Ideas? Requests?

[AJ]

Heather, I'm going to go through my files since much of it is collected on the go (as I run across art or discover an artist), then I'll know better.

[Heather]

Aaron wrote: "Heather, I'm going to go through my files since much of it is collected on the go (as I run across art or discover an artist), then I'll know better."

Great! No problem.

[AJ]

I've decided to approuch this by artist, here's my first post. Since I'm also a librarian I utilized wiki to update the Goodreads author page:

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

[Heather]

Aaron wrote: "I've decided to approuch this by artist, here's my first post. Since I'm also a librarian I utilized wiki to update the Goodreads author page:

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...-..."

Wonderful, Aaron! Thank you!

[Lance]

I'd like to suggest renaming the "Theft and Forgeries" section to "Art-Related Crime."

There are more aspects to art crime than just theft and forgery. Some I can think of off the top: trafficking in cultural heritage items; the use of art in money laundering; mass destruction or expropriation of art (think the Nazis, Soviets, and the Taliban and Daesh); restitution and repatriation (the flip side of the previous topic); and, provenance fraud (doctoring the provenance of an artwork to increase its value).

This has become a thriving subgenre of art books, and I think we would benefit from having an inclusive home for it here.

[Lance]

Another suggestion: with 188 books on the group bookshelf, it's probably time to come up with a shelving system that makes things easier on members trying to find something.

I'd be happy to work on this, though I'm not sure I have the access to do it.

[Heather]

Lance wrote: "Another suggestion: with 188 books on the group bookshelf, it's probably time to come up with a shelving system that makes things easier on members trying to find something.

I'd be happy to work o..."

That's a wonderful idea, Lance. I would have no idea how to go about that. I will gladly leave it to you. Take it away! And if there is something you can't access, let me know. As I don't know how to do it, I don't know what you can or can't access. You may send me a PM or post it here. Whichever.

[Lance]

It appears that I can edit existing bookshelves, but not add new ones. Can you fix that for me? Thanks.

[Heather]

Alright. I went to add a book and it told me to choose a shelf or create a new one. Can you at least do that? But I think you would like to organize the books we have correct?

I am limited to only using my phone which is NOT the best. I have been without a computer for two weeks now.

I will see what I can do and let you know. I ask, though, that you have a little bit of patience with me. I'm still learning things about moderating a group after 7 years of doing so! But I am so happy that you offered to do this. I'm sure it will look great!

[Heather]

Geez, it won't let me rearrange the books as far as I can tell.

Does anyone in the group know how Lance or even just the moderator can create new shelves for already listed books? I can't figure it out...especially only using my phone.

Please share if you know how to help, it would be greatly appreciated!

[Lance]

Got it! It appears you can create shelves only while editing a book (either new or existing). You have to edit each book in order to assign it to a shelf. Clunky, but I can live with it.

[Heather]

Not to seem skeptical Lance, but we've had some seasoned and very active members of the group around for awhile. I've kind of gotten to know their personalities regarding the art world and interests in the group.

I'm letting you have this project trusting that you will keep it in line with the objective of the group as a whole. As in focusing only on art books, of course.

So, in what way are you going to organize the books? I'm curious about that one. I think it is a wonderful idea to make it easier for people to find things.

If you might just give me a clue as to how you are planning this to look, that would be greatly appreciated!

[Lance]

Well, take a look -- I've made a first pass, using categories that I think will be helpful. I think most of them speak for themselves. Some books end up on more than one shelf.

The most problematic shelf is "Individual Artists," mostly because it's the largest (85 books). Such is the nature of art-related books in general, so it may not be a real problem.

I've added a number of books that are on my (physical) shelves. We're up to 232 books now. Most of my additions involve art-related crime, though I also added some architects and some art-related fiction.

Let me know what you think. Shelves cost nothing and they're easy to rename, so nothing's etched in stone. We at least have something to start the discussion.

[Heather]

Wow, Lance! You really have put time and effort into these bookshelves! I think you have done an outstanding job!

I would have never thought of even organizing the what once was a mess of a general bookshelf. Great idea!

Thank you so much for your effort and the way that it is organized. I appreciate all that you are doing.

And thank you, also for adding more books! I, for one, am always interested in what all is out there about art and the different kinds of arts.

I did rate a few of the books I have read. Not that everyone has to agree with me, I hope this is alright with the rest of the group. And I will allow and even encourage anyone to rate a book that you see listed yourself! Let us know what you thought of the book by the star-rating.

And it is not set in stone what any certain book is rated according to one person. Basically it's whoever finds the book first has the opportunity to post a star rating, or you may choose not to rate at all or share your opinion.

Again, Lance, you've done a fantastic job! Thank you!!!

[Lance]

I'll try this again: can you rename the "Theft and Forgeries" section to "Art-Related Crime"?

You can check message #56 for the reasons, but basically it's because there are more types of art-related crime than just thefts and forgeries.

[Heather]

Lance wrote: "I'll try this again: can you rename the "Theft and Forgeries" section to "Art-Related Crime"?

You can check message #56 for the reasons, but basically it's because there are more types of art-rela..."

What do you mean you'll try this again? Did you post that request to change the title of the folder somewhere else and I missed it? BTW I did change the title.

[Lance]

I did, higher up on this page, just before I mentioned the bookshelf.

Thanks.

[Lance]

I've been chipping away at the bookshelves. I try to add any books that get mentioned in the forums, though I probably don't notice 100% of them. We now have 346 books in 25 categories.

On the Fiction shelf, I've been adding the first book in art-related fiction series. Some of these series can go on for a long time -- for instance, Estelle Ryan's Genevieve Lenard series now has twelve books.

Question: Should I include all the books in an art-related fiction series, or stop at the first book? It's not hard to bring them all in, I simply haven't done it so far (except for my own because... well, because). Thoughts?

[Heather]

Lance wrote: "I've been chipping away at the bookshelves. I try to add any books that get mentioned in the forums, though I probably don't notice 100% of them. We now have 346 books in 25 categories.

On the Fic..."

My first thought, Lance, is that you could list the first of the series and if one is interested in that, they would find the rest of the books, but then you said it isn't hard to add them all so I'm going to leave that up to you and your timetable. It's your call if you want to list them all. I don't mind either way.

[Brian]

Hello Art Lovers:
I'm looking for recommendations for a book on Gaugin that focuses on the paintings he did in Tahiti, and that provides detailed discussions on their significance.
Thanks.

[Heather]

Hi Brian!

Did you look in the book library that we have here in the group? It's at the bottom of the home page. Lance did a great job in putting it all together and there are many books there. I'm not familiar with 1/100th of them but maybe you could pick some out that seem to go along with what you are looking for. And also you could ask the group if anyone knows anything about those books you've chosen! Just an idea.

[Georgina]

I have something to add to the discussion on modern art. I like to recommend an art catalog from an author I know personally. Frances Tyler worked at the National Gallery of Art. She has developed a catalog of Romanian modern art from her husband, Geoffrey Tyler‘s collection. These exquisite paintings and sculptures are now housed in the University of Tasmania, Australia. I have enjoyed these lovely pictures and I hope you all will follow her page and leave reviews. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7...

[Chosen]

Heather wrote: "Alright, I admit, and you've probably noticed, that I have been a bit dormant for awhile. Well, I will have to concede, I'm out of ideas. I'm sorry. So I am opening this up to anyone who does have ..."

Could you draw these in your style?