Baren Digest              Sunday, 9 September 2001      Volume 16 : Number 1549


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From: "Bill H Ritchie Jr" <ritchie@seanet.com>
Date: Sat, 8 Sep 2001 10:24:00 -0700
Subject: [Baren 15628] RE: exchange-D-lines 

Maria wrote about the irritation of managing an exchange.

I'd like to address this, but I do so with awareness that the solution is
difficult for MOST people, therefore MOST people will not adopt the
solutions suggested by other similar organizations. Also, I am a student of
something called game theory, where RISK is one name for the BIG GAME of
life.

Something called "utility value" is defined as what a person of means (small
or large) FEELS is "worth" a risk.

So, if a person views him or herself as having little means (i.e. monetary,
time, strength, faith, etc.), he or she will not risk much, in proportion,
to what he or she will risk on an alternative. One has the power, always
reserved, to choose how one uses ones assets.

I know people who will spend $50 on a carton or two of cigarettes rather
than $50 on a chisel for woodcut because they have only $50 dollars to
utilize on either choice. But to risk the misery of stopping smoking against
the risk of not having a big chisel for making a woodcut, will not consider
stopping smoking, and will do without the chisel, somehow.

Then there are people who will spend $30 on overnight shipping to meet a
deadline rather than risk being left out of a folio, or risking criticism as
a "flake". They UTILIZE the $30, no matter if they have to borrow the money
(i.e., credit card, etc). So, the utility value of the $30 is relative to
their commitment IN THEIR OWN EYES.

Now, what do other organizations do about people who view the RISK of being
late of lower concern than whatever else happens to come along and takes
money, time, prescience, etc? Other organizations charge an upfront fee
sometimes amounting to hundreds of dollars in commitments. This then shifts
the UTILITY value to the ACCOUNT, and then the UTILITY value of being on
time changes.

We make a $5,000 down payment and sign a 30-year mortgage on a home, if we
can, or we may put a $500 cleaning deposit on an apartment, and the UTILITY
VALUE of that money is obvious. It gives us the go-ahead to eat, sleep, and
make prints for awhile, until the next payment or rent is due--roughly 30
days.

Making an e-mail that says we will deliver on time is virtually free. This
explains, to me, the UTILITY VALUE of joining an exchange. It's worth what
we pay, which is about zero. In some cultures, your word is as good as a sum
of money or a signature on paper.

In the baren exchanges, this remarkable phenomenon works some of the time.
Too bad it's irritating, and the worst part about that, according to those
who have been through it (you know, those burned-out, tight-lipped,
withholding ones who don't even want to talk about the situation AGAIN!) the
experience has to be lived-through again by another soul.

And creative people, inventive people, discoverying and imaginative people
that artists are, are too valuable to squander. Their life's time is too
important to peace and beauty to waste. Misuse of these people will ruin it
for all creative, inventive, discoverying and imaginative people.

Bill H. Ritchie, Jr
500 Aloha #105
Seattle WA 98109
(206) 285-0658
Professional: www.seanet.com/~ritchie
E-Store: www.myartpatron.com
First Game Portal: www.artsport.com


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From: Cucamongie@aol.com
Date: Sat, 8 Sep 2001 17:21:19 EDT
Subject: [Baren 15629] "bull nose chisel" 

Gayle, the larger "bull nosed chisels", known in Japanese as soai nomi, are 
available from Mcclain's.  They have them up to 30 mm, so check it out - 
they're worth every penny!  They sharpen up very sharp and can clear the wood 
out in no time, and you don't need a mallet-
happy cutting
Sarah


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From: "Maria Arango" <maria@mariarango.com>
Date: Sat, 8 Sep 2001 15:13:27 -0700
Subject: [Baren 15630] no glass? 

So there I was, unloading my trailer at 5:12am when I hit a rut with the
hand-cart and kaboom went a box of framed prints. Only 3 prints were in the
box, all framed to 30" x 36" with glass, now in several pieces. I quit using
plexi after I replaced so many due to scratches from wind, dust, debris and
kamikaze insects left their permanent mark on so many-a-plexi.
So! undaunted by such tragedy, I finished setting up and proceeded to remove
the offending glass and hung the prints (under the protective cover of the
canopy) all bare-naked, as it were.
Early still (there is a quick end to the story, if you're wondering), I went
to the nearest art supply store, bought some oil painting varnish made for
works on paper and a sponge brush. I gave the prints a nice coating en plein
air, and sold all three within the first two hours of the show. Bells rung
in the distance, I think.

Okay, so my question is posed to the conservationists in the forum: What are
the pitfalls and deadly consequences of covering an oil-based ink print on
hand-made paper with stuff? and, What stuff should I use?

TIA,
Maria

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
Maria Arango
Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
http://www.1000woodcuts.com
maria@mariarango.com
<><><><><><><><><><><><><><>


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From: b.patera@att.net
Date: Sun, 09 Sep 2001 00:09:26 +0000
Subject: [Baren 15631] Re: Daphne-paper 

Carol, very nice prints! Thanks to both you and Rudolf 
for sharing.

Barbara P.

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End of Baren Digest V16 #1549
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