I received the welcome pack today for Barefoot in the Park in Duluth, Georgia. There is a Reproduction Policy that states:
"Any artwork, including photographs, that are produced by mechanical means i.e. giclees, photo-offset or any other reproduction technique must be labeled a "reproduction" and placed in browse bins. Framed reproductions must be less than 50% of works hanging in your booth. This show will be monitored for compliance to the policy"
My photos, like the majority of photographers these days, are printed using Epson K3 pigment ink process which is technically a giclee. The same policy wording is buried in the application but I didn't notice it and I was clear on my application that my prints are digitally processed (although I use only traditional darkroom techniques and don't manipulate). There are several other photographers in the show that print digitally.
Has anyone run into this before and is it something I should be concerned about? I wouldn't be concerned at all except the policy statement clearly includes photographs. If they are serious about this they way the policy is writtne they are excluding probably 90% of photographers exhibiting at shows.
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My media is photography, my materials are pigment ink on archival paper.
I was at a show several years ago and the judge wanted to choose a particular piece of mine. Instead of taking the large impressive gallery wrap she took the small matted print of the same image. Her excuse - she didn't want to take the giclee. That's when i knew there was serious misunderstanding about the word and I undertook to write a definition of giclee using sources from the web. This is what I came up with:
Very good article, including the comments. I think overall we agree giclee = ink jet print. The other stuff is splitting hairs. If they retired the term tomorrow it wouldn't be too soon for me.
I understand the frustration you experience. Many people don't know the difference between (as Larry said) the concept of an original print be it photographic or printmaking and a reproduction.
Could it be the judge didn't want to take the giclee on canvas because they thought you could sell it and thought the smaller one represented the image as well?
Probably 10-15 years ago, when the concept of printing via spraying ink on a substrate began in earnest by printing companies, these companies needed some way of differentiating this new method from the time-tested practice of offset printing. Someone came up with giclee', which is from the French verb gicler, to spurt or squirt. Since then, this term has evolved into a life form that is currently plaguing galleries, museums, and art shows. As has been said many, many times on this and other threads on AFI, giclee'=inkjet. 'Nuf said. RIP aeternum.
I wasn't suggesting Barry ask about "trays" that was just a thought about what they meant. I was suggesting he call for clarification. They may have been trying to differentiate between traditional and digital and doing it badly.
As for what you call it... I was suggesting you primarily call it a photograph. Calling it ink or pigment on whatever implies you are applying the ink by hand as a drawing process, not through a machine process.
Larry, you can define what you do any way you want but there are still very set definitions for particular things. I suppose you can call blue, red all you want it is still the same color. Know what I mean? This includes the definition of Giclee, Alison. It doesn't change what it is simply in the way it is framed or presented. It is what it is. Either the definition is correct or it isn't. Incorrect definitions don't change the fact of something. It just shows there is confusion, in the case of Giclee it is often because they are misrepresented.
Larry Berman > Terry CorcoranApril 21, 2011 at 10:12am
I don't understand your comment about calling blue, red.
A Giclee is an ink jet print and depending on whether the original exists prior to printing, it can either be an original or a reproduction. Photographers shouldn't have to defend themselves as to how they define what they do. They either print photographs or if it's a photograph of a photograph, as in calendar or commercially printed greeting cards, a reproduction.
I agree it can be an original or a reproduction, the definitions of each are important to ascertain which it is. You defined Giclee as an Ink jet print, correct, I agree there are misconceptions about what it is but that doesn't change what it is. A giclee is a giclee an offset is an offset. I was pointing out if you call a photograph ink on paper or canvas it is still a photograph. Calling it ink on something and not identifying it as a photograph perpetuates confusion. (I'v seen it at a show no mention of photography on booth sign) I believe someone made the statement they call it Ink on Canvas. I can understand in describing the process that the term giclee could be omitted to avoid confusion but I think including the word photography is important.
Gallery wrap is not exclusive to Giclee, just as giclee's do not have to wrap around the edge but can be framed under glass and matted as Alison mentioned. The canvases I buy to paint on are Gallery wrap. It doesn't make it a giclee because it goes around the edges though some people assume it is.
Confusion over the word define/definition. Artists in general should experiment and play, be creative, break the theoretical rules, push the limits in exploring their medium. I was not suggesting anyone stay in a box. If that is what you meant by "defining what you do"(I get it now) I wouldn't let someone in my own category define me.
OK, let's cut to the chase. Barry, phone the show - don't give them your name, just that you're thinking of applying in photography and that since ALL photography involves some sort of mechanical process (camera/darkroom/computer/printer), do you still have to call your photography - in their show - "reproductions"? If they're that picky, move on to another show, because this one sounds like it's run by a bunch of amateurs who have way too many rules detrimental to artists.
Due to the many different definitions of giclee I would assume that they mean something other than ink-jet prints. A common use among shows these days is to use the word to describe gallery wraps.
Larry Berman > Alison ThomasApril 21, 2011 at 7:02am
Not necessary gallery wraps. But the term Giclee is synonymous with reproductions, which is considered to be a mechanical process.
My experience is that most shows haven't got a clue what a giclee is. I tried once to write a definition and found that there are multiple ideas even among non artists. Some shows think a canvas gallery wrap is a giclee while the same photograph framed is not. I agree with you - ink jet = giclee but a lot of people don't think that. I call my process "pigment on paper" rather than giclee. My advice is to stay away from the word giclee entirely when describing your process. It's a lot less confusing that way.
Replies
I was at a show several years ago and the judge wanted to choose a particular piece of mine. Instead of taking the large impressive gallery wrap she took the small matted print of the same image. Her excuse - she didn't want to take the giclee. That's when i knew there was serious misunderstanding about the word and I undertook to write a definition of giclee using sources from the web. This is what I came up with:
http://alisonthomas-serenityscenes.blogspot.com/2008/05/what-is-gic...
Very good article, including the comments. I think overall we agree giclee = ink jet print. The other stuff is splitting hairs. If they retired the term tomorrow it wouldn't be too soon for me.
I understand the frustration you experience. Many people don't know the difference between (as Larry said) the concept of an original print be it photographic or printmaking and a reproduction.
Could it be the judge didn't want to take the giclee on canvas because they thought you could sell it and thought the smaller one represented the image as well?
I wasn't suggesting Barry ask about "trays" that was just a thought about what they meant. I was suggesting he call for clarification. They may have been trying to differentiate between traditional and digital and doing it badly.
As for what you call it... I was suggesting you primarily call it a photograph. Calling it ink or pigment on whatever implies you are applying the ink by hand as a drawing process, not through a machine process.
Larry, you can define what you do any way you want but there are still very set definitions for particular things. I suppose you can call blue, red all you want it is still the same color. Know what I mean? This includes the definition of Giclee, Alison. It doesn't change what it is simply in the way it is framed or presented. It is what it is. Either the definition is correct or it isn't. Incorrect definitions don't change the fact of something. It just shows there is confusion, in the case of Giclee it is often because they are misrepresented.
A Giclee is an ink jet print and depending on whether the original exists prior to printing, it can either be an original or a reproduction. Photographers shouldn't have to defend themselves as to how they define what they do. They either print photographs or if it's a photograph of a photograph, as in calendar or commercially printed greeting cards, a reproduction.
Larry Berman
http://BermanGraphics.com
412-401-8100
I agree it can be an original or a reproduction, the definitions of each are important to ascertain which it is. You defined Giclee as an Ink jet print, correct, I agree there are misconceptions about what it is but that doesn't change what it is. A giclee is a giclee an offset is an offset. I was pointing out if you call a photograph ink on paper or canvas it is still a photograph. Calling it ink on something and not identifying it as a photograph perpetuates confusion. (I'v seen it at a show no mention of photography on booth sign) I believe someone made the statement they call it Ink on Canvas. I can understand in describing the process that the term giclee could be omitted to avoid confusion but I think including the word photography is important.
Gallery wrap is not exclusive to Giclee, just as giclee's do not have to wrap around the edge but can be framed under glass and matted as Alison mentioned. The canvases I buy to paint on are Gallery wrap. It doesn't make it a giclee because it goes around the edges though some people assume it is.
Confusion over the word define/definition. Artists in general should experiment and play, be creative, break the theoretical rules, push the limits in exploring their medium. I was not suggesting anyone stay in a box. If that is what you meant by "defining what you do"(I get it now) I wouldn't let someone in my own category define me.
Larry Berman
http://BermanGraphics.com
412-401-8100
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