Copyright Armageddon. That’s what this past week has felt like. Judgement Day for intellectual property. Yeah, there’s a whole lot of hyperbole flying around, and a whole lot of guts tied up in knots. Generally, I don’t like talking law or politics on PaperCuts. It’s an art blog, and I prefer to keep it that way. Unfortunately, some issues directly impact me and the work I do, like a shovel to the back of the head.
First, Darren Di Lieto of the Little Chimp Society, a fantastic art portal site (of which I am a member) sent out emails warning people about “Colorful Illustrations 93°C”, an art book created entirely from plagiarized material. Not much later, I heard that the Orphan Works Bill (you can download copies here) was back. A day or two after that, a good friend of mine found that her work had been purloined and used online without permission. This is bound to get wordy, so hang in there. Read the rest of this entry »
A very brief history of the beginning of all things: First, there was the big empty. Then, into that void, the flame leapt into being. Next came water, air, breath. But it was fire that started it all, that pricked pinholes into that infinite black velvet curtain. That brought light and warmth, and, eventually life and the means to sustain life. Being fickle, it also periodically erases what it has helped create. 
Eons ago, when the molten surface of the Earth was beginning to cool and get crispy; when single-celled organisms were just beginning to consider popping into existence, Emma Kid, erstwhile printmaker and writer of the blog 
There are times when, no matter how much we wish it were otherwise, we just don’t have what is needed to rise to the occasion. Don’t feel too bad for the Big Guy, tho. I’m confident that he won’t be giving up anytime soon. Maybe next time, he’ll try water-wings. 
