Today's postings

  1. [Baren 38967] surplus funds (Jennifer Martindale)
  2. [Baren 38968] RE: New Baren Digest (Text) V47 #4827 (May 21, 2009) (Le Green)
  3. [Baren 38969] Re: Message (and request) from the Council ("Mark Mason")
  4. [Baren 38970] money money money (Plannedscapes # aol.com)
  5. [Baren 38971] video (Barbara Mason)
  6. [Baren 38972] Re: New Baren Digest (HTML) V47 #4827 (May 21, 2009) (Marilynn Smith)
  7. [Baren 38973] Re: video (Graham Scholes)
  8. [Baren 38974] Need a job? Great deal "working" for your favorite online forum! ("Maria Arango Diener")
  9. [Baren 38975] Re: New Baren Digest (HTML) V47 #4827 (May 21, 2009) (Marilynn Smith)
  10. [Baren 38976] spending baren's money (Shireen Holman)
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Message 1
From: Jennifer Martindale
Date: Thu, 21 May 2009 13:52:58 GMT
Subject: [Baren 38967] surplus funds
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I am aware that the web side of Baren forum took a great deal of setting up and still requires maintaining. I suggest that a generous sum of money be given to Dave as a token gift for all the immense labours of love he commits to the venture, and has done over the years. The current webmasters should also receive an annual sum. I suggest that anything left could contribute towards subsidising costs of a general get together/summit, and offering a small fee to organisers. Alternatively, if Dave is interested, to offer him a travel bursery to come to said summit.
I am aware that the Nevada Desert proposal has been cancelled, is there another plan for a meeting in preparation? I have hopes of coming from the UK, but would like a fair bit of advance notice to enable this. Next year's diary is filling.
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Message 2
From: Le Green
Date: Thu, 21 May 2009 14:22:59 GMT
Subject: [Baren 38968] RE: New Baren Digest (Text) V47 #4827 (May 21, 2009)
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Speaking of SUMMIT:

I am still planning on having the summit next year in San Antonio.

Who on the council could I ask about official council approval?

Le Green-Schubert
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Message 3
From: "Mark Mason"
Date: Thu, 21 May 2009 14:27:30 GMT
Subject: [Baren 38969] Re: Message (and request) from the Council
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Could some of the funds be used to help larger numbers of people than just
sponsoring an individual student?



The great thing about Baren and David's website is the wealth of information
that has been made 'virtually' available to aspiring woodblock printmakers
all over the world. Those of you located in the US have the enviable
opportunity to gather at the summit, but for many of us in the UK and
outside the US, this is not possible.



For all the knowledge I've gleaned about woodblock printing from the
websites, nothing can compare to face to face tuition, even if it's just for
a weekend, so.



Could we fund Dave to do a mini world tour, to host a number of 2 or 3 day
masterclasses? I would be happy to help arrange, promote and gather
enrolment information for a UK (Northern) venue. I'm sure there are a lot of
people who would be very interested in attending, especially in the light of
the number of woodblock print exhibitions recently in the UK.



All the masterclasses in the UK and US could be filmed, providing a further
wealth of knowledge to add to the current website in the form of
instructional video downloads and possibly even the publication of a real
book, "Dave's woodblock encyclopaedia".



I'm sure this would also help create small international groups of woodblock
printers who could then establish themselves as satellite groups with annual
face to face meetings and print exchanges.



Just an idea to throw into the pot, but one which I hope others like the
sound of.



Cheers everybody,



Mark.
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Message 4
From: Plannedscapes # aol.com
Date: Thu, 21 May 2009 14:29:10 GMT
Subject: [Baren 38970] money money money
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It is good to do outreach to students, yes, but there is nothing wrong with
the money benefiting members. I am self-taught in block printing and I am
pretty sure I am doing lots of things wrong or at least not the best ways.
And even the most experienced person can learn from another person, at
least some little thing. So I would like to see members with some experience
be paid to teach workshops. You could take names of people willing to do
such a workshop and pick a few at random - that way you would not be
accused of playing favorites with certain members or a certain geographical
areas. Once a workshop was taught in an area, potential teachers from that
area could be left off the list of those willing to teach for a while in order
to force moves to new areas. You could pay a reasonable per hour amount
and pay the instructor for materials and even ask students to pay half of
the cost so that the group subsidizes half. This would benefit members who
could earn money teaching and members who could learn new or better skills.
Or use this idea as a starting point to figure out a way to provide
education to members.
Karma
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Message 5
From: Barbara Mason
Date: Thu, 21 May 2009 14:38:16 GMT
Subject: [Baren 38971] video
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Mark,
I think we can get filming and pod casts set up of many teachers doing classes. I know April teaches as does Mike Lyon. Plus we can link to videos that are not on our site. Sort of like the ones we get occasionally on the blog. I really like the idea of having very detailed videos online. I know that Graham Scholes had done some fine videos but he sells them to offset the costs of having them made. Professional video editing is not cheap, but maybe there is someone on the site who could do it if they received raw tape.
There are so many things we can do, I really like the idea of making what we love and do available for free to everyone everywhere. I have always thought that printmakers were unique in this desire to share techniques and support. My own brother does a fine job of editing and has done stuff for me. Lets have more input on this idea of making videos of start to finish projects. I know Dave has done some spectacular step by step how to's . One of the problems is it takes time to carve and print, so you cannot film it in a day or even a week. It needs to be a long term project of maybe weeks or even months.
My best
Barbara
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Message 6
From: Marilynn Smith
Date: Thu, 21 May 2009 15:08:38 GMT
Subject: [Baren 38972] Re: New Baren Digest (HTML) V47 #4827 (May 21, 2009)
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Thinking more on our council and how Baren is run. Perhaps the
council should be limited to an odd number of folks, say the main
seven who are the main ones you listed. That way it will not just
keep growing with every little side job someone might take on and thus
become a group that grows larger and larger and harder for them to
discuss and determine how things should be running. There could be
other volunteers that cold take on small jobs that assist the group
but not necessarily run the group. Our Yacht club for example had
officers and than many committee groups. Here at the coast we have
both a Moose Lodge and an Eagles Lodge. There is a group of officers
that serve as the council and than there are many side jobs that are
done without council membership.

When I was on the art council for the city of Gresham we had a set
number of regular members. Our job was to put on shows in city hall
and purchase art work for the city, it was a fun job. Our group was
led by the employee member of the council. When we took a position we
were required to remain a minimum of 2 years. I finished my 2 year
term just as my husband retired and we moved out of the area.
However, even if I resigned my post I could remain as an advisory
member for as long as I wished. We could remain on the council as long
as we wished, there was not a maximum, just a minimum. Life changed
and people seemed to come and go often. Also, with our Yacht club we
had a post called immediate past commodore, this persons main
responsibility was to be an advisor. With these structures in mind I
would like to suggest that we could keep on board any past council
members who wished to remain as "advisors" so that we do not loose
their input and experience, they could be the extras and might make
the number of actual council members swell a bit, but would most
certainly be helpful.

My experience with being both a leader and a member of volunteer
groups is that the best leaders are the ones who know how to
delegate. As this group grows and changes there may be more and more
little "jobs" that could be taken on by members that might not need to
be council members or even want to be. We have a home owners
association for our condo complex. I have been watching it evolve and
change over the years. Or first few council presidents and council
members did all the work themselves. Than we got another building and
more and more people bought into the complex and it got to be too much
work for the council to do everything. Wisely our council president
than started appointing committees. It started with a gym committee
and a pool committee(I am pool committee secretary and have no desire
to serve on the main council, I am also parliamentarian) now we
probably have about 5 committees and they report back to the council
with suggestions and also do some of the side jobs. The changes were
brought about because of growth.

When we allow a person to come aboard our council we do need to have
some requirements. I think they should be "active" Baren members.
Active would mean that they participate in discussions on this list,
have been a Baren member at least 2 years and have participated in at
least one main exchange, perhaps 2 exchanges and three years might
even be better. In fact I like the idea that council members also have
attended a Baren summit, that means we have met and interacted with
these people on a more personal basis. Also I think the person taking
on a job needs to be qualified for the job, for example I would make a
terrible web builder because I do not know much about how to do that
type of work.

Now for how to spend our money. I think these ideas have already been
put forward:
1. Scholarships, either funding a student or providing printmaking
supplies to universities
2. Publications, we do have a great deal of wonderful information in
our archives as well as some published writers
3. Exhibitions
4. Help for our summits
5. Funding a visiting artist program
6. Doing a competitive print show
7. Subsidizing mail costs for overseas members

Again, I would like our membership to step up and make suggestions. I
think Dave asked for input because of our growth and change. He
showed us how this got started and how it has changed. I think we do
need to manage the changes or this group will change in ways we might
not want. In other words change will come if we want it or not.

Marilynn
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Message 7
From: Graham Scholes
Date: Thu, 21 May 2009 16:13:52 GMT
Subject: [Baren 38973] Re: video
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Yes Barbara.... the time it takes is considerable but more important
is the technique, skill and cost of a Video photographer to capture
the material. This was important as I wanted the end results to be
professional and and worthy educational tool. I decide right from
the start that my direction would be based on the saying... “you get
what you pay for”.

It was sure an expensive venture. Hiring a professional video
photographer who spent a total of 4 weeks .... a day here, two day
there, and before you know it 4 weeks was required to get the raw
material as I worked on the piece amost broke the bank... ) Mark,
> I think we can get filming and pod casts set up of many teachers
> doing classes. I know April teaches as does Mike Lyon. Plus we can
> link to videos that are not on our site. Sort of like the ones we
> get occasionally on the blog. I really like the idea of having very
> detailed videos online. I know that Graham Scholes had done some
> fine videos but he sells them to offset the costs of having them
> made. Professional video editing is not cheap, but maybe there is
> someone on the site who could do it if they received raw tape.
> There are so many things we can do, I really like the idea of making
> what we love and do available for free to everyone everywhere. I
> have always thought that printmakers were unique in this desire to
> share techniques and support. My own brother does a fine job of
> editing and has done stuff for me. Lets have more input on this idea
> of making videos of start to finish projects. I know Dave has done
> some spectacular step by step how to's . One of the problems is it
> takes time to carve and print, so you cannot film it in a day or
> even a week. It needs to be a long term project of maybe weeks or
> even months.
> My best
> Barbara
>
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Message 8
From: "Maria Arango Diener"
Date: Thu, 21 May 2009 16:52:40 GMT
Subject: [Baren 38974] Need a job? Great deal "working" for your favorite online forum!
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Well, for all those of you who are putting forth ideas for Baren's and the
Council's future, I see a lot of ideas but what Baren has always needed are
more "warm bodies" to do the things that are being suggested.

I am the aforementioned Council member that is calling it, "enough". Looks
like I will have to personally coordinate Exchange #41 since nobody else
raised their hand and that will be my last bit of service to Baren.
So effective roughly one month from now, I will unsubscribe from the Council
list and simply be another Baren member.
Time for someone else to tow the line, put the plow on the ground...(can't
think of any additional clichés at the moment).

For example, here’s a deal that I just know someone won't be able to pass
up…

Position Opening: Exchange Manager/Council Member
Pay: Countless thank-yous and many other goodies from printmakers all over
the world.
Bonus pay: Satisfaction that you are doing something great for the
woodcutters of the world.

Requirements:
-Patience and perseverance and some time to spare
-Knowledge of HTML or any web program, preferably both
-Knowledge of website management, email management
-Digital imaging manipulation knowledge
-Great organizational skills, and I mean GREAT, spreadsheet knowledge a BIG
plus
-Excellent time management
-Desire to help the woodcut printmaking world community

Tasks:
Ay Dios mio, where do I begin--in a nutshell:
-Keep the list updated with Exchange Update Announcements on a regular basis
-Organize exchanges, poll themes, keep track of all exchange related tasks
-Find and manage suitable candidates for coordinator of every exchange
-Stay on top of the exchange schedule
-Update and upload webpages such as exchange index, exchange galleries,
sign-up page, exchange information page
-Collect sign-ups, update spreadsheets for every exchange

Interested? Anyone? Please contact your Baren Council sooner rather than
later.

Maria
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Message 9
From: Marilynn Smith
Date: Thu, 21 May 2009 17:18:56 GMT
Subject: [Baren 38975] Re: New Baren Digest (HTML) V47 #4827 (May 21, 2009)
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I thought of one more item I wish to speak on in reference to how we
select people to serve on our Baren Council. Most of the
organizations that I belong to do hold elections. The only one I ever
belonged to that did not was the art Council for the city of Gresham.
To obtain the position I held with that council I was interviewed by
the council and submitted my qualifications in person to them. The
council than selected new members for the open positions. It was a
very professional way to choose new members. At first I favored a
review of council positions and the possibility of holding elections.
Thinking on that and the nature of this list and how professional it
truly is in nature I would suggest that instead the council reviews
and asks members to serve whom they consider qualified. In other
words the council would choose new members. I suggest this because we
are an email list with many many lurkers and some very active folks
and further we do not know a great deal about one anothers
backgrounds. I wonder if all our members would even vote?? Probably
not and I think our council has done an excellent job of filling
positions and voting could become cumbersome. So open positions could
be announced and folks interested could volunteer services and the
council could review and decide who they can work well with.

Thanks for your patience in my long winded and double email. I am
only trying to help here with our growth and change.

Marilynn
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Message 10
From: Shireen Holman
Date: Thu, 21 May 2009 17:37:49 GMT
Subject: [Baren 38976] spending baren's money
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I definitely endorse the idea of using the money to create
instructional videos that would be available online. This would meet
the non profit requirement of education and promotion of woodblock
printmaking, and would have a more long term impact on a much wider
group of artists than single classes would. Of course, it's a lot of
work.

Shireen

Shireen Holman, Printmaker and Book Artist
http://www.shireenholman.com