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Message 1
From: "Oscar Bearinger"
Date: Mon, 01 Dec 2008 13:56:32 GMT
Subject: [Baren 37594] Re: Report on Exchange 38
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Hey Benny
Very glad to hear the bus is back on the road.

Nobody should be in doubt of the TASK that co-ordinators take on - thanks very much for your work, Benny.

Your 'award" to moi sure made me chuckle!!

As to extra prints, simply returning extras to the artist, as Diane suggested, is the thing to do, IMHO.

Thanks again, Printmaker Benny!

Oscar Bearinger

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Message 2
From: mkrieger # mts.net
Date: Mon, 01 Dec 2008 15:30:04 GMT
Subject: [Baren 37595] Re: New Baren Digest (HTML) V45 #4623 (Dec 1, 2008)
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Now I'm really worried - I put an envelope containing a money order for $20 US in with the prints made out to Benny Alba. Has it really gone missing?

Please let me know. I'm very distressed by this news...

Mary Krieger

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Message 3
From: "Maria Arango"
Date: Mon, 01 Dec 2008 15:47:08 GMT
Subject: [Baren 37596] RE: Report on Exchange 38
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Benny, happy to have you back on board. The extras are returned to each
printmaker.
Please don't forget to collate and mail me an additional set for our
archives at the U of Kentucky.
Thank you for sticking it out.

Maria

O=O=O=O=O=O=O=O=O=O=O=O=O
       Maria Arango
  http://1000woodcuts.com
http://artfestivalguide.info
 O=O=O=O=O=O=O=O=O=O=O=O=O

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Message 4
From: "Maria Arango"
Date: Mon, 01 Dec 2008 16:08:43 GMT
Subject: [Baren 37597] RE: checks and postage
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From experience, envelopes in packages will turn up undoubtedly. They tend
to hide until the actual collating begins and then, there they are! Well
tucked in and waiting.

Don't worry yet.

Maria

O=O=O=O=O=O=O=O=O=O=O=O=O
       Maria Arango
  http://1000woodcuts.com
http://artfestivalguide.info
 O=O=O=O=O=O=O=O=O=O=O=O=O

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Message 5
From: Marilynn Smith
Date: Mon, 01 Dec 2008 16:54:57 GMT
Subject: [Baren 37598] Re: New Baren Digest (HTML) V45 #4623 (Dec 1, 2008)
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Just one more word about our exchanges. Thank you to coordinators who
take a moment to inform us about how to properly mail our prints. I
have never used a slip sheet, next time I will. Next time I will use
better packing material and of course a box large enough to fully
accommodate my prints. These exchanges are not about creating perfect
prints, they are about learning to do things the right way and doing
the best we can. Personally there have been a few times when I know
my work should have been better, but if I look upon this as a learning
experience I can resolve to do better next time. I do hope I can do
an exchange some time soon.

Best to all from the beautiful great northwest.
Marilynn

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Message 6
From: David Harrison
Date: Mon, 01 Dec 2008 17:28:09 GMT
Subject: [Baren 37599] FS: Cherry blocks in UK
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I have a small box of 6x4" and 8x6" cherry blocks for sale in the UK. If
you're interested, please contact me off-list.

All the best,

David H

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Message 7
From: ArtSpotiB # aol.com
Date: Mon, 01 Dec 2008 20:36:23 GMT
Subject: [Baren 37600] Re: Re: New Baren Digest (HTML)  V45 #4623 (Dec 1, 2008)
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OK, Mary, you put one in so I must have missed it. I'll search again and some
more too until I find it. I've learned to ask. It can be easily forgotten
when packing. Thanks!

When I was far younger than now my sister lost a pretty necklace from a
friend because it appeared that the other youngster forgot to put a present in the
package. Since we burned our trash in the house furnace, that was the end of
it.

I'll look and when I find it, let you know.

ArtSpot Out
BA at OMebase



I don't know if God exists, but it would be better for His reputation if he
didn't. -Jules Renard, writer (1864-1910)

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Message 8
From: Dale Phelps
Date: Mon, 01 Dec 2008 20:50:24 GMT
Subject: [Baren 37601] Dale added you as a friend!
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Message unrelated to Baren Forum

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Message 9
From: "Connie Pierson"
Date: Mon, 01 Dec 2008 20:54:56 GMT
Subject: [Baren 37602] Re: New Baren Digest (HTML) V45 #4623 (Dec 1, 2008)
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Hi all,
Regarding the slip sheeting. We have been asked before in previous
exchanges *not* to include slipsheeting. I'm gathering now that it might be
a good idea to ask our coodinators for each exchange whether they would
prefer it or not? It's all good either way, just need to be informed. :o)

Definately beautiful in the great northwest!
Cheers,
Connie
Spokane, WA

On Mon, Dec 1, 2008 at 8:54 AM, Marilynn Smith
wrote:

> Just one more word about our exchanges. Thank you to coordinators who take
> a moment to inform us about how to properly mail our prints. I have never
> used a slip sheet, next time I will. Next time I will use better packing
> material and of course a box large enough to fully accommodate my prints.
> These exchanges are not about creating perfect prints, they are about
> learning to do things the right way and doing the best we can. Personally
> there have been a few times when I know my work should have been better, but
> if I look upon this as a learning experience I can resolve to do better next
> time. I do hope I can do an exchange some time soon.
>
> Best to all from the beautiful great northwest.
> Marilynn
>

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Message 10
From: ArtSpotiB # aol.com
Date: Mon, 01 Dec 2008 21:10:19 GMT
Subject: [Baren 37603] Re: Re: New Baren Digest (HTML)  V45 #4623 (Dec 1, 2008)
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Thank you, Marilyn.

It's posts and emails like yours that make being part of the Baren
worthwhile.

And I bet that the next exchange coordinator thinks really good thoughts
about you with those slip sheets. A little word on them, if you don't mind, right
now.... I figure that even though the information is redundant for some,
we're all in this together to learn as well as enjoy each other's company.

Slip sheets have a traditional purpose of keeping ink from transferring from
one work to the next while drying. They used to be of absorbant paper for that
reason. In more recent time/settings slip sheets evolved to the very
expensive glassine, an archivally sound material with specific properties and a
certain slickness of texture.

For a mailing such as The Baren's exchanges, anything will do... ranging from
clear newsprint and waxed paper from the kitchen drawer to the fancy, clear
envelopes that some used. It depends on what's at hand and what the budget
allows for. One time the shippers from the Art in Embassies program left an entire
thick, 4 ft wide roll of glassine at my studio. I sure didn't want to phone
up the headquarters in Wash. D.C. to let them know where it was. But I did....
and yes, they drove the truck all the way back from San Francisco to Oakland
to pick it up, much to my chagrin. I've never been rich enough to purchase an
entire ROLL of the stuff.

FYI, newsprint and nonarchival tissue papers should be removed soon after
arrival (weeks rather than months) as their acid content will travel to the
other prints in a short amount of time. Certainly within a box or drawer, not
just actual physical contact. Ever notice little red speckles on prints? That's
"foxing", which is from the acid. It may not show for a while but it is an
inevitability with newsprint. Conservators will tell you that one book's acidity
will eventually travel thoughtout an entire room of books in libraries. Museums
have special baths to stop the foxing from continuing. Due to budgetary
considerations, some works may be isolated rather than actively conserved. When you
can, treat your collection right!

Thanks again, for the kind emails.

ArtSpot Out
Benny Alba at OMebase

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Message 11
From: "Maria Arango"
Date: Mon, 01 Dec 2008 21:57:16 GMT
Subject: [Baren 37604] RE: slip sheets and other exchange rules
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THE OFFICIAL WORD ON SLIP SHEETS straight from the mouth of THE OFFICIAL
BOSS!:



Connie is correct that in the past we have discouraged slip sheets as they
create an additional step of handling for coordinators. I personally
discourage them as they create excess bulk and handling. It is really not up
to the coordinator to change the preferences every time because that will
just cause (more) confusion and lordie knows we don't want any of THAT!



The instructions that we have given in the past are:

IF your prints are BONE DRY, send them without slip sheets to avoid excess
handling by the coordinators

IF your prints are NOT DRY, send slip sheets smaller than the print to
protect the prints from the ink offsetting.

Slip sheets are meant to be used to get your prints to the coordinator and
be discarded so don't expect them back.



Although I welcome the mailing, packaging, etcetera recommendations from
coordinators to be posted on the list, that is only one successful way to do
it. I have received many successful packages that differed from those
suggestions. If in doubt on how to package, mail, etc, ASK FIRST; if you get
conflicting information from two coordinators ASK THE BOSS, that being me.
There is no one way to do things, and much less a required way to do things,
heaven forbid.



Now, I have personally whittled down the following two pages to a minimum to
encourage "adult" behavior from participants in exchanges. Too many rules
and everyone ignores them anyway because of the length of the pages to read,
but if I need to be more specific, please ask and don't be fearful of asking
ANY question. I can always be reached privately at:

exchanges_mgr@barenforum.org



Here are the aforementioned pages:


http://www.barenforum.org/exchange/rules.html

and


http://www.barenforum.org/exchange/for_participants.html



Having said all that, we ALWAYS encourage coordinators to post what is
easier for them and recommendations for participants that reflect their
experience, as long as participants realize that those are recommendations
and not the gospel from here on out. Mailing to some locations, Alaska for
example, is best handled (or only handled) through the US Postal Service,
while others can easily receive packages from other carriers.

Another example: I personally have a safe front porch where packages can be
dropped off and an allergic reaction to trips to the post office, so insured
and registered packages requiring signatures really irk me, while other
coordinators don't mind or prefer that a signature is required.



Regarding all of this, incidentally, most of the misperceptions and
miscommunications can be easily solved by COMMUNICATION with your
coordinator THROUGH THE
COORDINATORXX@BARENFORUM.ORG ADDRESS. Sorry to be YELLING but this is stated
in every single instruction page and email that anyone receives from me or
the coordinators, in the sign-up page and in every single Exchange
Information page.

For those who flunked math, replace xx with the appropriate exchange number.
The current exchange is 39 so you would take the number 39 and substitute
xx, divide by the square root of pumpkin-pie and the result (with whip
cream) is
coordinator39@barenforum.org

To reiterate, ALL COMMUNICATION WITH THE EXCHANGE COORDINATORS SHOULD GO TO
THAT ADDRESS, she says repeatedly banging her head against a block wall.



I hope all that was clear as the muddy banks of the Colorado River after a
heavy storm.



Dutifully yours,

Maria



O=O=O=O=O=O=O=O=O=O=O=O=O

Maria Arango

http://1000woodcuts.com

http://artfestivalguide.info

O=O=O=O=O=O=O=O=O=O=O=O=O

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