Baren Digest Sunday, 9 September 2001 Volume 16 : Number 1549 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- From: "Bill H Ritchie Jr" Date: Sat, 8 Sep 2001 10:24:00 -0700 Subject: [Baren 15628] RE: exchange-D-lines Maria wrote about the irritation of managing an exchange. I'd like to address this, but I do so with awareness that the solution is difficult for MOST people, therefore MOST people will not adopt the solutions suggested by other similar organizations. Also, I am a student of something called game theory, where RISK is one name for the BIG GAME of life. Something called "utility value" is defined as what a person of means (small or large) FEELS is "worth" a risk. So, if a person views him or herself as having little means (i.e. monetary, time, strength, faith, etc.), he or she will not risk much, in proportion, to what he or she will risk on an alternative. One has the power, always reserved, to choose how one uses ones assets. I know people who will spend $50 on a carton or two of cigarettes rather than $50 on a chisel for woodcut because they have only $50 dollars to utilize on either choice. But to risk the misery of stopping smoking against the risk of not having a big chisel for making a woodcut, will not consider stopping smoking, and will do without the chisel, somehow. Then there are people who will spend $30 on overnight shipping to meet a deadline rather than risk being left out of a folio, or risking criticism as a "flake". They UTILIZE the $30, no matter if they have to borrow the money (i.e., credit card, etc). So, the utility value of the $30 is relative to their commitment IN THEIR OWN EYES. Now, what do other organizations do about people who view the RISK of being late of lower concern than whatever else happens to come along and takes money, time, prescience, etc? Other organizations charge an upfront fee sometimes amounting to hundreds of dollars in commitments. This then shifts the UTILITY value to the ACCOUNT, and then the UTILITY value of being on time changes. We make a $5,000 down payment and sign a 30-year mortgage on a home, if we can, or we may put a $500 cleaning deposit on an apartment, and the UTILITY VALUE of that money is obvious. It gives us the go-ahead to eat, sleep, and make prints for awhile, until the next payment or rent is due--roughly 30 days. Making an e-mail that says we will deliver on time is virtually free. This explains, to me, the UTILITY VALUE of joining an exchange. It's worth what we pay, which is about zero. In some cultures, your word is as good as a sum of money or a signature on paper. In the baren exchanges, this remarkable phenomenon works some of the time. Too bad it's irritating, and the worst part about that, according to those who have been through it (you know, those burned-out, tight-lipped, withholding ones who don't even want to talk about the situation AGAIN!) the experience has to be lived-through again by another soul. And creative people, inventive people, discoverying and imaginative people that artists are, are too valuable to squander. Their life's time is too important to peace and beauty to waste. Misuse of these people will ruin it for all creative, inventive, discoverying and imaginative people. Bill H. Ritchie, Jr 500 Aloha #105 Seattle WA 98109 (206) 285-0658 Professional: www.seanet.com/~ritchie E-Store: www.myartpatron.com First Game Portal: www.artsport.com ------------------------------ From: Cucamongie@aol.com Date: Sat, 8 Sep 2001 17:21:19 EDT Subject: [Baren 15629] "bull nose chisel" Gayle, the larger "bull nosed chisels", known in Japanese as soai nomi, are available from Mcclain's. They have them up to 30 mm, so check it out - they're worth every penny! They sharpen up very sharp and can clear the wood out in no time, and you don't need a mallet- happy cutting Sarah ------------------------------ From: "Maria Arango" Date: Sat, 8 Sep 2001 15:13:27 -0700 Subject: [Baren 15630] no glass? So there I was, unloading my trailer at 5:12am when I hit a rut with the hand-cart and kaboom went a box of framed prints. Only 3 prints were in the box, all framed to 30" x 36" with glass, now in several pieces. I quit using plexi after I replaced so many due to scratches from wind, dust, debris and kamikaze insects left their permanent mark on so many-a-plexi. So! undaunted by such tragedy, I finished setting up and proceeded to remove the offending glass and hung the prints (under the protective cover of the canopy) all bare-naked, as it were. Early still (there is a quick end to the story, if you're wondering), I went to the nearest art supply store, bought some oil painting varnish made for works on paper and a sponge brush. I gave the prints a nice coating en plein air, and sold all three within the first two hours of the show. Bells rung in the distance, I think. Okay, so my question is posed to the conservationists in the forum: What are the pitfalls and deadly consequences of covering an oil-based ink print on hand-made paper with stuff? and, What stuff should I use? TIA, Maria <><><><><><><><><><><><><><> Maria Arango Las Vegas, Nevada, USA http://www.1000woodcuts.com maria@mariarango.com <><><><><><><><><><><><><><> ------------------------------ From: b.patera@att.net Date: Sun, 09 Sep 2001 00:09:26 +0000 Subject: [Baren 15631] Re: Daphne-paper Carol, very nice prints! Thanks to both you and Rudolf for sharing. Barbara P. ------------------------------ End of Baren Digest V16 #1549 *****************************