think of someone as a "virtual" teacher or a student?
Labels such as those that have been a tradition for hundreds of years may
be obsolete baggage. According to History, art schools are a matter
philosophy and intangible. Art studios are material of management of a
person's art production--assisted by apprentices and students who follow
and extend the Master's exemplary accomplishments.

When Fatima Ferreira asked about a woodcut workshop, and mentioned Tama
Art School, my own visit to Tama--22 year ago--came to mind. "No," it
seemed to me, "Because, how could such an avant-garde school be a place
to learn traditional techniques?" That was my impression in 1976,
however, during an era of protest and student demonstrations. My old
image of Tama is probably wrong. Go to their Web site, today, for a
different picture of this school or studio.

Fatima's question also reminded me of my lengthy exchange--via
e-mail--with her a couple years ago (we shared many things--technical,
artistic, philosophical--making me think of her as a friend and feeling
that she is a co-venturer. Besides Fatima there was another woman--in
Chile--with whom I had similar exchanges.

Such experiences--and queries--make me feel bold. While I do not have the
details, but I dare to imagine ways that people might meet face to face
AND be in the presence of a Master woodcut artist. I do not have the
answers to questions like, "How much will it cost?" or "How can I be sure
it will be worth the expense?"

Once I thought video tape might serve to help people along the
path--cheaply and effectively. I have seen instances when the Masters
sometimes come to YOU--if you have something they want and need. Izumi
Kuroiwa was my student, and her husband Mark Leonard also. They shared my
belief, I am happy to say.

And there was Hideo Hagiwara and Akira Kurosaki. But that was only my
experience--my "lucky days." And I have seen it work many strange and
wonderful results. Oh, man--I love these media arts!

Now, a new experience is opening up, thanks to the Internet. The new
experience is like an actual trip to Japan and studying with a woodcut
Master compared to experiencing a soap opera on TV. The difference today
is that creative, inventive, discovering and imaginative artists have
tools to create reality at a distance. The Internet may be like those
inventions that changed human history--fire, the wheel,
printmaking--across oceans of time and space.

I will share my "opera" now. Are you ready? Suppose the workshop Fatima
wants and needs is about to happen on the Island of Malta sometime in the
course of the next year. One or two weeks long--or a month--and is the
result of the wills and ways of creative, inventive, discovering and
imaginative people such as those who use the Web.

This is a very long message--but part of the beginning of new experiences
such as we can barely imagine.

- - Bill

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From: "Ray Esposito" <brassring@brassring.org>
Date: Thu, 31 Dec 1998 15:14:03 -0500
Subject: [Baren 2454] Happy New Year 

To all Baren members:

As this last day of 1998 winds down and we get ready to enter that magical
year before the millennium, I want to wish each and everyone of you all the
success possible and may all your dreams for the New Year come true and all
your resolutions realized.

See you next year.

Cheers

Ray

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From: <DARICH@prodigy.net>
Date: Thu, 31 Dec 1998 12:44:18 -0800
Subject: [Baren 2455] All our endeavors 

Greetings everyone, and welcome to Gregory and the other new members.  I
haven't been contributing much lately but I have been reading the
contributions.  Todays comments regarding our insecurities about our
contributions for the exchange prompts me to reply.  As most of you know I
am a professional printmaker.  I print reduction blocks and use oil base
inks unlike the true traditionalists in the group.  When I hear about the
beginners and "amateurs" prints in preparation for the exchange my own
insecurities float the surface.  I'm afraid your prints will shine and mine
will be dull by comparison.  I have done a simple black and white print for
the exchange.  

Now this feeling of inadequacy is one that comes up for me quite allot.  I
have traveled a bit and have artist friends in many countries.  Every year
I print a Christmas card that I send to everyone and every year I receive
in return drawings, paintings, books, video's, and letters detailing large
commissions, successful shows and all manner of wonderful tidings. 
Inevitably I take my stash of new treasures out to the studio and start to
compare them to my own work and accomplishments for the year.  I'm sure you
can all picture it.  I don't draw as well as this one, I can't paint like
that one.  I have a handful of prints for the year while these one's have
done books full of paintings etc. etc. etc..   

After becoming totally depressed I remember what art is all about.  It's
about our own individual response to the reality we experience.  It's about
expressing our individuality.  I remind myself that no one can produce the
work I do but me, an that I can't be any of my talented friends and that is
one of the reasons I find there work interesting.  They like my work for
the same reason.  
Anyway, the short depression is over as is the old year.  I'm feeling the
beginnings of excitement the challenge of a new year!  What will we create
next?

Partying tonight in Santa Cruz,

Andrea Rich

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From: "Ray Esposito" <brassring@brassring.org>
Date: Thu, 31 Dec 1998 16:02:53 -0500
Subject: [Baren 2456] Re: All our endeavors 

Andrea wrote:
>Todays comments regarding our insecurities about our
>contributions for the exchange prompts me to reply.   (etc.)

Andrea:

Join the crowd.  As I have written, every print will be a gem.  I guarantee
it.   My print is also a simple two color two plate print using etching ink
instead of the traditional approach.

Actually, I think it is neat that everyone is not doing the same thing.
Considering the different approaches being used, I think it makes the
exchange that much better.  I am excited to see your reduction print,
something I have not had the guts to try.  As the end of January approaches,
I am getting excited.

Cheers

Ray

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From: Julio.Rodriguez@walgreens.com
Date: Thu, 31 Dec 1998 15:48:12 -0600
Subject: [Baren 2457] Welcome 1999 

Hi Gregory, WELCOME to Baren. I think you are our first member residing in
Africa. Enjoy the stay and hope to hear more from you about your
printmaking exploits.

OK......

Hideshi Y, D. Stones, Richard & Dave Bull -  Japan (ASIA)
Haydee Landing - Puerto Rico (Caribbean)
Fatima - Portugal (Europe)
Gregory R. - Uganda (Africa)
Graham & Mary K. - Canada
Daniel - Hawaii ( I think he's moving there ! or is it somebody else ?)
the rest - USA (North America)

All we need is someone from South America & Australia and we got the whole
globe covered !

Happy New Year to all at Baren.....!!!!!!


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From: "Fatima" <fami@mail.telepac.pt>
Date: Fri, 1 Jan 1999 04:21:49 -0000
Subject: [Baren 2458] Thanks a lot for your answers

Hi Gary :
I really hadn't considered a video class, altough I had noticed there 
was that video you mentioned at MCClains catalog, but I didn't really 
know if it would be worthwhile. May be it should be my first step. I 
think Dave's video could be a great thing if he would have time for 
doing it.

Hi Ray :
I thank you for the informations about MCClains video too.

Hi Ritchie:
We haven't write each other directly for a long time, but we meet again 
here at Baren and I think this is really a very good thing to hapen !
About "virtuals" teacher and student, I deeply believe in that, I think 
that it could be a happy solution for cutting our long distances. As we 
know now we have at Baren's little Bareners from almost all over the 
globe.
Why not creating a "step-by-step wood cutting and printmaking course" at 
Internet that everyone could attend and pay its cost and at same time 
could also show (through Internet) to the "virtual master" the results 
that has been getting ? That way it could take the necessary time, once 
that everyone is at home, learning, experiencing and sending results via 
email.
Could this be another challenge for our beloved Dave Bull ? I think it 
could be very interesting to try, just like the print exchange you are 
doing.

About our nice and friendly exchange via email I hope even after this 
big silence that you may think of me as a friend. By the way, I have now 
three agapantos at my balcony ! every year appears another one !

About your "opera" and the Island of Malta, are you organizing this 
workshop ?


Hi Andrea :
Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I feel very connected to them.

Have the best year, all of you,

Fatima Ferreira

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From: Julio.Rodriguez@walgreens.com
Date: Fri, 1 Jan 1999 00:03:14 -0600
Subject: [Baren 2459] re: An unexpected surprise ! 

I thought I had signed off Baren for the last time in 1998, but it was not
to be. I got home from work today to find a very unexpected surprise.

It was Dave's newsletter for his 100th print that arrived in the mail. This
I was sort of expecting as I have been receiving them for the last few
months. The big surprise was that along also came Dave's New Year's
card/print and announcement for his exhibition.  I had secretly been hoping
that Dave would include me in his mailing, but I dared not ask for I know
this type of thing could be of a personal nature. With all the things going
on in his life right now, this was a very thoughtful thing to do. I am most
grateful.

I held the 4" X 6" print in my hands for a long time and I studied every
bit of the print. I held the paper to the light to see the marks leftover
by the deckle used in the making of the paper. I let the light shine on the
surface of the print and reflect the subtle colors and the evenness (?) of
tone. I turned the print to check for baren marks in the back and saw how
the pigments are embedded into the paper. What a wonderful lesson !

This next three days I am planning to do lot of printing and work on the
exchange print and you can be sure that Dave's print will be right besides
me to serve as a source of inspiration.

What a wonderful gift you have given me. Thanks Dave Bull.

Happy New Year  to all at Baren!

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End of Baren Digest V6 #393
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