Webcast at the Society of Illustrators

(Photo above: Executive members of GAG stage one of their famed "planned interruptions" of SI event and are photographed as they hustle out the door)

I just got back from NY where I attended an open forum at The Society of Illustrators announcing the formation of a new organization called the ASIP.

This organization, which is being formed with representation of twelve artists groups, will focus solely on bringing accountability to illustrators’ reprographic rights. The event was webcast live and has been archived for rebroadcast. Here is a link: (I'll post link above) This prestigious collection of groups, which is unprecedented in the world of illustration, is forming to strengthens the rights of illustrators.

The following groups form the ASIP:
The Society of Illustrators
The Illustrators’ Partnership of America
The Association of Medical Illustrators
The American Society of Architectural Illustrators
The Guild of Natural Science Illustrators
The San Francisco Society of Illustrators
The Los Angeles Society of Illustrators
The Pittsburgh Society of Illustrators
The American Society of Aviation Artists
The San Diego Society of Illustrators
The Illustrators Club of Washington DC, Maryland and Virginia
The National Cartoonists Society

At the event artists were told that in order for this to work they will be asked to participate by signing an agreement to authorize ASIP to represent these reprographic rights.
You may later receive this information and hear more about this.

Much like in the past when stock houses were on the rise, I think we need to support their actions completely.

For many years foreign reprographic money has been returned to parties in the US that have refused to account for what they have done with the money. Because these parties have resisted accountability, there is the likelihood that they may use questionable methods to retain these proceeds.

This method was evident in the web broadcast of the forum as the question and answer section was disrupted. While it would be easy to editorialize what happened artists need to hear what was said on their own.


I think artists owe it to themselves to watch the rebroadcast and get involved. I would suggest that you forward this email along to other artists and make them aware.

If you have any questions about the event please feel free to contact me.

Thanks,
Ken Dubrowski

Baker's Cabinet with Punched Tin Panels

This is a just completed Baker's Cabinet and is one of the finest pieces I have made for a client.
The client lives in a wonderful home in MA. and they were so nice to work for.

The cabinet is to be used in an older Colonial inspired kitchen, so while the interior has modern shelves with pullout drawers to get to pots and pans, the rest of the cabinet is made to look old.

The exterior is painted pine that has been distressed and worn look. Red over cream with crackle finish on the panels. The back is beaded pine with crackle cream painted over stained wood . The effect allows the cabinet to fit with the rest of the home's interior. The punched tin panels above add to the piece to make it a standout in the home.

Now I have to make another one for my wife...

Protecting Our Rights Collectively

FROM THE ILLUSTRATORS' PARTNERSHIP
You are cordially invited to attend an important industry-wide open forum

Protecting Our Rights Collectively
An Evening with Bruce Lehman
Thursday Feb 21 6:00 PM
Society of Illustrators
128 East 63rd Street
Admission will be free
Evening lecture, followed by Q & A
Following the event the Society’s bar will be open

With the Orphan Works Bill due for resurrection, with Getty slashing prices for stock imagery, with millions of dollars of illustrators' reprographic royalties going unaccounted for, six artists groups have banded together as a new organization to take action. Purpose: to create an industry-wide mandate to protect artists rights and to speak as an industry with one voice.

This new organization The American Society of Illustrators Partnership (ASIP) brings together the following groups:

The Society of Illustrators
The Illustrators' Partnership of America
The Association of Medical Illustrators
The American Society of Architectural Illustrators
The Guild of Natural Science Illustrators
The San Francisco Society of Illustrators
Six other groups are pending members and other groups are invited to join.

On Feb. 21 ASIP will introduce itself at the Society of Illustrators, hosting An Evening with Bruce Lehman

Mr. Lehman is one of the world’s leading experts on intellectual property: Principal author of the 1976 Copyright Act, principal author of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, former US Commissioner of Patents and Trademarks. In 1997, the National Journal named Lehman one of the 100 most influential men and women in Washington. Mr. Lehman was keynote speaker at the first Illustrators Conference in Santa Fe, 1999. For more about Mr. Lehman, go to http://www.iipi.org/nav_about/boards.asp#Honorable_Bruce_A._Lehman

This event is timed to coincide with the Society of Illustrators Editorial and Book Gala Feb 22. So if you’re planning to attend the opening, please attend this important open meeting the day before. Bring your questions, socialize with your colleagues and learn what steps we need to take next as an industry.

The American Society of Illustrators Partnership is a non-profit organization, incorporated October 25, 2007. Executive Director is Terry Brown. The Board is composed of representatives from each of the six Founding organizations.

If you are a member of one of the above groups, you are automatically eligible for joint membership in this new alliance. If you are not affiliated with any current group you’re welcome to join ASIP independently. There is no membership fee.

For more about this new alliance for protecting artists’ rights, listen to Steven Heller’s interview with Brad Holland:
http://www.core77.com/blog/broadcasts/core77_broadcast_brad_holland_on_intellectual_property_interviewed_by_steve_heller_6714.asp

An Evening With Bruce Lehman is sponsored by the Society of Illustrators and the American Society of Illustrators Partnership

Please post or forward this email in its entirety to any interested party.