November 22, 2001

Laser barriers

I am looking for a source of laser barriers to use in an upcoming exhibition. Basically, I'd like to protect specimens displayed behind a minimal physical barrier by adding a laser beam barrier that will set off an audible alarm when the beam is broken. Sonic curtains are not an option in this case.
Thanks Wil

Thief targets art exhibit once again

Boulder library display missing another piece

By Owen S. Good, News Staff Writer
BOULDER -- A controversial art exhibit is minus another piece after someone snatched an unglazed clay sculpture of a woman two weeks after a man pilfered 21 ceramic penises. "Control," a work by Carolyn Anewich, was discovered missing from its pedestal in the southwest corner of the Boulder Public Library's Canyon Gallery Monday afternoon. The sculpture depicts a woman in the throes of an abusive relationship and is part of "Art Triumphs Over Domestic Violence," which closes next week. Police say they have no leads and hope a witness comes forward. The city will post a "security monitor" in the gallery for the first time since it opened in 1992. City Attorney Joe de Raismes said other measures, including security cameras, are possibilities. The theft comes a week after Bob Rowan's daylight raid on the explicit display of 21 multicolored penises hanging from a clothesline. Rowan was enraged that the phalluses had been on display since Oct. 16 but the library's director had refused to make a patriotic lobby display out of a huge American flag.
Rowan's deed was applauded by some who considered the penis art offensive. Anewich, 39, criticized public reaction to the issue in a letter published Sunday in Boulder's Daily Camera. In the letter, Anewich mentions she has a work on display at the library. Anewich, herself a domestic-abuse survivor, considers the theft of her work retaliation for speaking up. "The gall someone has, to feel they can do this, kind of gets to me," said Anewich, 39. The work is valued at $900 and took between 16 and 18 hours to create, she said. It was not for sale. Anewich said the work was so personally fulfilling that it is one of only five pieces she has elected to keep, after giving countless others away. "They did not steal from the library, they stole from me," she said. "They stole me -- literally. These are the things that I am." Anewich called police after stopping by the gallery around 5 p.m. Monday, concerned that her letter might have provoked someone to harm her work.
Rowan, at the gallery Tuesday around noon, said he knew nothing about the theft. "Some idiot doesn't really understand the seriousness of the consequences here, if and when they are caught," said Rowan, who received a summons for misdemeanor criminal tampering for stealing the penises. Perusing the exhibit, he said he didn't see any offensive pieces. "A lot of it is really, really good," he said. "There are a lot of incredible pieces, and my compliments to the artists." "Control" featured a woman, nude from the chest up, her head gripped by a man's hand. The fingers and wrist also formed her hair, Anewich's way of showing that, as a victim, she let herself be controlled. The sculpture is about 1 foot tall. Tracy Slama, development director for Boulder County Safehouse, which sponsored the show, said the greatest damage has been done to artists who dared to speak about a painful subject. "The things that have happened can be interpreted as telling (the artists that) people don't want to hear of your experience," she said. "And that message is extended to victims, so maybe they won't come forward. It comes back to intolerance, and that is where the greatest damage is done." Safehouse chose not to rehang the penises after they were recovered, citing concern for the safety of other exhibits. Anewich was disappointed in that decision, and said she feels it emboldened the latest thief.
Contact Owen S. Good at (303) 442-8729 or goodo@RockyMountainNews.com.
http://www.rockymountainnews.com/

Group Wants to Rebuild Afghan Buddha

By CLARE NULLIS, Associated Press Writer
GENEVA (AP) - The Taliban's destruction of two ancient Buddha statues shocked the world. Now there's a plan to rebuild the larger one. The plan is the work of an Internet-based group called the New 7 Wonders Society and a U.N.-recognized institute in Switzerland dedicated to preserving Afghan cultural treasures. The desire is to show that ``an act of international destruction cannot erase the memory of those things which are valuable to humanity and its heritage,'' said Bernard Weber, the founder of New 7 Wonders. However, the plan was given a lukewarm reception Tuesday by the U.N. agency responsible for safeguarding the world's cultural heritage, the Paris-based Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization or UNESCO.
Christian Manhart, an Asia heritage expert at UNESCO, said an international agreement - the Venice charter - forbids the reconstruction of monuments that have been destroyed. The charter is based on the belief that something that is cultural heritage can't be replaced. Manhart said UNESCO would consider an exception to the rule, but very strict criteria would need to be met. ``No private institute or Internet firm or even international organization like UNESCO can just decide. The beginning of all this has to be a request from the Afghan government,'' he told The Associated Press.

The process would likely take years, he said.

One recent reconstruction of a UNESCO landmark started in July when a Turkish firm began work in Mostar, Bosnia-Herzegovina, of Stari Most, a bridge that was an architectural treasure erected in 1566 during the Ottoman Empire. It was destroyed by Bosnian Croat artillery during the war with the country's Muslims in 1993. He said financing would not necessarily be a problem because Buddhist societies in Asia might be willing to participate. The plan estimates the 175-foot statue will cost an estimated $1 million to rebuild. First, a virtual Buddha would be generated, using high-tech photographic and computer technology. Then a 20-foot replica would be built at the Afghanistan (news - web sites) Institute and Museum in the northern Swiss town of Bubendorf. The replica would be used as the model for rebuilding the full-size Buddha on location in Afghanistan. The original Buddha statue, and a smaller one of 114 feet, were chiseled into a cliff more than 1,500 years ago in the central Bamiyan Valley on the ancient Silk Route linking Europe and Central Asia. The fundamentalist Taliban considered them ``idolatrous'' and against the tenets of Islam and blew them up despite an international outcry. A spokesman in Geneva for Afghanistan's Northern Alliance said the plan was interesting. But he said it lay solely within the competence of UNESCO and not with private organizations.
``And at the moment, we have far more other pressing priorities,'' Humayun Tandar added. The Afghanistan Institute, which enjoys financial support from both the Swiss government and UNESCO, is widely known as the Afghan museum in exile. Since the Taliban came to power, it has served as a home for many religious and cultural treasures sent out of Afghanistan to escape the wrath of the Taliban. The director, Paul Bucherer, has long said the artifacts will be returned once the political situation stabilizes in Afghanistan. He was traveling and could not be reached for comment Tuesday, an assistant said. The New 7 Wonders Society was set up to designate new wonders to supplement the surviving ancient wonders like the pyramids of Egypt. It says it has received 5.5 million votes from countries around the world as people make their choice on a list that includes the Empire State Building, the Taj Mahal and the Leaning Tower of Pisa.

From: Janneke van Esch j.van.esch@helicon-cs.com
Subject:

Talking-Tag system

The necessity to handle objects for identification often results in damage. The object has to be lifted, taken out from its packaging, turned, twisted, etc. in order to retrieve the accession number. Damage can vary from abrasion caused by friction to breakage caused by falling. The importance to tackle this problem linked with the traditional method of registration is widely acknowledged and has resulted in the development and use of more advanced technologies e.g. barcode. However, with all systems used at present, it is still necessary to have visual access to the number or label. In case of barcode, the label has to be manoeuvred in such a way that a beam of light can reach the label. Also any damage to the label will make the information irretrievable.
Solution: HELICON conservation support b.v. http://www.helicon-cs.com therefore developed a revolutionary identification system, the Talking-Tag system. With this system there is no need to see the number on the object as it uses radio frequency. The system consists of hardware (tag, antennae) and software (link to existing database). It was developed together with major international software and hardware companies. Apart from the fact that this system minimises moments of risk, there are other advantages. The system can be used to simplify inspection and to establish integration in disaster planning. As it uses radio frequency, it also allows for a combination with audience information systems. Another great advantage is a reduction in the time it takes to identify objects, valuable time which could be spend more efficiently. Talking-Tag system: The Tag is an interactive label made of polyethylene, copper and silica. It has 44 digital positions available to store data. This data can be read from the Tag, altered and written on the Tag using radio wave technology (antennae). Each position on the Tag can be linked using specific software to information stored in existing museum databases, such as object number, photo, description and location. The Tag also holds the key to information relating to the packing and shipping of objects, their physical condition, storage conditions, priority of evacuation in case of calamity, etc.. The Talking-Tag system can be used to identify museum objects in storage, exhibition, during transport, etc., without the need to handle the objects, thus avoiding the risk of damage. With current registration systems there is the problem of locating objects within their packaging (a box may contain several objects). To check if the correct object is inside, the object has to be taken out in order to read the registration number. Further each object has to be made accessible individually. The process is time consuming and creates the risk of damaging it. Traditional registration of a move takes about 3 to 5 minutes. Using this system, the registration of a move can now be initiated and processed in less then 30 seconds. The Talking-Tag System also makes it possible to identify several objects in one effort. So apart from saving objects, this system also saves time (and therefore money). When using the Talking-Tag system, the antenna can read and write information on the tag and link it to the existing database. There is no need to open a box with objects. In a way it is made impossible to move an object from one location to another, without it being tracked. Stacked reading makes it possible to keep track of movements of larger quantities of objects.
In order to develop, test and fine-tune the system, it was tested in situ in several Dutch museums, including the Boijmans van Beuningen in Rotterdam, the Krvller Muller Museum in Otterlo, Stedelijk Museum and the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam. The durability of the tag was tested by means of accelerated aging. With the Talking-Tag system HELICON provides a manual. In this manual guidelines are given for the position on the objects where a Talking-Tag. can be attached. Also several methods for the attaching itself are given. The Talking-Tag. system comes with software that is capable of communication with every database orientated registration package worldwide. The information on the Talking-Tag is standardised, the translation comes from the interface software. Both these factors, manual with guidelines and translating software will result in a form of standardisation of information. Therefore making exchange of information about objects much easier. The first museum to implement this system for registration is the Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen in Rotterdam. In September 2001 they started to 'tag' their collection of 15,000 prints and drawings. For more information you always can send us an e-mail or you can call us and ask for Jaap van der Burg, Wouter Hijberg or Marguirite Stuart.
Marguirite Stuart
HELICON conservation support
Boerhaaveweg 9/11
2408 AD Alphen aan den Rijn
The Netherlands
mail@helicon-cs.com
+31 172 234 556
Fax: +31 172 233 213

The Art Newspaper.com
http://www.theartnewspaper.com

This week's top stories:

CHINA BANS FOREIGNERS FROM ART TRADE

HONG KONG. Chinese Minister of Culture Sun Jiazheng has introduced regulations barring foreigners from the antique trade, even after accession to the World Trade Organisation (WTO). http://www.theartnewspaper.com/news/article.asp?idart=8173

LAY-OFFS AND RETRENCHMENT IN NEW YORK’S MUSEUMS DUE TO SLUMP IN TOURISM

NEW YORK. After finance, tourism has become the principal industry in New York and helped museums prosper during the Clinton years. The “multiplier” benefits of tourism to restaurants, hotels and all sorts of other businesses have often been cited by politicians who lobbied in favour of government support of museums. http://www.theartnewspaper.com/news/article.asp?idart=8172

TOURISM FROM NORTH AMERICA FALLS 17%

LONDON. A survey of major UK museums and heritage sites reveals that some venues which are dependent on tourists, particularly from America, have been badly hit by recent events. Earlier in the year, the outbreak of foot and mouth disease sparked off the tourism slump, although it actually caused virtually no inconvenience for visitors to towns and cities. http://www.theartnewspaper.com/news/article.asp?idart=8171

CONTEMPORARY ART: RACKING UP NEW RECORDS

NEW YORK. As trade withered and prestigious occasions such as the inaugural Art Basel Miami were cancelled, one subject had preoccupied the contemporary art market during the last two months: what signal would be given by, what comfort might be drawn from, the traditional autumn auctions spread across five days in the middle of November? http://www.theartnewspaper.com/news/article.asp?idart=8170

WHO OWNS THE WATERY PAST?

LONDON. Klaus Keppler is looking for gold. In October Sea Explorer AG, the company run by the 62-year old German salvor, completed its first recovery operation on the wreck of The Cimbria, a German passenger liner that sank in 1883 after colliding with a British vessel. Over 430 people died in the accident. http://www.theartnewspaper.com/news/article.asp?idart=8150

CHRISTIE’S FORMER CEO TESTIFIES

NEW YORK. As Sotheby’s owner A. Alfred Taubman apparently dozed, high drama continued all last week in a Manhattan courtroom, with Christie’s former ceo Chris Davidge accusing Taubman of price fixing, while being branded a liar by Mr Taubman’s lawers. http://www.theartnewspaper.com/news/article.asp?idart=8130

GERMAN AND AUSTRIAN ART ON 5TH AVENUE

NEW YORK. The bilingual Neue Galerie on 5th Avenue is finally open to the public. It has a collection of around 100 works, an acquisition budget which was tapped to buy a $20.5 million Beckmann this year and an endowment that will stretch for about two years. More funding must be sought to keep the dream of dealer Serge Sabarsky alive. http://www.theartnewspaper.com/news/article.asp?idart=8110

THE BRITISH GALLERIES AT THE VICTORIA AND ALBERT MUSEUM REOPEN ON 22 NOVEMBER

LONDON. The Victoria and Albert Museum, considered the Cinderella of London’s great museums in recent years (unjustifiably, of course, considering the outstanding quality of its collections), has pulled off a triumph in its British Galleries which should give great pleasure to the public and reinspire museums around the world. http://www.theartnewspaper.com/news/article.asp?idart=8092

WILL A US COURT UPHOLD EGYPTIAN LAW?

NEW YORK. In two recent cases, the lower federal court in New York has smiled upon a 1970s court decision which antiquities owners deplore and archaeologists love. But now that the federal prosecutor has charged a dealer with a crime based on it, the legal reasoning in US v. McClain seems headed at last for judgment day in New York. The question boils down to this: Is it a crime knowingly to bring into the United States an antiquity that a foreign nation declares it owns under patrimony laws? http://www.theartnewspaper.com/news/article.asp?idart=8091

BILBAO’S BIG, BUT LESS FAMOUS, SISTER

BILBAO. The Bilbao Museum of Fine Art, one of Spain’s most important art galleries, can now stand proud alongside the glamorous Guggenheim Bilbao after a three-year remodelling, completed on 10 November. http://www.theartnewspaper.com/news/article.asp?idart=8090

Anna Somers Cocks, Editor
contact@theartnewspaper.com
The Art Newspaper
70 South Lambeth Road London SW8 1RL UK
tel +44(0)207 735 3331 fax +44(0)207 735 3332
http://www.theartnewspaper.com