[alt-photo] Re: ARCHIVALITY

[Greg Schmitz]

Considering that the subject line is, in more than a few respects, an 
oxymoron let me throw in my .02.  After 25 years working for archives, 
and also being critical of some of the preservation practices of 
archives - I can now say after working for the past 4 years for a media 
archive that everything I have said over the past 30 years turns out to 
be true :)

With regards to Judy's comment thatt if you're "somebody: an archive 
will happily take your photographs on deposit, there may be a small bit 
of truth to what she says but her criteria for what makes work desirable 
are wrong.  Simply, don't hold your breath if you think any archive 
wants your work unless you are somebody and you are very rich.  The 
exception to that rule is if you have created a well documented body of 
work that meets the mission criteria of the archive (for example if you 
live in Tennessee an archive that collects images of Tennessee might be 
interested).   For the last 2 decades most archives in The United States 
that I am aware of, big and small, will not receive deposits without 
funding for processing and storage.  If you think archives will gladly 
accept your work because you are famous or nearly famous, think again.  
If an archives does take your work, without a large endowment you will 
probably be thrown on to the "back-log" pile and it may well be many 
years before anybody sees your work again.  I can make one suggestion 
for those of you who might harbor hopes that your work will be available 
for years to come in archive - organize your work before you die and 
give the archive a pile of cash.  Further, try to reach an agreement 
with an archive before you kick-the-bucket.

What you print on is of little significance to archives.  Money for 
processing, storage and your "relevance" to the archives mission is of 
much greater significance.

--greg schmitz

On 2/22/10 10:27 AM, Judy Seigel wrote:
>
> Think of it this way:  We've been using these methods, with 
> comparisons and fine points and experts and advisories and tests and 
> finer and finer refinements for -- what, 50 years?  100 years?  and to 
> date have there been any stories of woe?  Not that I recall from folks 
> doing them kosher, with known papers & safe storage, etc. etc. etc.
>
> But outbreaks of anxiety (and this is admittedly personal opinion) 
> continue from time to time, seeming (to me) to worry: will this work 
> of art last til the end of time, after I'm gone, unto the next 
> millenium and beyond ?
>
> Here, guys, is the answer (& send me a letter from heaven if I'm 
> wrong): If you're nobody, or even not SOMEBODY, when you die your 
> heirs, if they don't have a private archive or other connection, and 
> you haven't made provisions in your lifetime, or have some special 
> material in your work, as for instance a complete record of flying 
> saucers, steam engines, Marilyn Monroe, or 2-headed calfs, will sweep 
> the contents of your studio into a cardboard box and leave them on the 
> sidewalk (as indeed occasional reports tell of great finds from that 
> location).
>
> If you are SOMEBODY, odds are some archive or collection, foundation 
> or other preserve will gladly take your relics -- and THEY will, 
> guaranteed. have EXPERTS on hand who will know (especially by then) 
> far more about archiving, preservation, restoration and related topics 
> than we do and will not only know heaps more about fixing and saving 
> than we do, but will even have special worms to fill up old wormholes 
> -- and MORE, MUCH MORE! (Not to mention that a slight look of aging 
> may add a delicious patina.) So relax.
>
> Judy
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