Baren Digest Wednesday, 2 May 2001 Volume 15 : Number 1408 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- From: John and Jan Telfer Date: Wed, 2 May 01 00:04:02 -0000 Subject: [Baren 14314] Phone Number Jean Eger-Womack Would you please email me off line please as all my emails to you are bouncing back? I am looking forward to meeting many of you when I come to Vancouver, Seattle, Portland and San Francisco. Only 28 more sleeps! Jan (in Perth still, Western Australia) ------------------------------ From: James G Mundie Date: Tue, 1 May 2001 11:42:26 -0400 Subject: [Baren 14315] Re: appropriation of imagery Art without appropriation? Impossible. However, isn't 'appropriation' just a less polite synonym for 'influence'? History and practice prove that artists can and will borrow images from where ever and whenever they find inspiration. Innovations and traditions spread across cultures and genres. If Albrecht Durer had never travelled to Italy, his work would have been the poorer for it. Where would Van Gogh have been without Japanese prints? How would Moghul miniature painting have developed without exposure to Greece? Whither sosaku hanga without prints from the West? By borrowing the signifiers of another artform or culture, an artist of intelligence, taste and skill can elevate and honor both traditions. Printmaking is always touted as "the democratic art," so what more appropriate medium in which this practice should flourish? Much as I have always loved their design, I would never 'rip off' the Haida of the Pacific Northwest in order to make a quick buck on coffee mugs or T-shirts. But, if called upon to illustrate a book of Haida storytelling, I would certainly call upon their visual tradition for my images. And while Alan may be loath to even hint at a totem pole in one of his compositions, why not use the idea of the totem - a concept found in many cultures around the globe - to express something of your own. There is wisdom to be found everywhere if one knows how to look, the trick is to put that acquired wisdom to practice. An artist can never divorce oneself from one's influences. An artist who has never seen anything other than dime store prints of ducks and sailboats, or 'sofa-sized oils' of bullfights is probably going to work in that vein - and likely make a packet, too, as there is a wide portion of the public hungry for that stuff. An artist with a wider exposure has more to draw upon and will hopefully put all of that to its best use. So, don't fear 'appropriation'; rather be careful to appropriate artfully, with honor and integrity. Jim Mundie http://missioncreep.com/mundie/index.htm ------------------------------ From: Alan Date: Tue, 1 May 2001 09:30:01 -0700 Subject: [Baren 14316] Re: insensitivity... Gillyin sent a private post and Julio's was on the Baren server. I feel it is important to clearify and make picture clear my position and reason for approaching the subject of appropriation. >hi again Alan--i really dont get where you are coming from because it >seem s to me from your last post to Baren that you are not only >insensitive to women's issues but also to ethnic groups(Japanese) and >indigenous peoples issues... >just curious as to HOW you "know" that the Japanese dont truly honor others >and what the heck does mean ??? gillyin Dear Wo, (Politically correct version of Women) You have me sized up all wrong. I am not insensitive to women's or people's issues at all. Nothing could be further from the truth. We celebrate over 35 years of married life and you don't do that being insensitive. >just curious as to HOW you "know" that the Japanese dont truly honor others The statement is not mine and is not directed at a any one group of people. I quoted a long time Japanese friend in Calgary re the customs in Japan re Imperial honour. Go check it out and you will find this out for yourself. When you find out about the Japanese customs you will realize that it is not what we experience on the North American continent and I find it quiet interesting the differences in customs. As far as the statement > "the ancestors of the imagery are the persons who feel the are > wronged even though the originators are dead hundreds of years " It simply a statement of fact based on the policy of the Public Gallery system in Canada. More simply put you cannot use a design or image that was made by indigenous people for monetary gains. When I asked the question about appropriation in Japan it was a question of curiousity and nothing more. I am only interested to find out how Dave Bull, who is not Japanese, is able to copy and sell the tradionally images as done by Japanese master printers from hundreds of year ago. I gather there is no copyright remaining, yet if he tried that here he would be in much disgrace. Julio wrote..... >but rather as craftmen, simple highly >skilled workers making prints for a living and following in a centuries old >tradition...while in the process trying to keep the wonderful japanese >hanga technique alive for future generations. I find this admirable, but with a small understanding of the Japanese customs, I think there is some smoke and mirrors in the Customs that is not familiar to most people on the North American, and maybe other continents. History will determine as it so often has. As the Japanese craftsmen come to the rescue of their art, will Dave maintain his acquired statis within the community. I hope so for his sake as he has worked extremely hard and marketed his skills and craft effectively. So you see people, I am not insensitive to anybody or any group. What has been evolving for 15 years here in Canada is that the sanctity and ownership of a people's history is important and is not be take for purposes of making a profit by outsiders. I trust you will appreciate to logic and understand of my enquiries and statements. Regards Alan PS This could conceivably be the last post for a while as I am short listed ... for a position in Ottawa. Yes it has to do with art related functions. Enough for now. ------------------------------ From: "K Chvojka" Date: Tue, 01 May 2001 12:54:29 -0400 Subject: [Baren 14317] ink question

Recently I purchased some of Graphic Chemical's water soluble ink to experiment with and have found it to be extremely tacky - is this typical of the ink or was I just sent some old ink that has become tacky?

In response to Eli Griggs questions:

"What sort of tools are you using and what are you using them in: hardwood, softwood, lino, plaster or Fimo? "--- I am using some Swiss woodcarving tools/chipcarving knives purchased a few years ago from Woodworkers and I am using them in Birch plywood.

"How are you keeping them sharp now? "--- I am sharpening them on a white Arkansas stone.

Kathy

Michigan, USA

------------------------------ From: "Maria Arango" Date: Tue, 1 May 2001 10:13:46 -0700 Subject: [Baren 14318] prints prints prints charset="iso-8859-1" Finally got the website updated with my "leftovers gallery" or perhaps "pocket prints gallery"? :-) http://www.1000woodcuts.com/handprintedcards/nature.html Anyhow, just to offset and contrast, I'm finished with several more, among them a 20" x 30" and another "pot" 22" x 30". I am working on a series of even smaller cards, 3" x 4"'s and cutting another 24" x 36". You think the larger works force me to do smaller works, or viceversa? Images coming up at a later date. 105 down, 895 to go. Health to all, Maria <><><><><><><><><><><><><><> Maria Arango Las Vegas, Nevada, USA http://www.1000woodcuts.com maria@mariarango.com <><><><><><><><><><><><><><> ------------------------------ From: ArtfulCarol@aol.com Date: Tue, 1 May 2001 13:12:51 EDT Subject: [Baren 14319] Re: appropriation of imagery In my opinion: Influence --YES Relatedness--YES Resonance YES Appropriation--Red Light. Be careful it is not deliberate copyright infringement , which protects artists. We have discussed this before. As you may remember I have been involved in such a case. The judgment was that my town had to publish an apology and correction in several newspapers , which was all that I was after. The judge also awarded $10,000 to me. The Mayor quit his day job, resigned as mayor, sold his house and moved to Vero Beach! All this could have been avoided if they had asked me whether they could use my drawing for their New Year Card. I would have said "Yes". Instead white-out was used over my signature and the card sent to several thousand addresses without my knowledge. Since then I have been very positively and happily connected with the town, Chamber of commerce, Historical society, etc... have only good things to say. This was covered in a letter from the Editor, Artist Magazine, Dont remember the exact publication year. . I am not at home to look it up. Carol Lyons ------------------------------ From: "kate courchaine" Date: Tue, 01 May 2001 17:16:15 Subject: [Baren 14320] Re: ink question Kathy, Did you use graphic chem. water soluble vehicle with the ink? I just tried the GC H2O ink recently and it printed very nicely - was not too tacky. I used near 50% vehicle to ink ratio - try that. Kate Courchaine ------------------------------ From: "Philip Smith" Date: Tue, 1 May 2001 14:07:25 -0700 Subject: [Baren 14321] Re: prints prints prints charset="iso-8859-1" You know Maria, if you live another 45 years you'll only have to produce 1.65 prints per month, and that's a little less than 20 prints a year. If I can produce 1/10th that amount in the same amount of time [I'll be 90 then] I'll be doing great. Looking forward to seeing your new efforts. Philip Hammond, OR USA ------------------------------ From: "Daniel L. Dew" Date: Tue, 01 May 2001 17:19:32 -0400 Subject: [Baren 14322] I O.Ko surgery went good. hurts like heck. good drtugs tho. dan dew ------------------------------ From: "Philip Smith" Date: Tue, 1 May 2001 14:38:24 -0700 Subject: [Baren 14323] Re: I O.Ko charset="iso-8859-1" Danel,...'glad all went well!! They did get the correct knee, right? And watch those drtugs!! Philip Hammond, OR USA ------------------------------ From: Claude Villeneuve Date: Tue, 01 May 2001 17:45:05 -0400 Subject: [Baren 14324] Re: I O.Ko Dan: Glad the surgery went well. Seems the drugs are working :-) Claude ------------------------------ From: Aqua4tis@aol.com Date: Tue, 1 May 2001 18:43:31 EDT Subject: [Baren 14325] Re: I O.Ko daniel very glad to hear youre ok thank goodness for drugs!!!!!!!!!!!! :-) georga ------------------------------ From: Kris Alder Date: Tue, 01 May 2001 20:43:12 -0600 Subject: [Baren 14326] RE: I O.Ko "Daniel L. Dew" Gosh, Dan. How many of those drtugs did you take? :) Glad to hear all went well. Good luck and speedy recovery to you. Kris ***************************************** Kristine Alder Printmaker/Art Educator/Book Artist Logan, UT email: krisalder@cc.usu.edu imakeprints@hotmail.com ***************************************** ------------------------------ From: "Maria Arango" Date: Tue, 1 May 2001 20:54:43 -0700 Subject: [Baren 14327] Re: prints prints prints charset="iso-8859-1" > You know Maria, if you live another 45 years you'll only have to produce > 1.65 prints per month, and that's a little less than 20 prints a > year. If I > can produce 1/10th that amount in the same amount of time [I'll > be 90 then] > I'll be doing great. > Looking forward to seeing your new efforts. Well, here's the pot; will get a better scan sometime soon, tough to get the embossing to show without over-sharpening the rest of the image: http://www.1000woodcuts.com/fullsize/potofgold.html And here's some guys out on a limb (this one was fun!): http://www.1000woodcuts.com/fullsize/maze.html "Have" to produce is hardly the way I look at it. I am a woman obsessed! I love this stuff, love it love it love it love it!!! Thanks Philip :-) Maria ------------------------------ From: Legreenart@cs.com Date: Wed, 2 May 2001 00:50:32 EDT Subject: [Baren 14328] Re: Baren Digest v15 #1407 A friend & I are going to be in New York in July. I would like to hear about Any print workshops scheduled at Lower East Side or elsewhere in the area. Yours, Le Green Stonemetal Press Email: legreenart@cs.com ------------------------------ From: "Garth Hammond" Date: Tue, 1 May 2001 23:04:02 -0600 Subject: [Baren 14329] Re: ink question charset="iso-8859-1" RE:Kathy, Did you use graphic chem. water soluble vehicle with the ink? I just tried the GC H2O ink recently and it printed very nicely - was not too tacky. I used near 50% vehicle to ink ratio - try that. Kate Courchaine Kate, I agree with you my experience with Graphic Chemical water based is good, i use about 50/50 also I sort of dead eye it. Garth ------------------------------ From: ArtfulCarol@aol.com Date: Wed, 2 May 2001 07:38:28 EDT Subject: [Baren 14330] Re: I O.Ko Happy to hear surgery went well and the docs could read your message! Carol ------------------------------ End of Baren Digest v15 #1408 *****************************