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Sunday, March 04, 2012

The Beacon Art Postcard Archive continues...

The Beacon Art Postcard Archive (BAPA) has been resting on the back - way back - burner for awhile now.  However, I recognize the need - if I expect to have this project reach it's potential of documenting the moment of art in Beacon, NY for the past 10+ years and moving forward, I have to be able to capture this material while it's available - so there's no time to waste.

So, what is this BAPA, you might be asking.  The goal of BAPA is to collect the ephemera relating to exhibits and projects that happen in Beacon, NY (and it's near environs) and also track the activities of the artists who are a part of the artistic community of Beacon, NY - whether they are residents of Beacon, NY or live in it's near environs.

So what are we talking about?  We're looking for the physical material that related to exhibits/projects and artist promotion:
  • postcards
  • flyers
  • brochures
  • business cards
  • posters
  • printed artist statements... 
  • digital versions of material
  • exhibition checklists/ price lists
  • ANY thing that might fit this bill, we'll consider.
If you are an art venue in Beacon, NY, or an artist involved in Beacon, NY, we would very much appreciate you donation of a copy of any such material.  For the artists in the area, we are interested in all of the material you have relating to any of your artistic activities - within Beacon or outsided of it - we simply ask that the material coincides with the time in which you have been living or part of the community in Beacon.

One of the goals is to have the material digitized and made part of a fully indexed, cross referenced, searchable website that will document the moment, so digital forms of this material is welcome too (it will save us the effort of scanning or photographing).  However, we are heartily interested in the physical material.  This physical material speaks to one of the most basic levels of self publishing - one that is even now diminishing as more and more of this type of promotion is remaining in it's digital state for digital distribution and not making it into a physical form.

Ultimately, the goal is to donate this material to the Beacon Historical Society.

So, how can you get involved, or participate? 

If you are an artist in the area and are interested, shoot me an email at info[at]maykr.com  and I'll hook you up with a BAPA envelope in which to collect your material, and we can make the transfer. 

If you happen to have material from any of the art galleries and venues that are no longer around, that is very much appreciated.  We still have known holes we're looking to fill dating back to about 2002 (and before).
 
BAPA has lived in a box for the past several years, mostly residing at bau.  Although now it's living here at Kamp Maykr in the hopes that I might be able sort through the material at my leisure.  I expect we can locate another collection box at bau in the near future.

Lastly, you can help by spreading the word.  If you're among the folks who have donated material already, thanks so much.  Just remember that this project is ongoing, so your more recent material is welcome.

Please spread the word that this project exists and we are seeking material.  If you know of artists who are new to the area, let them know that they can start donating material and be included in this archive.