Re: APIS 2006 September 16 & 17   2006 Oxford: APIS Origin

 Sandy

ITen years ago suggested that as we only seemed to know each other on the
list, we should meet in person. Luis said that as a new centre for photography
was about to open in Paris,we might be able to use it for a morning. I did not
realise that Marc had organised it. It is good that we know now !

As Marc says, the debate was of a high standard.It was an enjoyable and
informative morning. We had an enjoyable lunch beside the Seine when Luis told us
how he had 'obtained' Echargue's direct carbon equipment .

The next year I set up APIS. As I have said we thought up the name round my
kitchen table. I think that Randall Webb was there. We held the first APIS in
Bath as we were able to use the RPS's lecture theatre free of charge.

Autotype, Kentmere, and Berger were all there. We has representatives from
at least 14 countries including Russia, France, Germany, Portugal, Brazil,
Australia and the US. Dick Sullivan of Bostick and Sullivan was there as was
Martin Reed of Silverprint, two men who have contributed so much to the 'alt'
community. We had acknowledged experts from worlds as diverse as gravure and
tri-colur carbon and carbro. There were people sitting on the stairs and in the
aisles. We also visited Lacock Abbey, William Henry Fox Talbot's home.

Dick Sullivan subsequently suggested that we should hold APIS in alternate
years in the US and the UK. This still seems a good idea although on the
European side I would like to Europeanise things a bit. In 2008 for example APIS will
be in Bratislave.

Unfortunately, there appears to have been a pattern of attacks on people of
international standing who have withdrawn from what should have been a very usef
ul forum as they had better things to do with their time than fight battles
with those with what appeared, to put it at its most polite, very parochial
motives . This has damaged what could have been a very valuable resource.

As to parochiality, it would be worthwhile if the French speakers could
contribute in French. They hav a great deal to offer. The recent exhibitions in
Rennes and St Lous of European pictorialists and in London of the work of
Russian pictirialists have demonstrated what an international community this is.
This is not very often reflected here.

I have been trying to get APIS to reflect these wider horizons. It is also
why i have been trying to include more science based conferences and others
where increased understanding of the history of our medium can contribute to what
we do now. The Oxford conference this year reflects those aims.
There appear to be very strong arguments for organising another similar
conference in Paris again, or in Florence, perhaps next year.

This community does not belong to a few gurus.

Terry

In a message dated 1/5/06 5:24:21 am, sanking@clemson.edu writes:

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> Interesting history!
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> But I thought it was Luis Nadeau who organized the first APIS. I had this
> tape at one time of some of the proceedings and Nadeau sure appeared to be in
> charge.
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> Sandy
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Received on 05/01/06-04:07:37 AM Z