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markartist's comments:
on Judge A Book By Its Pixels
I agree with most of the varied issues of all recent commenter's about this new medium. It is similar in many ways to the overall electronic computer discussions that came up long ago about people reading online vs. real books for years or the New York Times online vs. I like to hold the entire page or section outside without the distraction of a confined computer screen in small format. I actually do both as many will.
I have not held a Kindle Book in my hands yet but cannot help to agree with some that it may not be as natural or that the full impact of reading pixilated light compared to the natural reflected light from a printed page may have on the eyes over long periods of use. Perhaps we will find it has other advantages in time.
My one thought today is a similar one to the old days of computer crash, batteries gone dead, the technology is great when it works but if it fails? What happens when a Kindle Book is dropped onto concrete pavement not once but many times? Is it invulnerable? What if you just paid for many borrowed data sets and you drop it on a holiday far away on a dessert isle or in the water? Does it lose all your books and info? Does it ever break at the most inopportune time? where a conventional book merely scuffs the cover.
Maybe one last thought: Can I open the cover and sign it or have the author autograph it and make hand written notes throughout the book?
Mark Seibold, Artist-Astronomy Teacher
posted 3 years, 10 months ago
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on World-Class Arts?
Another great discussion; I commend Emily and the TOL staff and thank the guests, callers and commenters. I would especially like to thank Jessica Jarrat for taking on this great task.
The guest (caller Steven) as 'Opera man' in the comment blog finally makes the point after 45 minutes into the discussion that was not being made earlier.
The sheer importance of getting people interested in the arts. We must approach this first from the bottom up. Art is not a product; it is a process that we all engage in. That needs to be taught in the schools and education systems or we will remain lost in this as only a fashionable business that is mired in large government controlled factions.
As a local born and raised Portlander, I have been producing art since I was a child. I did not know that I was to become an award winning artist in my adult life whose astronomy art and photography art is now seen in OMSI calendars, NASA web sites, CD covers in London, famous national radio sites such as George Noory's Coast to Coast AM, awarded in international astronomy art forums, seen for years on coffee house and restaurant walls, in a gallery in the Pearl some years ago. I have been invited to lecture at schools and universities with my art as it has inspired students.
When I began to receive emails from around the world from people that want to buy it, I had to demur and tell them is it not really for sale because I am not set up to mass produce it. Of course I have received some small compensation for these past accolades, but not to make a living at it. Many thought I was nuts when I told them I do it for fun because there is really no money in making a living as an artist. As demand increases it may become a second side job but serious artists never start with the approach of doing art to make money. It is an innate natural inborn instinct that we all have. We need to approach it with that interest first. Then move on to the funding for it. Incidentally, tomorrow is 1st Thursday. GO, enjoy and learn!
Mark Seibold
Artist-Astronomy Teacher
posted 3 years, 10 months ago
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