Hiroyuki Hatano
Library of the National Museum of Western ArtThe Committee met twice during the Havana Conference and 14 of the Standing Committee members were able to attend. The Section received a gift of FRF 10,000 from the Comité d'Organisation de la Conférénce de Paris which had a profit from the 1989 Conference.
Aparatos de información del Ministerio de Cultura. Primer acercamiento al estado actual de las colecciones de arte: América Latina y el Caribe en Ciudad de La Habana
Abstract
Se realizara un breve estudio del estado de las
colecciones de arte de América Latina y el Caribe. Se analizaran
las diferentes vias de adquisición, procesamiento y almacenamiento
de la información. Realizar un estudio comparativo entre las
distintas instituciones.
Both Sides of the Fence, Librarian and Curator: Forming a Latin American Library Collection
Abstract
This paper presents an overview of the process of
establishing a Latin American Art Research Collection in a medium-
sized art museum library in the United States. The Department of
Latin American Art at the Phoenix Art Museum was officially
established on 1 January 1993. Although the Museum has through its
history collected Mexican art, the definition of the department has
been expanded to include all of Latin America. The Library has, as
well, collected materials relevant to the object collection of the
Museum, primarily Mexican titles. The task before the library staff
is the development of a collection which will support the
activities of the Department of Latin American Art. In the present
environment of the art world, Latin American art remains one of the
most stable and aggressive markets. Within the current climate of
multiculturalism, the position by the Phoenix Art Museum can only
be seen as assertively progressive. The paper attempts to explain
the steps that are necessary to achieve a working collection of
books and 35 mm slides after the establishment of a new curatorial
department.
Latinoarte: información sobre arte latinoamericano
Abstract
As international sources to the contents of periodical
literature are limited in their coverage of Latin American art, an
indexing project has been initiated at the Facultad de Filosofía y
Letras of the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México. The project
covers 426 periodical titles; as well as informing an international
audience, it will help to improve communications between Latin
American countries themselves. The current database covers
contemporary Latin American art, with plans to increase coverage to
the Pre-Hispanic, Colonial and modern periods.
Workshop
A one-day workshop on the theme of "Libraries as a Bridge
between Artist and Society" was held at the Museo Nacional de
Bellas Artes. It was attended by 65 people and papers for the
workshop covered a very wide geographical area: South Africa,
Wales, Russia, Cuba, Mexico and the United States.
The Havana-Miami Bridge, 1900-1945: Cuban and US Transportation Ephemera Collections in the Library of The Wolfsonian, Miami Beach, Florida
Abstract
This paper describes The Wolfsonian, outlining its
mission and illustrating its facilities both in Miami Beach,
Florida and Genoa, Italy. Following the introduction, a more
detailed overview is provided of the library and its subject
collections and chronological limitations, with special emphasis on
its unusual ephemera holdings. Utilizing items in the library
ephemera collections of The Wolfsonian, the paper explores the
literal and figurative transportation bridge between Havana and
Miami, and various other south Florida and Cuban cities during the
1900-1945 epoch. Transportation between Miami and Havana are
examined to demonstrate how both governments mixed concepts of the
avant garde, modernity and romanticized national themes and customs
to forge a bilingual, bicultural community which was familiar and
comfortable with the traditional motifs, yet at the same time found
the new technologies marring and discomforting. A brief
bibliographical overview highlights the titles in the library's
collections dealing with pre-1945 Cuban avant-garde art movements.
What Is the Place for Documentary Videos on Living Artists in the Art Library
Abstract
Increasingly, video is the medium of choice for learning
about art, because it is immediate and revealing. However, not all
art libraries include artists' documentary videos in their
collections. For libraries, video presents problems of changing
formats, lack of reviews, indexes and distributors. Videos
frequently accompany exhibitions on contemporary artists. What
happens to this documentation when the exhibition closes? What
resources besides the Getty's Art of Film Database keep track of
these independently produced videos? How can art libraries work
together in a coordinated effort to acquire, catalogue and preserve
documentary video work on artists?
Library Graphic Collections in Service to Artists in Russia
Abstract
The paper discusses in brief the activity of an art
library (based on experiences of the Russian State Library Graphic
Department) as a bridge between the artist and society, providing
wide access to images of artistic value and information on them.
The paper deals with both the artistic and cognitive aspects of the
creation process; with the artist's usage of graphic collections
for creative activity, the publishing industry and restoration of
monuments. Addressed are the typical forms of using the graphic
collections by artists in creating new works - such as book
illustrations and covers; calendars, postcards, posters, prints;
performances, shows, feature films and documentaries, etc. - on the
basis of library materials.
Into the Twenty-First Century Now: The Architecture Librarian as Mediator
Abstract
This paper is concerned with the role of the
architectural librarian in providing information and teaching
skills both to students of architecture and practitioners, to
promote the most effective use of the architectural knowledge-base.
It identifies the urgency expressed by the professional
establishment to change attitudes to and use of information in
design to meet present pressures and future demands placed by
society upon architects. The implication for architectural
education is examined and the measures taken in Cardiff by the
Welsh School of Architecture detailed. These demonstrate how the
librarian can provide a necessary link by which both education and
practice can harness future development in information technology.
Artists and Art Libraries
Abstract
The relationship of artists to art libraries is explored
for the purpose of gaining better understanding of artists' needs.
Discussed are use patterns in art libraries, artists' frustrations
with these institutions, major tools utilized by artists or on
their behalf, accommodation made by staff to serve the unique needs
of artists and suggestions for cooperative action by art librarians
that would improve service to this special group. Data were
gathered through a survey mailed to selected librarians in art
schools and public libraries in the United States, and through
inquiry on the Art Libraries Society of North America's electronic
discussion list, ARLIS-L in the winter and spring of 1994.
Museum Art Libraries as a Bridge between the Artist and Society with Specific Reference to the South African National Gallery Library
Abstract
The paper describes how the museum art library can act as
a direct link between the artist and society. In Europe and North
America, the primary function of museum libraries is to serve the
parent organization thereby serving the community in an indirect
capacity only. In South Africa where there are comparatively fewer
museum libraries and publications concerned with the visual arts
and where there are so many disadvantaged people, it is vital that
special collections such as the South African National Gallery
Library collection are made accessible in the widest possible sense
and that museum library information programmes should be directed
externally as well as internally to all museum staff.
Creative Cooperation between Librarian and Artist
Abstract
The paper describes the relationship between the Russian
State Arts Library and artists and points out that the unique
holdings and catalogues of the library form a rich source for
artists. Librarians and artists cooperate in a unique way to
develop specific projects together, for example, researching
costumes for films. The Library also sponsors exhibitions of
paintings and other arts both for individual artists and groups.
This cooperative provides a great opportunity for educating young
people in appreciating the arts.
Twentieth Century Latin American Women Artists, Discovery and Record: A Work in Progress
Abstract
This paper identifies the need for a bibliographic
apparatus that brings together readily available sources in the
United States on 20th century Latin American women artists. The
author describes a work in progress which attempts to accomplish
this goal and, in the process, highlights the resources of the Art
Exhibition Catalog Collections housed in the Arts Library at the
University of California at Santa Barbara. The paper draws upon
some of these resources to present descriptive and visual
information on two exiled Cuban artists.
Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes, Implementation of a New System in the Center for Information documentation and Library "Rodrigues Morey": Study and Results
Abstract
An analysis was conducted using the standard of the Cycle
of Scientific Information Activity (Ciclo de la Actividad
Cientifica, ACI). This was applied to the functions of the
different subsystems composing the Center for Information,
Documentation and Library "Rodriguez Morey", proving the existence
of internal problems, and making apparent the need to install an
interacting system that allows achieving shared results. A
comparative table is offered showing the state in March 1993 and
the current state in March 1994.