Urgent! Please read and act!

Judy Nakari sent me a disturbing email this morning; some of you might have gotten it too.

This is not an internet hoax. It's real, and if you're an artist, it affects your livelihood.

Under current copyright law, in effect for the last 30 years, your visual art is copy protected whether or not it is registered or carries the copyright symbol.

This week, the U.S. House of Representatives is expected to introduce the Orphan Works Act of 2008. If you care about protecting your work, you're against it. It will have the effect of wiping out any copyright on visual art now in existence, throwing your work into the public domain. If you wish to protect your work (each and every separate piece) you will have to digitize it and register it with private sector registries as yet uncreated, for a fee as yet unestablished. I say registries because this bill places no limit on how many separate registries there could be.

An interview with Brad Holland of the Illustrator's Partnership is here.

What can we do? The fastest, easiest thing is to sign a petition here.

For those of you more ambitious, here is contact info for our Representatives:

Gabrielle Giffords: 881-3588 or (202) 225-2542 or send an email through here.
Raul Grijalva: 622-0198 or 202-225-2435 or email through here.

Feel free to pass this on.

Sincerely,
Randy

An extraordinary event (in addition to Phil's party)

Hi, everybody,

I invite you to read my blog post for the Citizen called "An extraordinary event."

The event is Saturday night, more or less concurrent with Phil's party. Lisa and I will be swinging by there to do some filming before we go to Phil's.

Then we hope to see you at the party!

Randy

PRAG logo, take 2

I've gotten feedback from several of you on the logo (including Tony weighing in from ROME!).

I've heard more or less the same thing from each of you;

1. In general, love it!

2. Just what is that blob on the right that annoys me? :-)

Well, the blob was inspired by a mesquite tree, but that's academic as it will be disappearing soon.

How's this?



Best to all! Randy

Logo?

Okay, folks...

Here it is, as promised.

Feedback?

Spring Open Artists' Studio Tour

Friday, April 11, is the last day to register to participate in the May Open Studio Tour.

Though members of PRAG agreed that we could not participate as a whole for this one, it's still possible to participate individually. I've decided to do it, and just registered.

I think it's a great opportunity to promote PRAG, so I'll have handouts and a sign-up sheet in case anyone shows up. :-)

If anyone else wants to show, you can sign up here.

WAIT: I just saw in another place on their site that they're focusing just on DOWNTOWN this year. I have an email query into them. I'll get back with you....R.

–Randy

Let's party!!!

All PRAG participants are invited to a party at Phil Miller's place, Saturday, April 19, starting at 6 p.m. The party starts at 6 because as Lisa and I can profess, it's a great place to watch the sunset!

Phil says, "Bring your dancing shoes," as he'll be clearing out his studio for that purpose. BYOB, and something to grill, and Phil will be providing treats.

Hope to see you there!






–Randy