I agree with all aspects of Greg's argument. I ahve always thought of
the Convocation as ONE of the core professional reasons for having our
annual confernece. I can not imagine a CAA conference without a
convocation and their awards and I, likewise, can not imagine our
convocation without the Wittenborn Awards (and slide presentation) along
with the Lifetime Achievment and other awards. As a previous member of
the Wittenborn Committee and a one-time presentee, I feel deeply
saddened to hear that our organization has considered dropping this
wonderful part of the convocation! Are so few of us biblliophiles that
this has become a quick way to shorten the ceremony and to reduce the
importance of great art books? Afterall, that is what we art
professionals work with on a daily basis!
I am just sick about this decision and do not recall any previous
discussion about it on ARLIS-L. Please, please, please reinstate them at
the convocation.
Your colleague and art bibliophile, Ray Anne Lockard
William Walker wrote:
> Fellow members, I have to agree with Greg. The announcement AT the
> convocation adds a little suspense and draws more attention to the award
> and its winner(s). Otherwise, ho-hum, it's just another item on the
> net. You should reconsider for next year's award.
> Bill Walker, Canaan NY
>
> On Mar 13, 2007, at 4:46 PM, Most, Gregory P.J. wrote:
>
>> Colleagues:
>>
>>
>>
>> I am incredibly dismayed and disheartened to hear that the Executive
>> Board (in concert with the chairs of the Awards and Wittenborn
>> committees) has decided that the winner of the George Wittenborn
>> Memorial Award will no longer be announced at the Convocation. I find
>> no merit or substance in any of the reasons. I never saw an author or
>> publisher caught in an awkward moment at the conference. The winning
>> publisher would usually display a copy of the winning book on his
>> table in the most prominent spot, and proudly highlight the
>> award-winning book following the announcement. The arrival of author
>> at the convocation was usually the clue to the mystery. Since the
>> deliberations for the awards are usually made well in advance of the
>> conference, how difficult is it to have the review copy brought to the
>> conference and put on display? Not very difficult one would think –
>> and this is my perspective as a former Wittenborn Committee member-
>> one of the more challenging and stimulating committees of the Society
>>
>>
>>
>> This is the sole prestigious award given by the Society that is
>> regularly announced in major art journals and publications and is
>> mentioned in the press of other societies. While our other awards,
>> like Distinguished Service or Travel, are important to us as a
>> profession, the Wittenborn award has importance and meaning to the art
>> world. To casually announce the winner of the Wittenborn Award on a
>> discussion list or post to a website robs it of its prestige and
>> deflects the honor from its author and publisher.
>>
>>
>>
>> Gregory P. J. Most
>>
>> Chief, Library Image Collections
>>
>> National Gallery of Art
>>
>> Washington, DC
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: ART LIBRARIES SOCIETY DISCUSSION LIST
>> [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Wilson, Terrie
>> Sent: Tuesday, March 13, 2007 1:51 PM
>> To: [log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]>
>> Subject: [ARLIS-L] George Wittenborn Memorial Book Award
>>
>>
>>
>> Colleagues,
>>
>>
>>
>> After discussions with the ARLIS/NA Awards Committee chair, the
>> Executive Board, and the current Wittenborn Award Committee, it has
>> been decided that the Wittenborn Award winners will now be announced
>> pre-conference. This is a break with past tradition when the award
>> winners were kept confidential until the conference convocation. This
>> tradition left little time for the winning publications to be on
>> display in the exhibits hall. There were also some awkward moments
>> for winning authors or publishers who attended the entire conference
>> but could not disclose why they were really there!
>>
>>
>>
>> If you wish to preserve the element of surprise, read no further!
>> Either way, please try to attend the conference convocation on Sunday,
>> April 29th, to hear and see a substantive presentation honoring the
>> award-winning texts.
>>
>>
>>
>> On behalf of the 2006-2007 George Wittenborn Memorial Book Award
>> Committee, it is my honor to announce the winners of the award:
>>
>>
>>
>> Prayers and Portraits: Unfolding the Netherlandish Diptych. John
>> Oliver Hand, Catherine A. Metzger, Ron Spronk. National Gallery of
>> Art, Washington; Koninklijk Museum voor Schone Kunsten, Antwerp, in
>> association with Harvard University Art Museums, Cambridge, and Yale
>> University Press, New Haven and London.
>>
>>
>>
>> American Indian Horse Masks. Michael Cowdry and Ned & Jody Martin.
>> Hawk Hill Press, Nicasio, California.
>>
>>
>>
>> Please stop by the exhibits hall during the conference to view these
>> marvelous, award-winning publications. Congratulations to all those
>> involved in their creation and production!
>>
>>
>>
>> Terrie L. Wilson
>>
>> Chair, George Wittenborn Memorial Book Award Committee
>>
>> Michigan State University
>>
>> Fine Arts Library
>>
>> 100 Library
>>
>> East Lansing, MI 48824
>>
>> [log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]>
>>
>>
>>
>> __________________________________________________________________
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>> <mailto:[log in to unmask]>
>
>
> __________________________________________________________________ Mail
> submissions to [log in to unmask] For information about joining
> ARLIS/NA see: http://www.arlisna.org/join.html Send administrative
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__________________________________________________________________
Mail submissions to [log in to unmask]
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