----- Original Message ----- From: "Ray Esposito" <[email protected]> To: <pinhole-discussion@p at ???????> Sent: Saturday, December 22, 2001 6:16 AM Subject: Re: [pinhole-discussion] editions
> > Hi Ray, > > > > I sure agree with you and your approach. I do think though that there > are no 'standards' and the concept of editioning in photography is not > as straight forward as it is in printmaking. > > > > This means that there is a lot of confusion about it in photography, > and I continue to believe that a lot of 'editioning' in photography is > done for monetary and not artistic/pratical reasons. > > > Thank you Cris. > > I agree there are no standards in photography but that might be because > there has been no leadership in this area. Remember, that although > editioning began in ernest around the turn of the century it wasn't > really until the 50's that it took hold to the extent it is used today. > I have a large collection built around printmaking in the 30's and many > are not editioned. > > A major force behind making editioning a standard was the creation of > major workshops in printmaking such a Tamarind. They wrote the "bible" > on the subject and everyone just followed the leader. In photography > you do not have the large cooperative workshops to the extent you do in > printmaking and thus a lack of a strong central driving force for > setting standards. Perhaps having a 1,000 pound litho or etching press > to carry around makes print centers practical whereas anyone can carry a > camera and put a darkroom in the bath. The two disiplines just come > from different backgrounds. > > As an aside, I am amazed at how many who responded to this thread are > actually from printmaking backgrounds. It would be fun to find out how > many members of this forum are basically printmakers and how many > photographers. I think you will find more printmakers crossing over to > photography than photographers crossing over to printmaking. The reason > is simple - printmakers are into photoetch, Toray Plate, Solarplate and > other photo techniques which require them to learn some photo > approaches. I find most photographers have no interest in learning > printmaking. This is one reason why when we decided to build our second > art center for photography we elected to put it right next to the print > center so artists could cross over as they pleased. > > > > Hey, if my prints sell better when they are 'editioned' who am I to > blow against the wind!? > > > I agree > Ray > Such a strong opiniondeserves an alternative to the monitary reason. For purposes of history. A truely vintage print tells of the materials and change in learning by the artist. Editions tell more than that makes them sell. S. Shapiro, Carmel, CA Merry Christmas
