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

Baren Digest               Thursday, 9 July 1998       Volume 04 : Number 208

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From: Gayle Wohlken <blueman@pantek.com>
Date: Wed, 08 Jul 1998 10:38:57 -0400
Subject: [Baren 1118] Re: Baren Digest V4 #207 

Dave wrote:
> OK guys, let's have at least a modicum of printmaking content please.

Dave, thanks for that.  I was wondering how far this could go before
you'd step in with the voice of reason.  The teasing is really fun, but
this is supposed to be a forum for woodblock printing and the past
few days have been pretty light on our subject.  I include myself 
when I speak of those moving from the subject.  

Gayle Wohlken

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From: Matthew.W.Brown@VALLEY.NET (Matthew W Brown)
Date: 08 Jul 98 10:44:31 EDT
Subject: [Baren 1119] On Ansel Adams 

to the Baren,
James,
	I found your contribution about Ansel Adams very interesting, and would
like to add a thought that has come up in conversations for me recently. Your
quote included Adams' words: "craft facility liberates expression". Though
personally I believe in practice, practice, practice; I have been noticing that
often strength of expression increases with limited means. Put another way, the
crude efforts of the beginner often speak more forcefully and clearly than the
practised polished work of the experienced craftsman. Think of the "blood
blocks" of the German Expressionist woodcut artists. Even as technical
difficulties are mastered it seems to become harder and harder to get that
'mind-opening' magic to take center stage. Indeed, much of the magic of the
woodcut seems to be in its inherent crudity and technical difficulty,
particularly in this age of computers when we have very sophisticated
image-making tools at our disposal.

	Speaking of which, I would like to echo Dave's comments about the
quality of the Baren postings. I am wondering how the Baren is progressing past
its beginner stage. As the craftsman's facility increases it becomes more of a
challenge to focus the pursuit, and to keep it meaningful and relevant, no? For
me, my Baren subscription is becoming close to unmanageable . . . of course
with facility of craft also comes experience and the ability to decide what and
what not to get involved in. Perhaps messages could be rated somehow at the
beginning of the subject line, so that dealing with this Baren could be made a
bit more efficient.

Matt 
	
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From: amoss@mindspring.com (John Amoss)
Date: Wed, 8 Jul 1998 10:52:20 +0300
Subject: [Baren 1120] ink slop 

Y'all-
There is a pair of carved woodblocks for sale in eBAY  possibly from the
18th century. I thought some of you would like to see them. See:
<http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=20307911>

I'm a little surprised how localized the carving is and how much ink seems
to be around the edges- I had trouble keeping unwanted ink around the
fringes from printing.

Do any of you all use a paper "mask" in your work? I thought that I could
employ a paper flap hinged on the side that would keep such areas from
making contact with the printing stock. The technique works well with wood
engraving. Thoughts, observations?

Thanks!
- -john

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From: StudioJNC@aol.com
Date: Wed, 8 Jul 1998 12:43:30 EDT
Subject: [Baren 1121] Thanks for the Welcome 

It was so great to hear from you.
Gary; Pronounced like Jean, You will have to ask my mother about the ne.
I am living in the hot, humid, sticky state of Florida, but originally from
the great, beautiful state of California, the San Fernando Valley.
James; Congratulations on all of your present accomplisments in the
Printmaking department. I have had my drawings and oils in National shows, but
the first time I get in a Printmaking show I am really going to celebrate.
Until then I will bask in your Glory !!
Question; What do you think about the Printmaking Today magazine out of
London. Is it worth while ?  I am trying to read all I can on current trends
in printmaking.  Any info is welcome.
It has been years since I took my woodworking tools out of hiding and are they
dull. Before dullness set in, I never sharpened a knife. Just bought  an
Arkansas stone. Just seeking more info.  Anything better out there ?
Always trying to LEARN.
 
Jeanne

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From: Sheryl Coppenger <sheryl@seas.gwu.edu>
Date: Wed, 8 Jul 1998 13:15:50 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: [Baren 1122] Re: B&B, etc. 

Folks,

Finally broke down and made an appointment with an orthopedic surgeon.
Seems I popped my achilles tendon, I'm scheduled for surgery on Friday.
There will be no trip to South Dakota for the Carol Wax workshop.  I'll
probably be away from the email for a while starting on Friday.  Have a
good time, I'll catch up with you later.

Sheryl Coppenger    

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From: Elizabeth Atwood <elizuno@midcoast.com>
Date: Wed, 8 Jul 1998 16:38:40 -0500
Subject: [Baren 1123] Hello from Maine! 

Hello, People of the Baren...........
I am so delighted to have found you!
I have been reading the Baren correspondence.........learning, gathering
questions and enjoying the good humor.

I have been a woodblock printer for over thirty years. I am self-taught
because I have never known another woodcut artist nor had the opportunity
to work with another. After dabbling in other graphic mediums, I always
return to the warmth and inspiration of wood.
I use oil-based inks, applied with a brayer and work mostly on pine. My
editions have never been more than thirty. In the last few years, I have
lowered that number......and also, have become quite fond of reduction
printing. (Then I'm never left with a printing chore that could become
tiresome.)

After many years resident in shoreline Connecticut and retired from a
career in architectural design and commercial art, we have relocated to a
beautiful hilltop in Maine. (As close to heaven as we will ever get.)

When I have my web page constructed, I'll be joining you in sharing my work.
Meanwhile, I have much to learn...........

Bettie Atwood

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From: David Bull <davebull@woodblock.com>
Date: Thu, 09 Jul 1998 07:42:05 +0900
Subject: [Baren 1124] Open letter ... 

An open letter ... to the [Baren] member who asked this morning that I
remove his name from the subscription list ...

Dear XXX,

I was shocked this morning to see in my Inbox your short note asking
that I delete your name from the list of [Baren] members.  In my mind,
you are one of the 'core' members of this group, a major contributor to
the list (and the Encyclopedia) both in 'real' content and in overall
'energy'.

Trying to understand why you wish to leave, I can only guess that you
are reacting to my comment the other day that I thought there were 
too many off-topic postings. Perhaps I should have written my note 
a bit more carefully, and should have explained my motives a bit
better.

During the period last week when there were so many 'chatty' postings
going back and forth, two people unsubscribed from [Baren].  These were
people who had never made a posting ... just lurkers.  Now I don't
really feel too much responsibility to such people - they made no
contribution at all to this forum.  But I do feel a sense of lost
opportunity.  I presume they originally signed on because they had a
general interest in woodblock printmaking.  I would have hoped that the
exposure to the ideas and discussions on [Baren] would have nurtured
that general interest into something more intense ... and that they
would have at some point tried making a print, or at least joined in the
discussions in some way.  But for some reason that didn't happen, and
they drifted away ...

But should I care so much about those people that I insult current
[Baren] members?  Of course not - and if my comment was misplaced, then
I apologize.  As I said in that posting - I (we) have to find a
balance.  

I live here alone (except for this noisy summer vacation time!), and
although I certainly am not 'lonely' in any way, I do recognize that the
communication with my friends over the internet has become a very
important part of my life.  I think that this is probably the case with
some of the other members of this group, and I also suspect it is the
case with you.

XXX, please reconsider your decision to leave us.  We are your friends,
and you are our friend.  Ever since you showed us your first print a
couple of months back, we have been waiting to see some more. Because
_that_ is the element that ties this group together.  

I have 'deleted' your letter from my Inbox without taking action on it. 
I hope some of the other members of the forum will join me in 
encouraging you to remain, and to continue being an important 
contributor to the group.

Thank you, and I hope to hear from you soon.  [Baren] is still very
young, and I guess there will be 'growing pains' along the way.  Perhaps
one day it will 'settle down' into a standard pattern of discussions.

But I kind of hope not ...

Regards,

Dave B.

P.S.  And by the way, just what the hell _is_ 'crabcake' anyway?

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From: Gary Luedtke <GLuedtke@compuserve.com>
Date: Wed, 8 Jul 1998 22:17:57 -0400
Subject: [Baren 1125] Open letter ... 

Though you don't name the member who went awol I can take a guess, by the
very absence of a remark that would have beat me here.   I also noticed a
falling off of the number of Baren listings and as I like my computer to
tell me I have mail, I am most dismayed.   I hope there are no hard
feelings or misunderstandings, and I sense I lost a fencing partner here
that I would rather not.   So, to the member who decided to go awol, please
reconsider.  You have friends here and your spirited comments always drew
friendly smiles and quite often sympathetic ears.  The spirit of Baren will
be infinitely diminished by your absence. 

  If it's something you're unhappy about, blast us with it, give us a
chance to offend ourselves, and we'll get it out of our system.  When you
consider the world has how many billion people, and it appears there's only
forty or fifty of us interested in woodblock printing that take the time to
communicate to each other, or are able to by this means, we must be on the
endangered feces list, oops, I mean"species".   As our good old American
woodblock printer friend Ben Franklin once said, and perhaps he was
referring to a print show, "if we don't all hang together, we may all hang
separately".   (I'm not sure that was pointed right,  but it sounded kind
of good to me.)

And I don't know what crabcakes are anyway, but they sounded like something
I may want to try someday if I happen to travel out east.

Gary

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From: Gary Luedtke <GLuedtke@compuserve.com>
Date: Wed, 8 Jul 1998 22:28:50 -0400
Subject: [Baren 1126] Hello from Maine! 

Welcome to the group Bettie, we look forward to "new  blood" joining in.  (
I don't mean to imply we're out for blood, you know what I mean.)  We shall
be delighted to look up your website when you get one, but in the mean time
you'll have to regale us with tales of your exploits in the woodblock
world.  We try for a  pleasant mix of comraderie and edification through
sharing our print-related experiences and wonderment, though we wander off
into other things on occasion before Dave reins us back in.   Please feel
free to jump right in and comment, question, or instruct us on some facet
of print-making that interests you.   Again,  welcome.

Gary

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From: Gary Luedtke <GLuedtke@compuserve.com>
Date: Wed, 8 Jul 1998 22:32:38 -0400
Subject: [Baren 1127] Re: B&B, etc. 

Best of luck with your surgery Sheryl. 

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From: Bill Ritchie <ritchie@emeralda.com>
Date: Wed, 08 Jul 1998 19:47:32 -0700
Subject: [Baren 1128] Re: Open letter ... 

There many who, like me, have been on other mail lists, and we'll always
join mail lists I think. Perhaps moreso in the future. I picked up a lot of
good tips from my experiences with non commercial and commercial mail lists.

I hope someday I will be an "owner" myself of a mail list. I plan to call
it printmakinglibrary.com and of course the entire "shelf" for woodcut will
be pointed to Baren.

As for friendly banter, etc. I will share my thought. In my e-mail manager
I have a mailbox for Baren and, alongside it, a mailbox labeled "things to
be read later on maybe". It's not a trash can, but, like the nice stuff I
get in the snail mail (announcements to shows, catalogs, etc.) it's just
"things to be read later on."

Oh, for a rainy day. Dang sun glaring down on us in Seattle.

- - Bill

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From: "Kessinger, Kent D" <kkessngr@aramco.com>
Date: Thu, 9 Jul 1998 07:16:18 -0500
Subject: [Baren 1131]

I recently joined the Baren group in the hope of learning more than I
know after 15 years of making woodblock prints.  I asked a question
about the lightfastness of ink and did not receive a reply.  Instead, I
was bombarded with messages about the personal lives of printmakers.  I
work for an oil company and must confess I somewhat resent having my
computer screen filled with this kind of nonsense.  Is Baren a serious
medium of inquiry or a social bulletin board?  My intention is not to
generate conflict but to seek clarification.
Kent Kessinger

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From: Hideshi Yoshida <dodoland@silver.plala.or.jp>
Date: Thu, 9 Jul 1998 21:33:05 +0900
Subject: [Baren 1130] Hello ! 

Hello everybody of Baren !

I'm Hideshi Yoshida .
I became a menber of "Baren" today .
I have to say thanks to James , Graham and David .
They have communicated with me a lot .
Thank you very very much .

I live in Tokyo Japan , I have been making woodblock print for about 13 years.
The theme of my work is another reality . Every idea comes from "Another
World".  I'm just a messengger, I'm the one who connects our world 
and "Another World ".

I have news  !
I will let you know the process of making a brand new work on my Web site .
I'm gettin ready for it now  Please wait a while .
It's coming soon !
However I have a problem , that is I don't have a digital camera so I have
to buy it as soon as I possible .

Hideshi

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Hideshi Yoshida(Tokyo JAPAN)
E-mail  dodoland@silver.plala.or.jp
Web site  http://www1.plala.or.jp/Hideshi/
***********************************

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End of Baren Digest V4 #208
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