Fall 2007, Week 2

Project Background:
The Artists’ Television Network was a cable broadcast channel in New York operating from 1976 to 1984. All tapes were donated by Jaime Davidovich, President, Cable Soho. Exact administrative structure is unclear, but Cable Soho and ATN are more or less the same thing, with Cable Soho the station that broadcast on the AT Network.

Tapes consist of interviews, variety shows, and original video and performance art. Major figures in collection include Cindy Sherman, John Cage, Gregory Battcock, Vito Acconci, Laurie Anderson, Dara Birnbaum, Marina Abramavic and Ulay, Lucy Lippard, jean Dupuy, and Nam June Paik.

The collection started in the mid-1980’s when Davidovich donated the materials to the University of Iowa’s Alternative Traditions in Contemporary Art collection, under direction of Estera Milman. Vision for the ATN project included using the collection as a base from which to expand into an media and research center. The direction of the project collapsed apparently due to conflict of administrative figures involved.

Project Problems:
The most significant problem facing this project is that of copyright. I searched the print materials associated with this collection for a few days and finally came across some University of Iowa documents from when the collection was being built and funding secured stating that artists would retain all copyrights unless otherwise noted on the tapes. I did find release waivers from Gregory Battcock and Steven Poser, who were involved in discussions and interviews. Basically this means I will need to start contacting artists directly for reproduction rights.

There is a filmmaker with connections to the University who recently did a John Cage documentary. I’m working to contact her for ideas on how to get reproduction rights for the Cage interview. Also, I joined ALA’s Video Round Table where I was connected to some listservs for librarians working with video and media. Its nice to know there is a responsive and supportive network of professionals out there who aren’t above helping a newbie.

One other problem is access to equipment for viewing and reformatting the U-Matics. Campus resources having proven reluctant to help in providing access to a deck, unless of course we want to pay them $80 an hour to reformat for us. Apparently students aren’t to be trusted with antiquated tape machines that aren’t in use by anyone. $350 for a deck on eBay. I say shell out the clams so Special Collections can actually provide access to the content. You know, use the collection for what it was intended. This is totally unfair to Special Collections since the ATN tapes have gone al but forgotten.

Progress:
Weee-hu-hu-hu-hu-hell, not so much. I’ve narrowed down our copyright problem; too bad its bad news. We’re getting closer to getting the equipment we need. And coming to a full understanding of the difficulties of putting this collection online has allowed me to wrap my head around a realistic scope, which is due to DLS this coming week with the rest of the Digital Project Evaluation.

Scope:
I’ll update you when I actually articulate in on paper.