Here are some of my initial thoughts. A little fragmented, but some ideas
to stimulate a discussion:
1. We need an all encompassing not-for-profit fine-arts photographic
organization with divisions for handcoated, digital, and conventional
photographic forms. (Fine arts being defined as photographic art prints
and objects made to be appreciated as such. This would exclude commercial,
journalistic, and similar forms of the photographic art) I offer the
expansion of the organization from just alt-processes to the totality of
fine arts photography as there is no group addressing the needs of the
conventional silver printing fine arts photographer either. (The consensus
is that silver gelatin will be an alternative process by the end of this
decade as well.) To me having a digital division seems logical as well.
2. Tie-ins with similar organizations in Europe and Asia. The Bath
Symposium will be a place to find out how this goes over with the rest of
the world.
3. I envision the first benefit to members would be a newsletter. In a year
or two I would like to see a journal produced with super high quality
images and content. I have some ideas on this, but I need to touch base
with some key people first. With a 501 (c) (3) organization we could
eventually be a funnel for grants, especially in the field of research into
photographic processes.
4. The organization would consist of a Board of Trustees and a Board of
Directors and officers.
5. Later we could launch conferences, symposiums and workshops, sanctioned
by the group.
6. I see cross membership in any of the organizations. Membership in the
U.S. organization would be open worldwide and hopefully others would be
open to U.S. citizens.
I see no organization that addresses these needs, especially here in the
U.S. The U.K. does have its venerable Royal Photographic Society which
might provide them with their built in structure. I know the "Royal" is
international in scope but I think it might be hard to organize here in the
U.S. under any banner with "Royal" in it.(Maybe the wounds from 1776 are
still too fresh. Sorry Terry, I had to do it.) As for the rest of Europe, I
know that there are national photographic groups, as to whether or not they
can address the needs of their alternative photographic process printers
will need to be addressed locally.
On the bright side, we still have the Alternative Photographic
International Symposium in Lisbon in 1998.
I think this is an appropriate discussion for the List so I encourage even
the lurkers to comment. Things have been a little dull lately so maybe this
will liven things up a bit.
Dick Sullivan
Bostick & Sullivan
PO Box 16639, Santa Fe
NM 87506
505-474-0890 FAX 505-474-2857