More presentation of alt. prints

Kevin Won (WONK@ohsu.edu)
Fri, 27 Sep 1996 16:37:50 -0700

Thank you all for the ideas/input about non-reflective glass. While reading the
replys, I find that I wonder about the whole process of presentation, period,
not just the desire to remove the offensive piece of glass. For example, I have
several large Gum/Oil prints (like 3 feet by 5 feet) which I've thought about
mounting several different ways, but when I test different methods of
mounting/presenting smaller samples I always find that the particular look of
just tacking that beautiful BFK paper to the wall can't be matched: the paper
exsists as an object itself, not just as a support for the image.

I don't hesitate to expose my stout Gum/Oil prints to the atmosphere but the
more delicate papers associated with Pd/Pt are another matter. However, I
wonder how much I've been socialized into the "legitimate" or standard
presentation of photographs and how these standardized ways may obscure the
unique tactile quaility of these prints. Maybe I'm not as concerned with the
ultimate longevity of the print so much as I am a reasonable archival life along
with the most stunning presentation possible. Or, in other words, how can I
present my Pd. prints in such a mannor (like my Gum/Oils) as to make the paper
support as visible and as important to the whole Gestalt--if you can forgive the
term--as the image itself.

To this end, I've always cut the boarders off my prints drymounted my Pd prints
with archivalmount because I feel that the unique 'flat' look I desire only
occurs through that technique. So I give up some assurance of archivality (is
that a word?) by not giving a buffer margin at the edge of my prints and rather
permanantly adhering it to the mounting board--but the look is more to my liking
so I'm willing to do it.

This rather long winded message boils down to a simple question: is there any
one else 'breaking the rules' of presentation with their alt. prints? and how?

Kevin