Baren Digest              Tuesday, 5 December 2000      Volume 13 : Number 1235




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From: Shireen Holman <shireenh@earthlink.net>
Date: Mon, 04 Dec 2000 10:14:21 -0500
Subject: [Baren 12314] Re: A Slithering Good Time 

>Hello everyone, Pete has informed me that he is in the middle of finlas, but
>he has updated the snake exchange page.
>I think we should set a cut-off for the Dec. 5th?
>Any other ideas?

I seem to remember that when Pete first put up the page a few months ago, 
he had a cut off date of Dec. 21st? Why change it?
Shireen


***********************************************
Shireen Holman, Printmaker and Book Artist
email: shireenh@earthlink.net
http://home.earthlink.net/~shireenh/
***********************************************





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From: Daniel Dew <ddew@tampabay.rr.com>
Date: Mon, 04 Dec 2000 11:43:49 -0500
Subject: [Baren 12315] A Slitheringly Good Idea 

For all fo you in the States, I found this web site that claims to let you
know the postal rates for the snakey guys and gals.

Here it is:   http://ircalc.usps.gov/

see ya,

dan dew





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From: "Cate Pfeifer" <Cate108@Earthlink.net>
Date: Mon, 4 Dec 2000 14:06:48 -0500
Subject: [Baren 12316] More Chops charset="iso-8859-1" 

>     Seen in that light I fail to see how it would create "an unnecessary
> entry barrier to what should be freely disseminated information."
>
>     What do others think about using a Baren chop?
>
> Eli Griggs

Hi Eli,

I see.  I was still thinking about chops in the traditional form - as a form
of personal signature.  I thought you wanted the Baren Council to somehow
control chop use.

What you want to do is create a "brand" for Baren - something comparable to
a corporate logo.  Maybe a "guild stamp" would be a more accurate
description.

Eli, I understand where you are coming from on this.  You are trying to add
to the fun of Baren by creating something that is playful and special.  I
honor and encourage that while respectfully disagreeing with the suggested
approach.

It seems to me that getting a whole bunch of beautiful prints is the reward
of an exchange.  You also get the fun of sharing your art.

If the real goal is to encourage the shy first-timers to join an exchange,
then maybe we should have an exchange just for them.  Being a beginner
myself, I confess that I am a little hesitant to join an exchange and have
my work grouped with veterans like Dave, Graham, April, etc.

If the group decides to do this, couldn't we freely offer the Baren chop
just like we freely offer the Baren information?  Why make "haves" and "have
nots"?  Also, it would be administratively easier to allow everyone to use
it.  What will Baren do to someone who wasn't in an exchange but uses the
Baren chop anyway?

Respectfully,

Cate

P.S.  Being from Green Bay (WI) this whole idea reminds me of the NFL logos.
If we make the design available to everyone then we can all "root, root,
root for the home team." Go Baren!  Cut and Print!  (giggle)





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From: "jerelee" <jerelee@main.nc.us>
Date: Mon, 4 Dec 2000 15:20:48 -0600
Subject: [Baren 12317] Re: chinesewoodblock charset="iso-8859-1" 

Thanks Arafat for the information concerning Chinese Woodblocks. Does anyone
know if there are any  differences  between Chinese and Japanese woodblock
prints? I am a mother of a three year old girl from China and am always
interested in any art forms from China. She does wonderful hand prints!
Jerelee

> http://www.artgallery.sbc.edu/exhibits/00_01/chinesewoodblock/




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From: "eli griggs" <eli.griggs@worldnet.att.net>
Date: Mon, 4 Dec 2000 16:19:16 -0500
Subject: [Baren 12318] Re: Chops and such charset="iso-8859-1" 

Hi there:

Graham, I do not purpose that The Baren Council sell chops, only come up
with a design.  Artist that choose to use it would have to acquire the
actual chop themselves.  I doubt that will be difficult as several posting
have already dealt with where to buy chops.  There are no logistics involved
here for Baren to deal with.

Seasons Best,

Eli Griggs
Charlotte N.C.
USA







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From: "Daniel L. Dew" <ddew0001@tampabay.rr.com>
Date: Mon, 04 Dec 2000 17:46:03 -0500
Subject: [Baren 12319] A Fanged Friend 

Ruth, we just recieved a very angry snake in the mail!
It's attacking poor Sarah's sweet snake.  What should we do?

P.S.  Beautiful etching.


dan dew
Meg~




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From: David Bull <davebull@woodblock.com>
Date: Tue, 05 Dec 2000 08:36:20 +0900
Subject: [Baren 12320] Israel Exhibition update ... 

Arye Saar sent in a bunch of photos of the [Baren] exhibiton currently
under way in Israel.  They are up on the 'Events & Activities' page of
the website ...

http://barenforum.org

Thanks Arye!  Can you give us some news of how the show is going?

Dave



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From: Wanda <robertson@canby.com>
Date: Mon, 04 Dec 2000 15:14:50 -0700
Subject: [Baren 12321] Re: A Slithering Good Time 

Dan wrote: 
> >Hello everyone, Pete has informed me that he is in the middle of finlas, but
> >he has updated the snake exchange page.
> >I think we should set a cut-off for the Dec. 5th?
> >Any other ideas?
and Shireen wrote:
> I seem to remember that when Pete first put up the page a few months ago,
> he had a cut off date of Dec. 21st? Why change it?

Heeheehee - 'cause Dan's doing reduction prints! Not me, boy, I'm doing
a multiple block print. Playing it on the safe side here. I don't even
want to *think* about 44 (or more!) teeny little reduction prints!

Wanda





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From: "Daniel L. Dew" <ddew0001@tampabay.rr.com>
Date: Mon, 04 Dec 2000 18:53:53 -0500
Subject: [Baren 12322] Re: A Slithering Good Time 

44, who said 44?  I printed 75.  Meg printed over 70 also (actually,
well.....).  I was very careful, only two colors, but would work as an
individual if needed.  Meg's is easy.

dan dew

> Heeheehee - 'cause Dan's doing reduction prints! Not me, boy, I'm doing
> a multiple block print. Playing it on the safe side here. I don't even
> want to *think* about 44 (or more!) teeny little reduction prints!


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From: Brian Lockyear <brianl@synopsys.com>
Date: Mon, 4 Dec 2000 16:03:43 -0800
Subject: [Baren 12323] Re: Israel exhibition 

Funny, some of the pictures of the exhibition site look like woodblocks
themselves.  Check out the next to last picture of the "veranda" with it's
intersting architecture and the palm treas in front of the ocean.  Doesn't
that look like a great woodcut??  :-)

    - Brian -




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From: Aqua4tis@aol.com
Date: Mon, 4 Dec 2000 19:11:51 EST
Subject: [Baren 12324] Re: More Chops 

maybe it would be nice to just have a baren chop that we could all use    
whether its for the  exchanges, swap shop or etc?

***

i received ruths snake in the mail and its wonderful   but a bit crabby   lol
georga



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From: Graham Scholes <gscholes@home.com>
Date: Mon, 4 Dec 2000 17:11:37 -0800
Subject: [Baren 12325] Re: chinesewoodblock 

>Does anyone
>know if there are any  differences  between Chinese and Japanese woodblock
>prints?
>  > http://www.artgallery.sbc.edu/exhibits/00_01/chinesewoodblock/

If you go to
http://www.artgallery.sbc.edu/exhibits/00_01/chinesewoodblock/terms.html
it fully explains the process.
When you look around http://www.woodblock.com/ you will find that 
there is very little difference between the two when comparing 
waterbase images.
The process came from China to Japan where colour was introduce.... 
1740's and back to China some time after that.

***

Eli Griggs wrote.....

>Graham, I do not purpose that The Baren Council sell chops, only come up
>with a design.  Artist that choose to use it would have to acquire the
>actual chop themselves.  I doubt that will be difficult as several posting
>have already dealt with where to buy chops.  There are no logistics involved
>here for Baren to deal with.

The logistics are..... who and how do you choose the design.
I see this as a very large logistics problem....
I see it as difficult as trying to have a juried exchange.



Graham/Victoria BC
An Island in the Pacific
Home of the Boot Camp
http://members.home.net/woodblocks/BootCamp2.html



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From: David Bull <davebull@woodblock.com>
Date: Tue, 05 Dec 2000 12:26:44 +0900
Subject: [Baren 12326] Chop Chop 

I think there is a bit of confusion about the terminology being used in
this discussion of 'chops'.

Some of you are thinking the term refers to the red kind of seal placed
on the front of a print, and some are thinking that it means a
colourless embossed design impressed into the paper.

Here's a 'seal':
http://woodblock.com/surimono/1999/1-6/images/close04.jpg

Here's a 'chop':
http://woodblock.com/surimono/1999/1-3/images/close_4.jpg

So for our exchanges, each participant could use (or not) whatever seal
they might wish, but once the prints were gathered together by the
coordinator, that person could then put a [Baren] chop mark on all of
the prints in the set. The embossing machine to do this is inexpensive
and easily available, and the design of our chop could easily be chosen
by asking members to send in designs, and then choosing one.

Dave




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From: "jerelee" <jerelee@main.nc.us>
Date: Mon, 4 Dec 2000 22:10:47 -0600
Subject: [Baren 12327] Re: A Slithering Good Time charset="iso-8859-1" 

Ths Snake Exchange....Did I miss something? If you're on the list do you
send everybody a card or only those individuals you're interested in
receiving one from?? Jerelee

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From: Wanda <robertson@canby.com>
Date: Mon, 04 Dec 2000 20:04:16 -0700
Subject: [Baren 12328] Re: A Slithering Good Time 

Oh, you guys are just *too* too good! I guess my reduction prints need
more practice. (or more paper - not sure which) 

Wanda

"Daniel L. Dew" wrote:
> 
> 44, who said 44?  I printed 75. 
<snip>




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From: "eli griggs" <eli.griggs@worldnet.att.net>
Date: Mon, 4 Dec 2000 23:29:39 -0500
Subject: [Baren 12329] Re: More Chops (that are really seals) charset="iso-8859-1" 

Hi there:

    Thanks David for pointing out the difference between a chop and a seal!
I have been in error and it is a 'seal' that I have been thinking of.  I do
like your idea of an Exchange Chop.

    Cate, I suggest participation in an exchange as a minimum effort on the
part of Baren Printmakers because when all is spell checked and e-mailed,
printmaking is what Baren is about.

    Those people who contribute to The Swap Shop and Encyclopedia more than
likely have or will take part in an exchange.  The same is likely true for
those members who organise exchanges and shows.

    I am not sure of the numbers ( may be someone out there knows for sure
and will speak up) but of the nearly three hundred list subscribers, I
venture that fewer than a hundred are active in Baren printmaking
activities.

    In light of the fact that there are no juried shows, entry fees,
segregation of talent or qualifying encumbrance of any kind to prevent
anyone from participating in Baren Printmaking activities, 'have' taken part
is a natural divide from those who 'have not' and represents a association
of printmaking fellowship in its' most basic form.  It is that association
that a Baren Seal or "guild stamp" would represent.  I will point out that
even in the most basic guild, you have to 'do something' to display its'
mark.

    So far as administration, beyond coming up with a (copyrighted?)design
and stating the eligibility for using it, I do not think that The Baren
Council should be bothered.  There is little point in trying to police the
use of such a device.  People will either be honest or no and the Baren
Exchange roles are open for inspection by anyone with a computer.

Cheers,

Eli Griggs
Charlotte N.C.
USA














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From: Graham Scholes <gscholes@home.com>
Date: Mon, 4 Dec 2000 20:57:07 -0800
Subject: [Baren 12330] Re: Chop Chop 

>I think there is a bit of confusion about the terminology being used in
>this discussion of 'chops'.

I don't believe there is any confusion...
The topic has been about chops and looking back on all the posts I 
didn't see any mention of Seals....  not even harbour seals..... (<:

I understand from the discussion that there is a suggestion to have a 
baren chop.  This presents difficulties (see below)  and logistic 
problem.  What where and who designs this chop.  Is it a contest?  Do 
you think a contest is in order or a arbitrary decision made for the 
design. Who become the judge and jury?
John Amos designed a lovely logo which was printed at Boot Camp. 
Maybe.... !!!!!

Cate wrote.....
>It seems to me that getting a whole bunch of beautiful prints is the reward
>of an exchange.  You also get the fun of sharing your art.
>
>If the group decides to do this, couldn't we freely offer the Baren chop
>just like we freely offer the Baren information?  Why make "haves" and "have
>nots"?

Other logistics problems are pointed out by Cate.....

>Also, it would be administratively easier to allow everyone to use
>it.  What will Baren do to someone who wasn't in an exchange but uses the
>Baren chop anyway?

We should be very careful in adopting something of this nature so as 
not to upset our "creative" spirit.

Graham

ps
Administrator.... Please to do not alter this posting.







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From: Lawrence <vurt1@optushome.com.au>
Date: Tue, 05 Dec 2000 16:46:32 +1100
Subject: [Baren 12332] Re: Chop Chop <200012050324.MAA30530@ml.asahi-net.or.jp> 

Having listened to the noise about chops for a wee while now, I feel ready 
to add my 2 cents worth.

The notion of a chop is interesting, that there could be a competition and 
each list member gets to vote for the chop design of choice would be a nice 
unifying project (the chop could have a lifespan of a year or two and then 
a new comp and vote, perhaps the chop could only be used for a selected 
project, such as the snake exchange?), it would take a little co-ordination 
but if we produce the chop artwork for digital distribution to members then 
they could download it and reproduce the chop for themselves, there may be 
slight variants in the design but that would make it all the more interesting.

The amount of effort would initially be a little intense but not 
overburdening, for instance (putting my money where my mouth is) I'm happy 
to take the chop design and ready it for digital distribution as eps, pdf, 
tif etc at high res, from artwork supplied to me after it has been voted 
for. Members could then download it and have rubber stamps made, hand 
engrave it themselves or whatever, solves the distrobution issue/problem 
etc. Only list members would have access to the page with the artwork but 
aside from that who would care to steal the chop and not be involved in the 
projects. I'll even write you a forms retrieval page and host it for the 
votes if you like, as well as scan the thumbnails so that people can see 
the contenders and what they're voting for (remember this isn't Florida 
this is cyberspace). ;-P

It would make a nice little project on the side for some members and 
certainly give us all an opportunity to admire and inspect the works of 
other members.

Regards


Lawrence



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From: "Bea Gold" <bnj50@earthlink.net>
Date: Mon, 4 Dec 2000 21:56:55 -0800
Subject: [Baren 12333] Re: chinesewoodblock charset="iso-8859-1" 

Hi Jerelee,  Ray Hudson is our Chinese Print expert and has been teaching me
to do it.  We wrote an article about Chinese printmaking for the next issue
of the Baren Suji - should be coming out soon - Eh Maria? I mention what I
found as different between the two processes.  I find the Chinese method
looser and a little more pleasing to my style of working.  I used it for the
Comedy exchange and also for the Print Australia, Where I live exchange.
Here are some of the things I found different from Hanga:
1. The paper is not sized
2. There is no paste used.
3. The paper is placed on the uninked block.
4. The weight is held in place and only part of the block is printed at a
time.

Bea Gold
bnj50@earthlink.net
http://www.beagold.com/
Los Angeles, California




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End of Baren Digest V13 #1235
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