On 11/12/2010 11:02 AM, Lavolta Press wrote:
On 11/12/2010 10:08 AM, Wanda Pease wrote:
No Fran I am NOT confusing Books and original works of Art such as
sculpture and painting. The easiest to use for illustration purposes
was the thousands of books that were destroyed by flood recently. The
Amber Room from the Czars palace is also gone beyond recovery. The
windows of Chartres Cathedral owe their continued existence to the
bravery of some newsmen who proved to a trigger happy artilleryman
(American I'm ashamed to say) that they weren't being used for spotting
purposes. The Monastery of Monte Casino is Gone and every book,
painting, sculpture and historical item in it.
The number of items, and I do mean Items, not books still in existence
from pre 1923, not to mention pre 1900 is minuscule compared to what
existed in museums and other collections prior to two world wars in
Europe and hundreds of flare ups over the rest of the world (Tokyo,
Kabul, Baghdad, etc.)
As for giving money to my local library and museum, been there, done
that. They are in my will for exactly those purposes. I'm just not
sure that nature or man is going to wait long enough for me to die since
I don't intend to do so in the immediate future if I can avoid it (Live
forever or die trying is my motto)
I don't want the museums to have to close their doors due to lack of
money. Nothing will ever replace actually seeing the dresses displayed
in the Munich Museum and trying to get a photograph of them in the
lowest light imaginable without a flash (1600 ASA and a very slow
shutter speed on a good Pentax film camera - I had to prove to the guard
that it was a film camera and had no flash mounted - he was young enough
that he barely remembered the age before digital cameras, but the museum
staff prefers film thankfully). I do want photos like I took (50 of one
dress alone) available, either freely, or at a reasonable cost (PayPal
could be their friend), which is not true of some of the V&A items which
is why we constantly see the same items over and over again.
Paid museum staff are not the only ones who can be trained and learn to
do this stuff for love alone. A paycheck does not ensure that the work
will be done with due caution and attention to detail. Nor does a
degree. I am Not suggesting that a volunteer simply be turned loose
with a camera and told "go to it". I'm suggesting that the museum look
into a mentorship or workshop program where the volunteer (possibly a
retiree with time and some money on their hands) learn the techniques to
do one thing very well, and to call for aid when something isn't going
right. The Professional may not have the answer either.
Putting books up into the public eye has been licked. It can be done
and is being done. You, yourself are doing it at a price that most of
us can afford and I'm grateful for that. I own several of your re-print
and explanation books.
San Francisco is trying to put up 360 degree shots of their sculptures.
I have a CD of one of the Monasteries in Greece that is closed to
women. The walls are all painted and they even moved the huge old
chests so you could see the entire wall. Things like that are possible,
and being done. Now to make it more possible, and possibly cheaper (new
tech happens all the time, look at what we are using to communicate
right now).
Copyright may turn out not to be the wave of the future. I hope there
is a better way found for all of us, Museums and private citizens.
Wanda
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