Oh, my, I see my brief return forey into RCW isn't being very brief.
As I'm going to say also in reply to Will, two things influence my proposal that may make it what it is:
- I'm a book person. Obviously I'm comfortable with and appreciate the opportunities that internet based mediums offer, but I still like the qualities of presentation are associated with fixed print. My proposal is intended to culminate in a book. (of course in reality, the proposal is unlikely to get off the ground, let alone a book)
- I view the value of the proposal as much or maybe even more in what it can provide to people who are principally not turners. I am interested in helping develop an appreciation of woodturned art by gallery owners, museum curators, actual and potential collectors, and non purchasing appreciators.
With that as a backdr> An interesting proposal to be sure. A few thoughts (in no particular order)
I'm not competent to determine how much bandwidth, but I'm surprised that you think so. My conception is that one is only talking about one turning being review every 2-4 weeks. Granted that one would want a couple of photos of each turning, and for them to be high quality, but the overall quantity of photos would not be great for a very long time.
Same as above.
Yes, that would be very nice. How great it would be to follow a single critics comments over multiple forms, or certain qualities over multiple critics.
I would think a single web based mailbox for submissions that could be accessed by the panel selecting the forms to be critiqued would be quite sufficient. Then the head of the panel could sent the work directly out to the panel of critics.
or will just 1, 2, ...
Yes, all critiques will be "published" when the form is posted to the site. The importance of the site is that the form is available for appraisal by the "audience" in the context of multiple critical perspectives.
I ask this because it will surely happen that most pieces
No problem, as above. In my fantasy of the site (and eventual book) that piece will never be presented until and unless a full battery of critiques are in accompanyment.
Great point. I think for both practical and ethical reasons, it would be important that no piece be accepted unless it was done at the request of both the owner and the turner (which of course could be one and the same).
Do we get into copyright problems when we post the pictures of that
I would think so. Part of the submission process could be the agreement to relinquish copyright for purposes of posting on the website and possible inclusion in a book. This is a common practice and shouldn't pose any difficulty, but it would be important to make explicit and do.
My feeling is that all rights will be relinquished as condition of participatioin. The bottom line is that a book of this nature is not going to be a big money maker, and like with those of us that publish in professional journals, the reward is in the recognition and dissemination of our work.
If this thing comes of in someones hands, it is going to be there call. This won't work as a community project. The people I suggested were not meant to be an exclusive list, nor even necessarily my favorites. What I am aware of is that the permenant members will have the most value if they are recognized and respected by both turners and all those other groups (gallery owners, collectors, etc).
Perhaps, as you
Yes, the permenant few is essential IMO. They are what offer continuity between turnings. Whether one agrees, disagrees, or partially agrees with their findings, they provide a baseline for comparison between turnings and make the critique of various turnings less dependent on the "luck of the draw" of which panel members are chosen for that particular turning.
The key is
Absolutely. Not just turners of different perspectives (and less nobly, personal styles to defend), but non turners of different perspectives. Keep in mind that I think woodturned art will never "arrive" until a body of critics comes into existence that are not turners. I'd like to see gallery owners, artists in other media, even sophisticated collectors be represented.
I do not
I totally disagree, as explained above. What is not fair is to be vulnerable to the random selection of reviewers.If there is not continuity, in part, then the same turning could recieve very positive or very negative critiques based solely upon the selection of the panel.
I actually, but perhaps naively, suspect that will be no problem if the other parameters are clearly established and laid out. What is takes is someone who is sympathetic to all potential groups (i.e, non turners, and non artists, as well as turners). I'm bold enough to think that I could do it, but I'm sure there are many others who could manage it even better.
First, I don't think that a great amount of time is involved. I'm talking about one critique every two weeks. For most people suited for the task, they can formulate their thoughts in minutes. One could offer editing services to help them with their writing. Indeed, if necessary, we could even have a couple of volunteers to transcribe verbal critiques into readable text.
Yes, this would need to be established. I don't think it would be too hard to come up with them (lots of juried shows already have guidelines that could be modified for this sites purposes), but I agree that it would be very important to post these specifications.
Only so many
Yes, though again, I'm not suggesting that only but a very limited few items with teaching potential or exceptional artistic presentation be accepted and reviewed. The WOW site does a great job offering a place for folks to share and receive informal commentary on their work. My proposal is meant to be much more limited in scope and intended to provide an archive of serious criticism.
I personally am not looking for a great number of daily hits, but rather to establish a location where learning can take place. I don't think the quality of the review will be a problem. All critiques would be pre-screened and if they did not achieve a realistic level of clarity or appropriateness, the reviewer would be offered the opportunity to revise (with assistance if necessary). Again, I'm on old guy and am happy for this to develop over years, rather than weeks. I would think it would be good of there were 50 turnings at the end of two years that could be transformed into a book.
These are great comments and I'm impressed that anyone would take my comments as worthy of such a thoughtful and helpful response.
My vision would not be for anything that would be generating daily hits at that rate. Rather, I would suspect that one would need to announce to the forums and newsgroups when the next set of review were being posted, and that there would be a flurry of activity that would die down in the periods inbetween.
Again, I toss these ideas out as things that interest me, but am doubtful they will ever be able to come to pass.