From: owner-alloy-digest@smoe.org (alloy-digest) To: alloy-digest@smoe.org Subject: alloy-digest V4 #297 Reply-To: alloy@smoe.org Sender: owner-alloy-digest@smoe.org Errors-To: owner-alloy-digest@smoe.org Precedence: bulk X-To-Unsubscribe: Send mail to "alloy-digest-request@smoe.org" X-To-Unsubscribe: with "unsubscribe" as the body. alloy-digest Thursday, November 4 1999 Volume 04 : Number 297 Today's Subjects: ----------------- Alloy: open art commentary (OT) [RThurF@aol.com] Alloy: A Template for The Open Art ["electrix" Subject: Alloy: A Template for The Open Art Crackers and All: One of the best arrangements I have seen towards the freedom of creating music without all the Corporate trapping has been the Non-Profit organization setup by Carla Bley (musician) called The Jazz Composer's Orchestra Association, Inc. JCOA for short. The organization was setup during the late 60's and early 70's. The Organization was funded by several private individuals, The National Endowment of the Arts, and the Cultural Council Foundation. They setup a Record Company. For their first release they composed some musical material based on the poetry of Paul Haines called "Escalator Over The Hill." The performance were done by artist that were known to be supporters of "true" art. The likes of Jack Bruce, John McLaughlin, Linda Ronstadt, Don Cherry, Gato Barbeiri and more (quite and eclectic-ness; a mixture of jazz, pop, rock, brazilian artist). Another group who has resorted to do this is the King Crimson venture. However, they are about the emancipation from the Record Company stronghold. However, their system is virtually closed to membership. In any case, they get to record what they want on how they want to which amount to unrestricted but yet disciplined creativity. It is furthermore, for profit. But let's take JCOA as an example. In a similar manner a non-profit organization that has multimedia agenda could very well be an attraction to Open Art. In-house engineers, designers, poets, painters and such contributing to artistic work for the sake of Art instead of commercialism. Funding such an organization can be a breeze given that there can be non-profit club or concert performance for the support of FREE artist (artist not tied to Record Contracts) etc. This is not even touching upon the Internet possibilities in promoting and distributing some of the materials. Of course this is perhaps not as free as you might be envisioning since there is would be quite a bit a labor and resources involved. But the fact that it is non-profit organization would make the cost of making quality art work and the distribution of music price very low. Of course, this model presents a challenge just as well; the membership for one. Ego (Do you remember "We are the World" campaign. Quincy Jones had to put a sign out in the recording hall... something to the matter of leave your ego outside). Organizational structure and so forth. In any case, the above would be a VEHICLE for promoting Open Art as free or minimal donation, if agreed as such as part of the organizational charter. So here you have my musing on vehicle that could support the concept of Open Art and that motivates others into a cause worthwhile to the person as well as to others. Whether the Open Art would be free, that would be more a function of how much private donation or grants are obtain to support the labor intensive. As the non-profit organization grows we would hope certain things are charged for to keep the concept of Open Art continually viable. electrix ------------------------------ End of alloy-digest V4 #297 ***************************