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Message 1
From: Barbara Mason
Date: Thu, 30 Sep 2010 14:11:51 GMT
Subject: [Baren 42076] Re: moku hanga exchange and 9/11 project
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Suzy,
I don't think the work has to be about the tragedy, I think it should be about
our survivorship as humans and our strength to keep keeping on. I am always
amazed at the inner strength most have, I have seen it over and over, folks just
standing tall and going on, some in very small ways and others in large ways. I
remember when I lost my mother, a terrible time for anyone, that I just kept
planting flowers. My husband thought I had lost a cog, but I told him it was
cheaper than therapy. And then one day I got on with my life and in the winter
the flowers did what they do in Oregon, they all went into the ground and stayed
there, needing to be replanted in the spring. So we move on and eventually it
gets easier. I think this exchange could have almost any image in it and it
would be acceptable. A celebration of our human spirit.
Hope your son comes home safe.
My best
Barbara

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Message 2
From: Doug Haug
Date: Thu, 30 Sep 2010 14:52:08 GMT
Subject: [Baren 42077] Re: Moku hanga exchange
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Another nickle's worth: I like the idea of changing things up a bit,
reductions, moku hanga, white lines. Not that I participate, but it gives
me a chance to think about where I want to go. Think outside the container.
I'm one of those that needs the swift kick to get me going. Travel well!

Doug

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Message 3
From: Diane Cutter
Date: Thu, 30 Sep 2010 15:14:47 GMT
Subject: [Baren 42078] Re: moku hanga exchange and 9/11 project
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My take and interest in another 9/11 exchange was the idea of life moving on...
the same as Barbara's... the healing and the forward movement. Like those who
are not in favor, I abhor a reliving in the morbid sense but I would welcome an
exchange that expresses ten years beyond.


Regarding a moku hanga exchange, while I may not participate because I don't do
them well, I welcome the change of process that happens occasionally. I have
grown tremendously as a relief printmaker based on these exchanges and the last
Summit. Some of the process from moku hanga has now been incorporated into how
I work as an 'oily' relief printer (registration, brushing on of Akua, etc.).


Diane

www.DianeCutter.com
www.theitinerantartist.blogspot.com
www.DCutter.etsy.com

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Message 4
From: Viza Arlington
Date: Thu, 30 Sep 2010 18:46:28 GMT
Subject: [Baren 42079] art speak
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I have been a little bit down in the dumps lately about art, my art,
all things art. lots of those thin little rejection letters in the mail
lately....... but i found this site and it really made me laugh so i
thought i would share.
http://artbaloney.wordpress.com/
and one more for good measure
http://www.pixmaven.com/phrase_generator.html
cheers,
viza

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Message 5
From: Lori Elliott-Bartle
Date: Thu, 30 Sep 2010 19:19:40 GMT
Subject: [Baren 42080] Re: art speak
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Oh, Viza,

How much fun! My background as a journalist led me into jobs where I tried to simplify and translate medical research into lay language. I think criticism is interesting because it often does just the opposite -- takes something simple and makes it wildly more complicated and inscrutable. While some critics offer insight, I find much of the language around art incredibly overblown. I struggle to present my visual art with written descriptions that are meaningful without sounding like the kind of babble I read on these sites, and it's so easy to get sucked into thinking that you have to sound like that to be a professional. I laughed out loud at some of the descriptions. Thanks so much for sharing.

cheers,
Lori

Lori Elliott-Bartle
Hot Shops Art Center
1301 Nicholas Street
Omaha NE 68102
402.740.2367
lorielliott@cox.net
http://lorielliottbartle.com

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Message 6
From: "Maria Arango Diener"
Date: Thu, 30 Sep 2010 19:55:29 GMT
Subject: [Baren 42081] Re: art speak
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Totally agree!

In a tribute to "artspeak" an artist friend of mine composed his artist's
statement as follows:
"To remove kitchen mildew use an abrasive cloth with a solution of 2% bleach
in tap water"

I totally agree with THAT too!

Viza, just keep your chin up. I once held a race between my writing
rejection letters and my art rejection letters...jury still out but writing
rejection letters are usually much nicer and often offer encouragement.

And another time I thought about making a conceptual piece out of my art
resume as a "menu" of how much it cost to acquire each line. One example
from my 4-page art resume:

2001 - February 10-artist exhibition Paper Expressions Gallery, Santa Fe New
Mexico USA (-$545)
Entry/application $25
Framing to gallery specifications for 2 works $180
Shipping artwork 2-way insured $160
Gallery re-packing/handling fee $60
Promotional brochure inclusion with illustration of artwork $120
Sales $0

Needless to say I don't play that silly game anymore. Even if both my works
would have sold I would have profited about $100 bucks. Now when I get
applications I just say nooooo, silly...

Maria

[=o=][=o=][=o=][=o=]
www.1000woodcuts.com
www.artfestivalguide.info
[=o=][=o=][=o=][=o=]

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Message 7
From: ArtfulCarol # aol.com
Date: Thu, 30 Sep 2010 21:42:52 GMT
Subject: [Baren 42082] Re: art speak
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When I had my last print show of 12 works a few months ago the gallery
owner had an idea.He asked me to write something about each image It was be
typed under the titles. I thought a long time about what I could say that
was basic, short, and maybe provocative.
The idea worked. People approached me..Because of the written
prompts.they responded to the art in special ways.

Examples of some titles and basic notes:
Mountain Village- The mountain asked for a little village on top
Sky Show-- The ever-changing shapes in the sky intrigue and delight me
Animal and Moon- When an animal and the Moon are in alignment it is a
cause for special attention.
Sharper Image- This scene titled itself because my daughter was working
for Sharper Image.
View Up-I'm always looking up and there's the inspiration.
Time on Hold-Catch the moment and time stands still.
Half Moon- An illusion realized, my reverence for the unheralded moon.

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Message 8
From: "Orgren Alex C (Alex)"
Date: Thu, 30 Sep 2010 21:46:25 GMT
Subject: [Baren 42083] Re: Moku Hanga Exchange
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I haven't had much to say for a while, but I'm compelled to voice my
opinion on the Moku Hanga Exchange. Baren is a unique resource; there
is no other place to get specific (and reliable) advice and guidance on
moku hanga from real practitioners. I think Baren should have more such
exchanges, not fewer. Although I like getting an artist's "best work"
as much as anyone else, my purpose here is to learn, and I learn more
from seeing real moku hanga prints and inferring what I can about how
they were designed and executed and what problems the artist faced. If
there is not a place here for that, then there is no place at all.

Alex Orgren

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Message 9
From: Kristine Alder
Date: Thu, 30 Sep 2010 22:24:01 GMT
Subject: [Baren 42084] Exchange 47 ruling from your manager
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Hi Gang!
What a lively week we've had here on the Baren forum! I'd be lying if I said such a response was unexpected. After being a member of the forum for 11 years, I've seen it happen several times. You have to admit it has gotten us discussing again, and while we may have differing views and preferences regarding techniques and printmaking in general, we learn so much from each other, it was worth the risk of the explosion of opinions.

Speaking officially as your exchange manager I thought I should let you know the results of the past week's discussion. Many who expressed an opinion did so right here on the list. I tallied your yeas and nays. I also figured in the votes that came to me privately. The voting was close, but more of the members who took the time to respond were in favor of going ahead with a Moku Hanga Challenge than those who expressed a negative opinion. There were also some good alternative ideas that were expressed which I think we can save for later on when we are chosing another theme or technique. All in all I decided that it is time to make an executive decision: Exchange 47 will be a Moku Hanga Challenge, officially.

If further explanation is needed regarding the decision, here are just a few of the variables considered: First, the last Moku Hanga only exchange took place at the beginning of 2009 with Ex. 39. There will have been eight exchanges since then, so really the percentage of exchanges devoted to this type of exchange is very low. Secondly, it is good for us to try new things, to stretch our comfort zone beyond its firm boundaries once in a while. We may even discover that we *like* it. (Personally, I am not likely to participate in an all moku hanga exchange, not because I don't like it or I don't want to, but for the simple fact that I have not tried the technique, being one of those western oily folks, and the thoughts of having to complete a large edition gives me all kinds of anxiety! That is not to say that I will not try it at some point, just not now.) Third, those who really want to give it a go will choose to participate and those who are not comfortable with the technique will choose to participate at another time. There is no right or wrong. Fourth, because this exchange will not be due for delivery until February 1, 2011, it does allow us to get through the holiday season and still accomplish the task of completing the exchange. We will count it as our "technique challenge" for 2011, just as we had the "technique challenge" of the 3-color reduction for 2010.

I am setting up the sign-up page now so it will be ready for tomorrow's official sign-up opening. Get ready, get set, GO!!!
Ciao,
Kristine



Kristine Alder
Baren Exchange Manager


St. George, UT

Art Educator/Printmaker/Book Artist/Graphic Design


email: alder@pineview.org

imakeprints@hotmail.com

"The greatest danger for most of us is not that our aim is too high and we miss it,
but that it is too low and we reach it." --Michelangelo

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Message 10
From: andrea # starkeyart.com
Date: Fri, 01 Oct 2010 03:38:34 GMT
Subject: [Baren 42085] RE: Exchange 47 ruling from your manager
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I know I read the question asked a couple of times during the Moku Hanga discussion, but I can't seem to find the answer... In regards to Exchange 47 is it dry pigments only or does any water based pigment qualify?Thanks,Andrea Starkeymoku hanga-ish Akua Kolor userwww.starkeyart.comwww.starkeyart.blogspot.com

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Message 11
From: "Ellen Shipley"
Date: Fri, 01 Oct 2010 04:55:27 GMT
Subject: [Baren 42086] Re: art speak
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Thanx for the chuckle, Visa. I agree with Maria, writing rejections are
often kinder than art rejections. But in the end you have to laugh at them
both and move on.

Ellen

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Message 12
From: "Maria Arango Diener"
Date: Fri, 01 Oct 2010 05:07:08 GMT
Subject: [Baren 42087] Re: Exchange 47 ruling from your manager
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Pigment in any form is "fair game"!

I use Akua too, some people use watercolor tubes, Guerra suspensions, coffee grounds, chopped carrots, scraped halite from limestone deposits...whatever...as long as it is pigment.



Maria



PS I don't actually know what halite is but I was a Geology major for 6 months and remember the name



[=o=][=o=][=o=][=o=]

www.1000woodcuts.com

www.artfestivalguide.info

[=o=][=o=][=o=][=o=]

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Message 13
From: David Bull
Date: Fri, 01 Oct 2010 11:53:50 GMT
Subject: [Baren 42088] About the ink mixing video ...
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A few days ago, Sharen sent a link to an ink-mixing video (which was
excellent):
http://vimeo.com/13206165

It was produced by a Canadian ink manufacturer, and has really been
'making the rounds' all over the internet the past few days. Yesterday
it was posted to the MetaFilter website (where I hang out a bit) and
the resulting comment thread is worth reading:
http://www.metafilter.com/96234/How-Ink-Is-Made

Quite a number of interesting pages about colour are linked during the
course of the thread, and the one I found most interesting (because it
almost perfectly parallels my own process), was this one:
http://sevencamels.blogspot.com/2010/09/color-and-watercolor-nuts-and-bolts.html

Dave

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