Digital BW, The Print

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@y..., Rick Colson 
<colson@i...> wrote:
> Last, in regards to B&W magazine - the publishing world is 
very tough and it
> eats small circulation magazines like this for lunch. No 
magazine this size
> can afford to turn away legitimate advertising. It's simply not 
possible to
> do so and survive.

---------

Then, in that case, if the guy had one ounce of sincerety in him, 
he'd just STATE THAT in his Publisher's Column. There is 
absolutely nothing wrong with just telling the truth. I think people 
respect you more for it. But instead, he's broadcasting this 
pompous, holier-than-thou approach that only alienates so many 
of us digital guys who also respect fine prints. 

He's divided the congregation, rather than bringing it together as 
one. That's my point.

I maintain that he could come up with a Mission Statement that's 
large enough, and inclusive enough, to emcompass both 
traditional silver printmaking AND digital newly-emerging 
technologies. It's just too short-sighted to banish digital 
printmaking, because the QUALITY IS THERE ON PAPER. There 
are no needs to make excuses any more for digital printmaking. 
(Except with the 9600 with matte black. Sorry, couldn't resist).

The guy published a long article in the current issue on The 
ABC's of Photo Collecting. If he simply took that mindset, then 
everyone could be accomodated under his one roof. As it is now, 
he's bunkled under to the silver guys (who are under their beds, 
living in fear).

I got a kick out of one article in there, I think sponsored in some 
way by Durst. It had some cute little line-art icon of an enlarger, 
this implying the guy's "old world values" or some other 
horseshit. It would be interesting to know about how Durst 
actually makes their money now; if you saw their spreadsheets, 
do you think it's digital workflow, or old-school enlargers? I'll give 
you five seconds to answer that question.

And while I'm preaching (sitting here in my underwear, hair 
sticking up at all angles, and mainlining coffee) , I personally 
invite anyone to put a bullet in my head if you EVER see an Artist 
Statement issued by me that has ANY word with over three 
syllables. Please, put a second bullet right between my eyes if 
you come across any of these words also: beauty, paradox, 
visual imagery, auto-didactic, abstract, discovery, poetry.

Jesus, am I the only guy who sees the utter transparency of this 
hokey marketing approach, or what? Or, does everybody just get 
sucked into it slowly, thinking that that's the way the game is 
played, and then you look up one day, you look up and read your 
Bio/AtristStatement, and then vomit?

Disgusted,

-MT