Like to get up really early? 4 am early? If so, this is the project for you! The 4 am Project is gathering photographs from around the world at this magical, or crazy hour, depending on whether you are a night person, or a morning person. All you have to do in shoot an image and share it with others on flickr by tagging them with “4amproject”. I guess you can get to work right away, but the big input of photographs is scheduled to come in at 4am on April 4th, 2009.

Here’s a photograph from a previous year titled Tunisia Rising by YoungGoGetter.co.uk.

¿Le gusta madrugar? ¿Como a las 4 am? De ser así, este proyecto le interesara. El Proyecto 4 Am está recogiendo fotos alrededor del mundo de esta mágica (o loca) hora del día, dependiendo a quien le pregunte. Todo lo que tiene que hacer es tomar fotos y compartirlas con otro por medio de flicker, al agregar el tag “4amproject”. La mayoría de fotos se compartirán el 4 de abril, 2009 a las 4 AM, pero podemos empezar a tomar fotos inmediatamente, así es que ¡manos a la obra!

Aquí hay una foto usada anteriormente con este proyecto, tomada por YoungGoGetter.co.uk, titulada Tunisia Rising.

Share and Enjoy

Las Comadres & Friends National Latino Book Club is a partnership between Las Comadres, Association of American Publishers (AAP) and Borders to promote the reading of Latino writers.

The group meets once a month in a selected venue (usually a Borders book store) to discuss the previously selected book. Discussions are conducted in English as are the selected books, although many are available in Spanish as well. I assume this is done to make the group accesible to more people. The other neat thing is that whenever possible the author participates in these events as well, via teleconference.

Membership is open to everyone, and if you wish to join them for the next session the book currently being read is “Notorious“, by Michele Martinez; the meeting is March 30th. Here’s a list of all the venues nationwide.

Las Comadres & Friends National Latino Book Club es una asociación entre Las Comadres, Association of American Publisher (AAP) y la tienda de libros Borders para promover la lectura de autores Latinos.

El grupo se reúne una vez al mes en un sitio designado (usualmente una tienda de Borders) para discutir el libro previamente seleccionado. Las discusiones son en ingles, así como los libros seleccionados, aunque usualmente los libros también se encuentran en traducciones al español. Otra cosa interesante de este proyecto es que cuando es posible el autor participa en los eventos, usualmente vía teleconferencia.

Membresía al grupo esta abierto a todos, y si desea atender la próxima reunión el libro a leer es “Notorious” de Michele Martínez. El grupo se reunirá el 30 de Marzo. Aquí encontrara la lista de todos los sitios de reunión alrededor del país.

Share and Enjoy

March is Women’s History Month in the USA and a number of universities, libraries, and other educational institutions are preparing events to celebrate. This month long celebration started with events for International Women’s Day, which falls every year on March 8th.

Many of the celebrations around this date wish to write women back into history and to make sure we remain part of the narrative for the future. The National Women’s History Project is an organization that works year around towards this end. This year their theme is “Women Taking the Lead to Save our Planet“, an event which will honor women engaged in various effort to keep this planet green.

The USA Library of Congress (LOC) is celebrating by creating a website which highlights many of the treasures they hold related to women’s history. The site currently focuses on women’s contribution to the arts, offering us highlights to musicians, painters, photographer and writers; each with direct links to specific collections with in the library. There is also a section with resources to help teachers and students highlight women in the classroom.

Two more great resources for women’s history from the LOC include the America Women, and  Women at War. The Schlesinger Library is also another excellent collection on women in American history.

Image info here.

En EEUU Marzo es el Mes de la Mujer y universidades, bibliotecas y otras instituciones de educación están haciendo preparativos para celebrar. Este mes de celebración tiene origen con el Día Internacional de la Mujer, el cual se celebra cada 8 de Marzo.

Muchas de las celebraciones en esta fecha quieren recordar a las mujeres a lo largo de la historia, y asegurarse de que continuemos siendo parte de esta narrativa en el futuro. El proyecto Nacional de Historia de la Mujer (National Women’s History Project) es una organización que trabaja a lo largo del año hacia este fin. Este año están organizado eventos bajo el titulo de “Mujeres Tomando la Iniciativa para Salvar el Planeta,” el cual hará honor a mujeres comprometidas en la labor de mantener este planeta verde.

La Biblioteca del Congreso en EEUU esta celebrando con la creación de varios sitios web dedicados a resaltar algunos de los tesoros que tiene relacionados a la historia de las mujeres. Actualmente el sitio hace énfasis en las contribuciones que han hecho las mujeres en el campo del arte, ofreciéndonos muestras de mujeres en el campo de la música, pintura, fotografía, y escritura; cada entrada con enlaces directos a las colecciones correspondientes en la biblioteca. También hay una sección con recursos para maestros y estudiantes que deseen resaltar a las mujeres en el salón.

Dos recursos más de interés en la Biblioteca del Congreso con la colección Mujeres Americana (American Women), y Mujeres en la Guerra (Women at War). La biblioteca Schlesinger también es un recurso excelente en este campo.

Información sobre la imagen aquí.

Share and Enjoy

Living Library is a project working to breakdown stereotypes and prejudice. The project is based on the simple notion of open dialog and interactions, with the aims that these will help dispel stereotypes and prejudice. The idea is to set up a space where people can speak informally with “people on loan” who come in a wide range of sex, age, and cultural backgrounds.

The idea of a Living Library started in Copenhagen, Denmark and has continues to spread across the world. Back in 1993 a group of friends saw the need to help end violence, after a fellow friend was stabbed. The incident motivated the group to do something to help raise awareness, and to help end violence, and did so by creating a group called “Stop The Violence”. Back in 2000 Leif Skov, director for the Roskilde Festival encouraged the group to create a space that would focus on anti-violence and encourage dialogue among festival attendees.

Activities for a Living Library meeting usually include a book that list a type of person (Muslim, Male Nanny, Lesbian, Vegan, Police Officer, Fat person etc) with a list of often associated concepts. Along with the book comes the real person who fits the title. The idea is to “borrow” this living book, and openly discuss the issues. All the “books” are volunteers, who have wished to contribute to the ongoing discussion to dispel stereotypes.

Over the year the Living Library project has continue to spread around the globe, and recently Lismore, Australia has become the first city to have a permanent Living Library. Other countries hosting such events include Canada, Finland, Italy, Japan. Spain, Romania, UK, and the USA, just to name a few. I do notice that the project has still not reached Africa, Central or South America, or Asia, but hopefully they will eventually make it out there.

If you are interested in visiting a Living Library or being a Living Library you should check the list of ongoing projects, or set up a project of your own.

Image taken at a Living Library event in Lorca, Spain.

Living Library (Biblioteca Viviente) es un proyecto que se dedica a romper estereotipas y prejuicios. El proyecto se bases en la sencilla noción de que el dialogo abierto nos puede ayudar a romper los estereotipas y prejuicios que todos llevamos consigo. La idea es ofrecer un espacio donde se puede conversar informalmente con personas que se “prestan”, y quienes vienen en toda variedad de sexo, edad, y culturas.

La idea de la Biblioteca Viviente empieza en Copenhagen, Dinamarca y continúa expandiéndose através del mundo. En 1993 un grupo de amigo se vio motivado a ayudar eliminar la violencia después de que uno de sus amigos fuera atacado. El incidente motivo al grupo a crear un grupo que ayudara a crear consciencia social, y a su vez ayudara a eliminar la violencia. Con esta idea empezaron un grupo llamado “Stop The Violence” (Pare la Violencia). Luego, en el 2000 Leif Skov, el director del festival de Roskilde animo al grupo a crear un espacio que ayudara a promover la no-violencia, e incitara a los visitantes del evento a empezar un dialogo.

Las actividades de un evento de Bibliotecas Vivientes usualmente incluyen un libro que lista clases de personas (musulmán, niñera hombre, lesbiana, vegan, policía, persona gorda, etc.) y luego lista conceptos usualmente asociados con esta persona. Junto con el libro viene una persona real. La idea es “prestar” el libro y abiertamente tener una conversación sobre el tema. Todos los libros son voluntarios; personas que desean contribuir a disipar estereotipas.

Através de los años el proyecto de Bibliotecas Vivientes continua creciendo, y recientemente la ciudad de Lismore, Australia se convirtió en la primera ciudad en tener una Biblioteca Viviente permanente. Otros países que tiene Bibliotecas Vivientes incluyen Canadá, Finlandia, Italia, Japón, España, Romanía, el Reino Unido, y los Estados Unidos, solo por nombrar algunos. Claro que si noto que el proyecto aun no llega al África, a Centro o Sur América o a Asia, pero ojala pronto lleguen.

Si le interesa visitar una Biblioteca Viviente o ser un Libro Viviente favor mirar la listo de proyectos ya establecidos. O de pronto se anime a crear un proyecto nuevo.

La imagen es de un evento de Bibliotecas Vivientes en Lorca, España.

Share and Enjoy

World Book and Copyright Day (what a mouthful) is a yearly event to commemorate Miguel de Cervantes, William Shakespeare, and the Inca Garcilaso de la Vega, all major figures in world writing (and I wonder where the women are…). Legend says that all these great men died on April 23, 1616, although more accurate calculations reveal that Shakespeare’s death date was actually marked on a Julian calendar, and therefore should be May 3 rd. on the Gregorian calendar.

In any case, the date was proposed to the UNESCO’s International Union of Editor as a day to promote culture and raise awareness around intellectual property rights. Final approval came on November 15, 1995.

Current festivities include a rotating title of World Book Capital. This began in 2001 with Madrid, last year it was Bogotá, and this year the world’s book capital is Amsterdam, next year it will be Beirut.

Click here for UNESCO’s page on World Book and Copyright Day.

At random, here are a few links to how a handful of libraries around the world are celebrating.

• Bibliotecas Municipales de Málaga, Spain
  
• Centro Nacional de las Artes, Mexico
• General celebrations in Colombia
• Canada’s Education Ministry

Image info here.

El Día Internacional de Libro es un evento anual para conmemorar a Miguel de Cervantes, William Shakespeare, y el Inca Garcilaso de la Vega, todas grandes figuras en el mundo de la escritora (¿y donde estarán las mujeres…?). La leyenda dice que los tres hombres murieron el 23 de abril de 1616, aunque cálculos mas acertados revelan que Shakespeare realmente fue notada en un calendario Juliano, lo que traduce al 3 de mayo en el calendario gregoriano.

En todo casi, la fecha fue propuesta por la Unión Internacional de Editores de UNESCO para promover la cultura y crear consciencia sobre la propiedad intelectual. Aprobación del proyecto llego el 15 de noviembre de 1995.

Actualmente las celebraciones incluyen una Capital Mundial del Libro, la cual rota cada año. Esto empezó en el 2001 con Madrid, el año pasado le toco a Bogotá, y este año la capital mundial es Ámsterdam, en año entrante será Beirut.

Haga clic aquí para ver la página de UNESCO sobre el Día Internacional del Libro.

Al azar he escogido algunos enlaces de como algunas bibliotecas alrededor del mundo están celebrando.

• Bibliotecas Municipales de Málaga, España
• Centro Nacional de las Artes, México
• Celebraciones en Colombia
• Ministerio de Educación en Canadá

Información sobre la imagen aquí.

Share and Enjoy

This morning the New York Times had an article about two parallel art exhibits displaying art looted during WWII. The exhibit is a collaboration between France and Israel in aims at reconnecting these pieces with their original owners. Most of the art on display was either outright looted or forcefully “bought” by the Nazi, and so far has gone unclaimed, presumably because the original owners were likely killed in the Holocaust. The collections contain a number of “common” pieces, but also works from renown artist such as Cézanne, Manet, Degas, Chagall, Delacroix, and Monet among others.

Art and other cultural pieces are often looted during times of war and much has been written and discussed on the subject. Actually a couple semesters ago I attended a lecture by Patricia Kennedy Grimsted, a Harvard professor who has written extensively on collections held in Russian archives which previously belong to other nations. Her book, “Trophies of War and Empire: The Archival Heritage of Ukraine, World War II and the International Politics of Restitution” discusses the complexities of restitution and why countries loot other nations’ cultural treasures.

Fortunately there are efforts around the globe to stop this practice. The Lost Art Internet Database is a project from the Koordinierungsstelle für Kulturgutverluste which is working to reconnect lost cultural property to its original owners. Looted Art is another such initiative, and while many of these efforts circle the Holocaust this is not a phenomenon seen exclusively around WWII, Chile recently returned a number of book taken from the Peruvian National Library about 100 years ago. And it’s not just armies who walk away with cultural property that belongs to others. Some of the largest and best endowed universities and museums around the world have gotten some of their material in such a matter. Egypt has been demanding the return of the Rosetta Stone for years, to name just one example (You can read about this from an article in the BBC). Unfortunately we are still seeing this practice in current times; the National Museum of Iraq was gravely looted during the USA invasion. (You can read about the Iraqi National Museum from an article in the Guardian.)

Share and Enjoy

Yes! You can enjoy the opera at the movie theater! Last season Peter Gelb, director of the Metropolitan Opera began this amazing project of doing live broadcast to a number of HD movie theaters across the USA and around the world. Tickets do cost about twice as much as regular movie tickets, but this project is still bringing extraordinary cultural events to a much larger audience that those who can afford regular opera tickets.

Presentations also include some behind the scene takes, allowing the audience to see how the sets are installed and some of the makeup and props used during the production. During the broadcast of Hansel and Gretel, Renée Fleming also provided background commentary and short interviews with the two main singers and the stage director, giving the presentation a very interesting and well rounded approach.

During the presentation I attended today, we did have some technical difficulties with the sound during the second part of the show, but people after the theater was notified, the rest of the presentation went very smoothly. All in all is was a great experience and I was delighted to be able to access a world class cultural event at an affordable price.

For more information on the Metropolitan Opera’s HD presentations check out their website. On the left you will find a link to buy tickets in the USA or around the world. Other countries participating in this project include Canada, the UK, Australia, Germany, Japan, among others.

On Friday, January 4, 2008, Tom Ashbrook, presenter of WBUR’s On Point interviewed Peter Gelb about this project. You can listen to the interview here.

Share and Enjoy

This weekend I attended the 31st. Boston International Antiquarian Book Fair. I heard about this event after a visit to the John Carter Brown Library and decided to check it out. I saw a number of fascinating book, not all as old as I expected. Some of the exhibitors had material that dated back hundreds and hundreds of years, as well as other book from the 20th century. Newer books were usually first editions and they were usually signed. Among these first editions I saw books by Garcia Marquez, Steven King, and John Steinbeck, among others. Some of the vendors had old maps, prints (including an original Chagall), poster, and I even saw an entire case of glass eyes that was for sale.

I also attended two lectures the first by Anne Bromer, titled Miniature Books: 4,000 of tiny treasures, and the second presentation was titled Japanese Illustrated Books, by Charles Vilnis. During the first presentation I learned about the practical use of miniature books (usually books smaller than 3 inches). We saw a copy of a miniature book version of the Emancipation Proclamation which Lincoln had printed and gave to soldiers to hand out throughout many southern states. I also heard of a collection of classics that were printed in miniature form which people who spend a lot of time on the road could easily take with. In general I was surprised to learn that miniature books were usually created to be read and used, instead of being only for decoration.

During the presentation on prints in Japanese books we saw an amazing selection of images that dated as far back as the 1600s and as recent as the mid 1900. The illustrations ranged from very simple, elegant images, to long scrolls that describes entire journeys.

Share and Enjoy

Earlier this week I was in NYC to witness the auction of a portion of a collection I helped inventory about two years ago. The collection was pieced together by Maury Bromsen, a rare book collector based in Boston, who passed away in 2005, bequeathing the entire collection to the John Carter Brown Library (JCB) in Providence Rhode Island. The Bromsen collection originally included material by and about Simon Bolivar, which had already been donated to the JCB, along with material mostly, but not exclusively, from the 18th, 19th and 20th century spanning the length and width of Latin America. Among the material I inventoried were original proclamations of the Mexican independence, along with entire collection by Andres Bello. There was also material on tourism, politics, novels, memoirs, cookbook, and all kinds of other literary pieces emerging from the region.

The auction, which took place at Swann Auction Galleries, included 68 lots from the original Bromsen collection, all of which were sold in about an hour. This sale was set up as a shelf sale, meaning that everything had to sell, regardless of the price; this would be in contrast to a catalog sale where the seller set a minimum price, and items will be kept if there are no buyers willing to pay this price.

Buyers in this occasion were mainly book dealers who had to buy entire book lots to get a few hidden gems, which they would later resell individually. Someone else that was there buying and whom I got to meet was the director of the Biblioteca Luis Angel Arango, in Bogotá, Colombia. The fact that she came all the way from Colombia to buy books on Latin America in New York was very telling of how the flow of books works these days.

There are still thousands of book from the Bromsen collection that will be auction off sometime in the future. The next sale will likely be middle prices material, and the last one will be for all the remaining treasures.

Share and Enjoy

This weekend I was in Philly to see the Tutankhamen exhibit at the Franklin Institute Science Museum. My mom saw this exhibit when it toured the USA back in the 1970s and she still raves about it today, so we met-up and saw the exhibit together.

I had read a good amount about the exhibit for a paper I wrote a while back and found out that this time around the exhibit was being promoted more as a rock concert than a cultural event. This was very much the case. The exhibit is surrounded by a lot of fanfare, and lots of publicity. It is being hosted by a partnership between the L.A. based Anschultz Entertainment Group (AEG) (better known for promoting rock concerts), Egypt’s Secretary General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, and National Geographic.

While it might be another 30 years before we are able to see world treasure such as Tutankhamen, this exhibit wasn’t all that it’s cracked up to be. My mom says that the first time around there were a lot more objects, and that while the museum was crowded, one could still enjoy the exhibit and see things in a leisurely manner. This time some of the more famous pieces were missing, including Tutankhamen himself along with his many sarcophagus, and seeing the pieces was challenging in the overly crowded rooms. I also saw a guy in a wheel chair who probably spend the entire time looking at people’s backs since he wasn’t able to get up close to the cases because there were so many people there. These short-comings might give credence to some of the criticism that has surrounded the exhibit, among them the challenge that AEG has outsourced museum curatorial jobs to others outside the field.

The Egyptian Secretary General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities Dr. Zahi Hawass explains that Egypt has a wealth of treasures that need to be preserved, not all as flashy as Tutankhamen, so the motivation behind the exhibit is to raise much needed funds to help with this preservation initiative.

In interviews, several Egyptologist said that most of what Dr. Hawass was doing for their field was long overdue, things as simple as installing air conditioning at the Egyptian Museum in Cairo. He has instituted zoning around major antiquity sites and built visitor centers to prevent further degradation. He also has plans to build a regional museum in Egypt, including a sprawling new structure besides the pyramids (Waxman, 2005).

While this effort is certainly much needed, a tricky situation has been created whereby the hosting museums are needing to charge significantly higher admission prices than usual in an effort to brake even, since the Egyptian government must make 10 million per stop before the museum makes a penny. The Egyptian government claims that all the hosting museums made money during the first tour, while they made none, although this is contested.

I guess some balance needs to be found by which poor nations with treasures of importance to the world should be able to access needed funds for preservation and promoting education, but doing so in a way that doesn’t limit the amount of people who can see them because they have been priced out of the market. Treasures like Tutankhamen, in a way, belong to all of humanity and should be accessible to everyone, not just those with deep pockets.

Image info here.

Share and Enjoy