Today's postings
- [Baren 45879] August days ... (David Bull)
- [Baren 45880] Re: August days ... (Raymond Hudson)
- [Baren 45881] Re: August Days... (Gayle Wohlken)
- [Baren 45882] Re: August Days... (Elizabeth Atwood)
- [Baren 45883] WAITING WITH BATED BREATH (WHAT IS BATED BREATH????) ("Jeanne Norman Chase")
- [Baren 45884] Re: Size matters! ("Eli Griggs")
- [Baren 45885] Re: Size matters! (Raymond Hudson)
- [Baren 45886] Re: Size matters! ("Maria Arango Diener")
- [Baren 45887] Re: Size matters! (Gretchen Greene)
- [Baren 45888] Re: Size matters! (Gretchen Greene)
- [Baren 45889] Baren Member blogs: Update Notification (Blog Manager)
Message 1
From: David Bull
Date: Thu, 23 Aug 2012 15:32:38 GMT
Subject: [Baren 45879] August days ...
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Long-time Baren members may remember what used to happen every August
on the forum. There was always a kind of 'summer slump' in the number
of postings, so we usually ran a 'best post' contest. The idea was to
boost the number of posts during that period, and of course to ensure
that the posts would be 'quality', and not just noise. Looking back
through some of the group archives now, I see that the contest idea
did indeed usually result in a flurry of interesting discussions.
But here we are nearly at the end of August, and - yet again this year
- we have had no such contest. In fact, it has been quite some time
since there was much 'life' here on our little forum, and I feel at
least partly responsible for this.
I learned back in the early days of our group that for any particular
activity to flourish, enthusiastic leadership is an essential
component. This was originally supplied to the forum by myself, and
then later by the Council group who stepped forward at my request to
assist with various jobs (Exchanges, the Mall, etc. etc.). But
although some of the activities we put in place are still maintaining
their momentum (the Exchanges being perhaps the most important of
these), there is no denying that our forum overall feels as though it
is working on autopilot these days.
Well, this is about to change. I don't intend to talk too much about
it at this point, because - as one of the members who is now stepping
back a bit to make way for a more enthusiastic leadership - it is not
my place to make the announcements about the new ideas/projects that
are being put forward.
It has been 15 years since we set this thing up, back in the autumn of
1997, with a half-dozen people sharing a few posts back and forth. The
idea caught on, dozens - then hundreds - of other printmakers soon
joined in, and over the years an astonishing amount of conversation,
teaching and learning, exchange of ideas, and literal exchanges of
prints has come out of that modest beginning.
Where do we go from here? Heh-heh ...
Fasten your seat belts please, because Baren is about to get an
infusion of new and enthusiastic leadership ... I hear banging down at
the front door ... I think the coup d'etat might have begun!
Dave
on the forum. There was always a kind of 'summer slump' in the number
of postings, so we usually ran a 'best post' contest. The idea was to
boost the number of posts during that period, and of course to ensure
that the posts would be 'quality', and not just noise. Looking back
through some of the group archives now, I see that the contest idea
did indeed usually result in a flurry of interesting discussions.
But here we are nearly at the end of August, and - yet again this year
- we have had no such contest. In fact, it has been quite some time
since there was much 'life' here on our little forum, and I feel at
least partly responsible for this.
I learned back in the early days of our group that for any particular
activity to flourish, enthusiastic leadership is an essential
component. This was originally supplied to the forum by myself, and
then later by the Council group who stepped forward at my request to
assist with various jobs (Exchanges, the Mall, etc. etc.). But
although some of the activities we put in place are still maintaining
their momentum (the Exchanges being perhaps the most important of
these), there is no denying that our forum overall feels as though it
is working on autopilot these days.
Well, this is about to change. I don't intend to talk too much about
it at this point, because - as one of the members who is now stepping
back a bit to make way for a more enthusiastic leadership - it is not
my place to make the announcements about the new ideas/projects that
are being put forward.
It has been 15 years since we set this thing up, back in the autumn of
1997, with a half-dozen people sharing a few posts back and forth. The
idea caught on, dozens - then hundreds - of other printmakers soon
joined in, and over the years an astonishing amount of conversation,
teaching and learning, exchange of ideas, and literal exchanges of
prints has come out of that modest beginning.
Where do we go from here? Heh-heh ...
Fasten your seat belts please, because Baren is about to get an
infusion of new and enthusiastic leadership ... I hear banging down at
the front door ... I think the coup d'etat might have begun!
Dave
Message 2
From: Raymond Hudson
Date: Thu, 23 Aug 2012 15:38:53 GMT
Subject: [Baren 45880] Re: August days ...
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Wonderful! I'm looking forward to whatever is knocking at the door. Baren continues to engage & surprise--like a great woodblock print itself.
Ray
Ray
Message 3
From: Gayle Wohlken
Date: Thu, 23 Aug 2012 16:08:30 GMT
Subject: [Baren 45881] Re: August Days...
Send Message: To this poster
Hang on to your hats, this train is on its way!
~Gayle
~Gayle
Message 4
From: Elizabeth Atwood
Date: Thu, 23 Aug 2012 16:12:14 GMT
Subject: [Baren 45882] Re: August Days...
Send Message: To this poster
Breathless with anticipation!
ElizA
ElizA
Message 5
From: "Jeanne Norman Chase"
Date: Thu, 23 Aug 2012 16:52:32 GMT
Subject: [Baren 45883] WAITING WITH BATED BREATH (WHAT IS BATED BREATH????)
Send Message: To this poster
DAVID
AS LONG AS YOU DO NOT LEAVE US, WE ARE EAGERLY WAITING FOR THE BIG EVENT.
JEANNE, STILL HANGING IN THERE.
AS LONG AS YOU DO NOT LEAVE US, WE ARE EAGERLY WAITING FOR THE BIG EVENT.
JEANNE, STILL HANGING IN THERE.
Message 6
From: "Eli Griggs"
Date: Thu, 23 Aug 2012 20:06:59 GMT
Subject: [Baren 45884] Re: Size matters!
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I like the formats that are used in Baren Exchanges.
I believe that by using the 'non-standard' Japanese formats, our artists/printmakers are challenged to make more thoughtful compositions.
I also think that by learning about and, learning to use, both Japanese and 'Western' tools, materials, and methods, our members ability to produce good works is only enhanced.
Not all printmakers/artists are here in the U.S. and, even though many approaches to woodcut are used by members here, Baren Forum has it's roots in Japanese printmaking and I'd like to see that remain unchanged.
Eli
Clive wrote
>When I first started printmaking the size of the image didn't much matter,
>mats and frames were usually custom cut.
>
>Things have changed.
>
>We can now buy great mats and frames for a reasonable price, perfect for
>framing prints we receive in the exchanges.
>Should I say that they WOULD be perfect but Baren Exchanges still base
>everything on Japanese paper sizes rather than on standard mat/frame sizes.
>This means that most of the prints you send off to an exchange never get
>exposed to peoples' walls; instead they languish in boxes.
>
>I would like to propose that exchanges specify not only a paper size, the
>prints all need fit in the same box, but that an image size conforming to
>off-the-shelf mats is suggested. The people who want their art to be seen
>would have the opportunity to conform to that image size.
>
>I look forward to hearing your comments,
>Clive
>
>clivelewisprintmaker.com
I believe that by using the 'non-standard' Japanese formats, our artists/printmakers are challenged to make more thoughtful compositions.
I also think that by learning about and, learning to use, both Japanese and 'Western' tools, materials, and methods, our members ability to produce good works is only enhanced.
Not all printmakers/artists are here in the U.S. and, even though many approaches to woodcut are used by members here, Baren Forum has it's roots in Japanese printmaking and I'd like to see that remain unchanged.
Eli
Clive wrote
>When I first started printmaking the size of the image didn't much matter,
>mats and frames were usually custom cut.
>
>Things have changed.
>
>We can now buy great mats and frames for a reasonable price, perfect for
>framing prints we receive in the exchanges.
>Should I say that they WOULD be perfect but Baren Exchanges still base
>everything on Japanese paper sizes rather than on standard mat/frame sizes.
>This means that most of the prints you send off to an exchange never get
>exposed to peoples' walls; instead they languish in boxes.
>
>I would like to propose that exchanges specify not only a paper size, the
>prints all need fit in the same box, but that an image size conforming to
>off-the-shelf mats is suggested. The people who want their art to be seen
>would have the opportunity to conform to that image size.
>
>I look forward to hearing your comments,
>Clive
>
>clivelewisprintmaker.com
Message 7
From: Raymond Hudson
Date: Thu, 23 Aug 2012 20:20:53 GMT
Subject: [Baren 45885] Re: Size matters!
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I, too, have been a bit frustrated by wanting to hang some of the print exchange works up for a while and not having a mat or frame that would fit. I've occasionally just stuck a print into a frame that is big enough (by that I mean too big) and propped it up to gawk at it for a few days and then returned it to the folder. If anyone has suggestions about how to best take advantage of the terrific work in each exchange, I'd love to hear them.
However, I also agree with Eli. I really do like the present sizes for the print exchanges. They not only make me reflect on size and balance, but I enjoy stepping occasionally into the "ancient waters" of Japanese prints--even though I never do traditional printing.
Although I have occasionally done prints specifically to fit the ready-made frames (especially when doing something for the extended family where I want to send out a good number of prints & don't want to burden relatives with finding mats, etc.), I don't find those proportions to be especially invigorating.
So, I'd like to keep the present sizes.
Best,
Ray
However, I also agree with Eli. I really do like the present sizes for the print exchanges. They not only make me reflect on size and balance, but I enjoy stepping occasionally into the "ancient waters" of Japanese prints--even though I never do traditional printing.
Although I have occasionally done prints specifically to fit the ready-made frames (especially when doing something for the extended family where I want to send out a good number of prints & don't want to burden relatives with finding mats, etc.), I don't find those proportions to be especially invigorating.
So, I'd like to keep the present sizes.
Best,
Ray
Message 8
From: "Maria Arango Diener"
Date: Thu, 23 Aug 2012 20:37:07 GMT
Subject: [Baren 45886] Re: Size matters!
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When I hang any of the Baren prints I usually just float mount them onto a
backing board, place a glazing separator in the frame rabbet, and show them
off without need for a mat. Advantage of this method is that you can swap
out prints from time to time, especially if you use invisible photo corners
to mount the prints.
Float mounts look terrific with any print, lets the edges of the paper show,
they can breathe.aaaaahhh
I think the initial request was to put a "suggested" image size within the
paper sizes we have. But on that point, I feel, like Ray, that standard mat
opening sizes are fairly boring, maybe because we are all so familiar with
them.
Maria
[=o=][=o=][=o=][=o=]
www.1000woodcuts.com
www.artfestivalguide.info
[=o=][=o=][=o=][=o=]
backing board, place a glazing separator in the frame rabbet, and show them
off without need for a mat. Advantage of this method is that you can swap
out prints from time to time, especially if you use invisible photo corners
to mount the prints.
Float mounts look terrific with any print, lets the edges of the paper show,
they can breathe.aaaaahhh
I think the initial request was to put a "suggested" image size within the
paper sizes we have. But on that point, I feel, like Ray, that standard mat
opening sizes are fairly boring, maybe because we are all so familiar with
them.
Maria
[=o=][=o=][=o=][=o=]
www.1000woodcuts.com
www.artfestivalguide.info
[=o=][=o=][=o=][=o=]
Message 9
From: Gretchen Greene
Date: Thu, 23 Aug 2012 23:16:41 GMT
Subject: [Baren 45887] Re: Size matters!
Send Message: To this poster
I top mount prints and have a mat cutter anyway but it's true that work that fits well in a standard frame size is much, much more likely to make it onto the wall.
I like having art with different proportions too so I would vote for a mix where some exchanges would easily work with a standard frame. Of course it's harder to do that when some of us think that means the image should be a certain size and for others (for anyone who is top mounting) it means the paper should be a certain size.
Gretchen
I like having art with different proportions too so I would vote for a mix where some exchanges would easily work with a standard frame. Of course it's harder to do that when some of us think that means the image should be a certain size and for others (for anyone who is top mounting) it means the paper should be a certain size.
Gretchen
Message 10
From: Gretchen Greene
Date: Thu, 23 Aug 2012 23:28:11 GMT
Subject: [Baren 45888] Re: Size matters!
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It's worth experimenting to see if some number of prints from an exchange would fit well together in a single larger standard size frame. For example, you could have a mat (for those who are matting) with three holes. It wouldn't be a standard mat, but you'd be able to save money on the frame since it's a standard size (and one instead of three). You can buy a really nice mat cutter for a few hundred dollars and cut your own mats or you'll have to pay to get the holes.
Gretchen
Gretchen
Digest Appendix
Postings made on [Baren] members' blogs
over the past 24 hours ...
Subject: What Are You Doing??
Posted by: Linda
|
I've been getting that question a lot lately. Trust me, I AM working! I set aside this year and part of next to create a new body of work. No shows, no competitions - just work. I am happy with my progress. For the most part I have been in the studio every day this summer and it has been wonderful. There is no pressure or deadlines. There is nothing that has to go in to a gallery right away. These days we can instantly upload our images for the world to see it is "normal" to do that. Not posting seems abnormal. I have had to restrain myself. Our fast food world expects everything right now. But, I want there to be some mystery. Some anticipation. I am still doing my traditional style of prints but I am experimenting a bit as well. I hope you will be pleased when it is all done.  |
This item is taken from the blog Linda Beeman - Printmaker.
'Reply' to Baren about this item.