About Artisans Showcase

NOTE: This is a prototype system! Expect the unexpected, note problems and send reports to webmaster@thescholarsgarret.com

Aim

The aim of this site is to provide a computerized resource so that people can find and see photos of what various artisans are producing.

The contents of this site consists of automatically generated static HTML pages, generated from data held in situ. It will be able to be burned onto a CD-ROM and remain functional (except for some minor cgi programs, such as the site download and artist search).

This site includes (but will not be limited to):

• picture of the artist (put a face to the name)
• artist contact info and other info
• some items by each artist, categorized and with description, photos and (someday) documentation

Features

• an index of artisans, sorted by first name
• an index of items (of only limited use)
• an index of items, by category (much more useful!)
• the ability to download the entire database so that you can put it on a CD-ROM (ask me how to do this... it's very expensive of bandwidth)
• a search-for-artist-by-name link

The javascript for this search link can be saved in your browser as a bookmark. If you use a browser e-mail client (such as Mozilla, Netscape, et. al.) and encounter an artist's name in e-mail, or if you are browsing the web and encounter a name, all you would need to do to get information about that artist would be to highlight the name (usually double click) and select the shortcut. It will automatically go to the database and search for that artist.

Available Information

The following information will be collected:

Artists

• name(s)
• picture
• e-mail address
• personal url(s)
• accomplishments and awards (not a substitute for the Order of Precedence!)
• brief description of the artist, such as basic persona, where they live and what they do (optional)

A list of items they have in this database will be generated for the artist's page.

Items

• short description of the item
• artist or artists who made the item
• era (or range of eras)
• where it has been exhibited
• when it was added to the database
• photos of the item
• documentation associated with the item

How the Data is Collected

The data will be collected two ways:

• I go out and photograph stuff at events; and
• individual artists send me pictures of their stuff

If you are an artist and want to send me pictures, here's how.

Scope

At this time, the scope is limited to artisans in the SCA. During this phase of deployment, the scope will be further limited to the East Kingdom, only, but there are no technical reasons why this database could not expand to include other kingdoms.

All artists who want to participate can have their name and picture on this site but, at this time, I'm limiting the on-line items to things that can be photographed or that can be presented as research projects (i.e. still pictures and text). In the future, I will consider streaming video and/or audio for performance artists. I'm afraid that this may leave cooks, vintners, brewers, et. al. out in the cold. I'm open to suggestions as to how I can represent them, as well.

Considerations

The database can easily handle individual artists who go by more than one name.

The database can also handle items that are made by the contributions of more than one artist.

Participation in this database is strictly voluntary. I will require permission (releases) from each artist for their picture, contact (and other) info and pictures of their stuff to go on the web and be distributed by CD-ROM.

Artists will retain copyright to their items. They will simply be assigning particular rights to me (i.e. web publishing and unlimited CD-ROM distribution for personal use). I'm still open to considering other options for the limits of CD-ROM re-distribution.

The current prototype assumes that I am the only person collecting records for the database, but the underlying design is such that anyone can collect, collate and contribute. Contact me for details.

In the final released version, E-mail addresses on the artist pages will be obfuscated to reduce the ability of address harvester software to collect the addresses of the artists on the page.

Releases (draft)

Caveat

This site is not "officially" in production, yet. All these releases are just drafts.

Intent

I'm not going to put anything on the web unless I've got proper permission.

I don't mind putting up copyrighted materials, but I must have permission from the copyright holder.

The intent of this site is to get the widest exposure possible for artists and their work. To that end, I'll be making copies of the site on CD-ROM and giving them away. I want the people that I give them to to be able to make their own copies and give them away, as well.

I will take an artist's record and photos of their items off the web if they want me to. Once any CDs are "in the wild", I will not be able to go out and round them up to change them, but all subsequent CDs will reflect the new state of the database (i.e. won't have that particular artist's stuff on them).

I reserve the right to not put something in the database if I find it to be in poor taste. If this site were a movie, it would be rated "G".

If you aren't comfortable with these conditions, please don't participate.

Release from the artist

release.html for artist release.

item.html is the item information sheet.

CD-ROM re-distribution agreement

You may make a single copy of this database on a computer for personal use.

You may burn it to CD-ROM, provided you make an exact copy and that all re-distribution agreements remain intact. By making a CD-ROM copy of this database, you agree to accept all the terms of this agreement.

You may make unlimited copies of this CD-ROM and distribute them as you see fit, but you may not charge for them any fee or barter that is in excess of the cost to you of the raw materials (i.e. blank CD-ROM). You may not modify this distribution in any way, including but not limited to: do not remove artists, do not remove their work, do not tamper with the pictures or the text.

The programs, images and text in this distribution are copyright their respective creators. They may be available for commercial use, but you must negotiate with the respective owner(s), yourself.

Do not put this database on the web without permission! (Permission shall be deemed to have been given if the on-line database on the web site "artisans-showcase.org" is no longer available and you only include those artists from whom you've received permission.)