[Baren]: The mailing list / discussion forum for woodblock printmaking. Baren Digest Monday, 24 April 2000 Volume 11 : Number 985 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- From: Graham Scholes Date: Sun, 23 Apr 2000 08:58:21 -0700 Subject: [Baren 9437] Re: Baren Digest V11 #981 >By the way, who is going to your workshop this summer? Jean I neglected to answer the most important part of your posting. Yes Dave Bull.... he's coming to find out out to improve his printmaking from the likes of.... The turtle ... John Amoss from Georgia and Barbara ... the petroglyph person along with Wanda ... the digitalis dearie... both from Portand and there abouts. Also coming back is "See the light" Gregory Robinson ... (and his water wings) swimming over from from Kampala. If you go to http://members.home.net/woodblocks/wksp.html the above will make sense. Last and not (I can't remember) least is that guy from San Francisco... or is it LA ..... or is it San Diego Gosh this is embarrassing Marco...... or is it Mario..... oh dear.... I think Boot Camp has started. (This is kind of an 'in' joke with Marco Flavio Marinucci) and the fabulous "Fab Five" from last year. Then there will be Gayle from Ohio ...... JD from New Mexico and Kent Kirkpatrick Oregon. There are two persons from Victoria area, Bob Root and Bill Byrd. Let the fun begin..... Graham ------------------------------ From: James G Mundie Date: Sat, 22 Apr 2000 13:49:33 -0400 Subject: [Baren 9438] WPA prints It's funny Dave should bring up the WPA Arts Program just now. When I was a student at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, an elderly gentleman by the name of Raymond Steth was often found lingering around the print studio. It turned out he was thinking of trying to get an MFA from the Academy and wanted to see what the program was like. As Mr. Steth was nearing 80 (if not beyond it by that point), I asked him what he could possibly need with an MFA _now_. He said something to the effect of "an artist can't get anywhere without an MFA nowadays." Where he was expecting to "get" at his age I can scarcely imagine. It turns out that Mr. Steth had been part of the WPA Arts Program in Philadelphia, working with folks like Dox Thrash. Raymond mainly produced lithographs and carborundum prints. His works from that period had that very definite "WPA look", but what I found more interesting was that the stuff he was doing fifty years later still had that appearance - -- very "up the workers" and akin to Soviet design of the 1940's. This introduction is all by way of saying that when I was running an errand over at the Philadelphia Museum of Art last week I had a moment to stop in to an exhibition of prints by African-Americans. There on the wall was one of Raymond's lithographs from the WPA, with a note on the tag that Mr. Steth had passed away in 1997. I wonder if he ever got that MFA he wanted? James Mundie Philadelphia USA ------------------------------ From: Shireen Holman Date: Sun, 23 Apr 2000 11:26:14 -0400 Subject: [Baren 9439] Re: computer art >Greg wrote:Each medium is different: the bite of the plate, the way the ink holds, >the texture of the paper...But prints? I agree with Greg here. I think every medium has its own beauty. A print needs to be held, the paper felt; the texture of the inks makes a huge difference in the beauty and expressiveness of a print. Computer art (and I do think it's art) has its own beauty, but not, I think, as a printed medium. Look at it on a screen - it has its own effects, created by light and movement, which you could never reproduce on paper. I guess the problem for artists creating digital art is that if the art only exists on a screen, everyone could have free access to it, whereas if it has been printed, each print can be sold. (?) Shireen ------------------------------ From: "Philip Smith" Date: Sun, 23 Apr 2000 10:36:09 -0700 Subject: [Baren 9440] Re: WPA prints >James wrote: gentleman by the name of Raymond Steth was often found lingering around > the print studio. James,....'Nice story about Mr. Steth. As we get older our perspective changes,.... our agenda. Maybe one day you can do a woodcut of Ray Steth. And where he was trying to get will be clearer. Philip ------------------------------ From: "Daniel L. Dew" Date: Sun, 23 Apr 2000 13:36:20 -0400 Subject: [Baren 9441] thanks Happy Easter everyone ! Thanks Julio and others for the advice on the damp paper. Everything worked fine once I allowed the paper to "chill out" or is it dry out. I only saved about 6 prints, but I can see why anyone would want to print this way.. The colors are much more vibrant. Well, have a good day one and all. Dan Dew ------------------------------ From: Dutch Stowe Date: Sun, 23 Apr 2000 10:57:22 -0700 Subject: [Baren 9442] Generating money I was thinking about the need to generate money so that people who are generous enough to donate their time putting together a show aren't unknowingly donating large amounts of money, and came up with a possible solution. Bear in mind that I have not worked out the fine points yet but thought I would throw it into the pot to simmer. Membership fees seem to work for most organizations; we could have membership fees. For that membership, what people would get is: 1. Member ship to the organizations 2. Right to participate in one exchange for free (others would cost some amount of money) 3. Certain amount of spaces in exchanges would be set aside for paid members to register first. The rest would be filled by individuals that would bear their own cost for the exchange. 4. If you wanted to have different levels of membership (ie student, associate , full, participating) you could charge a different fee for each level. For instance, only full or participating members would have a vote on certain things. 5. I am not thinking of large amounts of money for instance a student membership could be $15.00 . I know that sounds way too much like an organization and may have a tendency to include what many would consider a rigid format, but it would be as loose or as rigid as the participants want it to be, just like now. With some sort of structure like this, we (the barens) might be able to promote Wood Block printing even more than we now do. I figure that this suggestion will generate much conversation both pro and con. So much for whoever complained about traffic being slow lately Thank You Dutch Stowe ------------------------------ From: Vollmer/Yamaguchi Date: Sun, 23 Apr 2000 14:06:33 -0400 Subject: [Baren 9444] Mixes Chris, it's never "simply scanning an image" lots more decisions are made working digitally than I think people realize. My "real art" digital work is printed on washi, so it does have a nice surface. One approach informs the other, lots of mixes! Combining Iris prints and woodcut, hanga woodcut beats all for rich color. I advise against using the word 'giclee' which I hear was invented as a joke description of prints from an Iris printer and suggests an ink ejaculation! Anyway, sorry to have generated so much electronic heat and noise! Dave, I appreciate your clear instructions for html uploading of an image to the Bulletin/Message Board from my website. I'm not too swift, though, and uploaded twice. I need more than one chance to edit! Sorry! Thanks for the education. It's the pic of me and Jean at Kala. April Vollmer ----------------------------- From: "Philip Smith" Date: Sun, 23 Apr 2000 12:17:05 -0700 Subject: [Baren 9445] Re: Generating money Dutch,....A good idea to be sure,...but I think a show by show fee is a better idea,....thinking ahead a little and trying to calculate expenses is difficult,...but Julio did his show because of his love of the work and he's a real nice guy,...maybe have the price to be in one of these shows a certain set amount,.... and although Julio and Greg said they had everything worked out, I for one was remiss in helping at all,....however if one comes up with an idea for a show you have to be expected to take most of the heat,.....maybe an itemized cost to enter list would be in order, posted in Maria's new publication! blahblahblah,.............. Philip ------------------------------ From: "Maria Arango" Date: Sun, 23 Apr 2000 17:22:42 -0700 Subject: [Baren 9447] Re: Generating money >Dutch wrote: I was thinking about the need to generate money so that people who are > generous enough to donate their time putting together a show aren't > unknowingly donating large amounts of money. That is a very valid point! It does cost money to put together exhibits and even coordinate exchanges, and even though most make a contribution there are sometimes unexpected expenses that the person in charge of the project just "eats." When we enter competitions and exhibitions outside of Baren, there is often an 'application fee' and then there are the fees associated with framing and shipping the works. It usually turns out to be much more than either of the Baren exhibitions have cost us. > 5. I am not thinking of large amounts of money for instance a student > membership could be $15.00 . This indicates that you have given this some thought and I am happy to see that. I think that is very reasonable, what do the rest of the valiant Bareners think? Any variations? Suggestions? I think we have to face the fact that we are, by function, becoming a very solid printmaking organization, whether we want to name it or not. Because of the nature of the members, a bunch of happy go lucky people that enjoy making woodblock (and related!) prints, I think we will always be kind of loose. At least I hope so. Still, there remains the need to fund some of the activities that we have already engage in and hopefully will do more. Exhibitions benefit everyone, as do these exchanges, the Swap Shop, the newsletter... a lot going on in [Baren] that is wonderful and that requires just the slightest of organization and money. I, for one, am impressed and somewhat in awe that a bunch of people that really just know each other through the internet have come together and achieved so much in a short time. Pat yourselves in the back everyone, and while you are patting, think of these issues and voice your opinions. Health to Baren! Maria ------------------------------ From: ArtfulCarol@aol.com Date: Sun, 23 Apr 2000 20:26:35 EDT Subject: [Baren 9448] Re: WPA prints It is interesting to note that Madonna, yes Madonna ,supported with her funds ,the cleaning of the WPA murals in my High School,George Washington, Washington Heights, Manhattan, NYC. The daughter of Ernest Bloch, the composer, painted murals depicting the history of music and art. In the last few years I viewed the murals , which were done in the late '30's as part of the WPA. Carol Lyons ------------------------------ From: Julio.Rodriguez@walgreens.com Date: Sun, 23 Apr 2000 23:11:55 -0500 Subject: [Baren 9450] Exhibit Expenses There have been a number of recent posts relating to exhibit expenses, costs, concern, etc.....so...... In the best interest that we plan ahead for future Baren events, exhibitions, etc...I have sent the Baren council a very detailed report of expenses relating to the Skokie Exhibit. Last time I talked money here, a few of you very concerned friends sent extra money to help cover expenses for others. For that I am very grateful. But that is not the purpose of this post and any further checks received will be promptly returned or fed to my pirahnas (jkoc, I don't have any pirahnas....I have a Venus-flytrap plant!). I tried to mount as professional an exhibit as possible for a first-timer. My main objectives of promoting [Baren], woodblock printmaking and the artists involved have been accomplished to a large degree. Sharing my own personal collection of prints with others has been a very rewarding experience. The show has been very well received here and we have received a great deal of coverage on many fronts. The Skokie Art Guild has confided to the library that this is one of the best exhibits ever in Skokie. I am so grateful for the support received from all the Baren members. While this is/was the largest Baren exhibit to date, a major undertaking with 75 members and 130+ prints....and others will probably be smaller in size....we as a group need to discuss and set in place a process by which further Baren events can occur and flourish for the benefit of all. Here is a breakdown/summary report of the main expenses. If you are contemplating putting your own exhibit or planning to do something similar....and would like more detailed info, let me know privately. Thanks.. Julio - [BAREN] EXCHANGE PRINT EXHIBIT SKOKIE PUBLIC LIBRARY April 3 - May 3, 2000 EXPENSES DRAGON DISPLAY - $92.00 FRAMES FOR EXCHANGE #1-4 PRINTS - $478.00 FRAMES FOR INTRODUCTION WALL - $273.00 PRINTING/ XEROX - $226.00 HARDWARE, POSTAGE & MISCELLANOUS - $241.00 - TOTAL EXPENSES = $ 1310.00 Exhibit Expenses to date = + 1310.00 Participants contributions = - 675.00 *(38 members) Miscellaneous contribution = - 250.00 Library contributions = - 85.00 ------------------------------ From: Julio.Rodriguez@walgreens.com Date: Sun, 23 Apr 2000 23:19:55 -0500 Subject: [Baren 9451] Exhibit Expense - addendum I forgot to mention on my previous post, that of course, the 110+ plus frames used to display exchanges #1-4 here are now property of Baren proper and as such are available for others members wanting to put on their own local Baren exhibits. Shipping of these frames to their next destination could be covered via future exhibit expenses, membership fees, etc. Thanks...Julio ------------------------------ End of Baren Digest V11 #985 ****************************