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Hello, Yes, a most interesting discussion to close out 2008. I suppose I have more questions than opinions on the question of ethical curatorial behavior. My first being, who's ethics??? Be it a person, culture, community or institution? Melinda brings up an interesting comparison of the writer / editor who includes their opinions, writings and ideas in a text that has clearly been curated /edited to explore a specialized topic. Here the editor(s) is viewed as an expert or one with valuable insight into the topic at hand. And the editor's voice is expected to be included in the volume. Roger speaks of his experience in the science community. And perhaps I can parallel this with my experience in the computer science conference/publishing community. The researcher / scientist is both the practitioner and the judge - thus "peer" review. Typically, careful measures are taken to avoid conflicts of interest in accepted conference and journal papers. This also is the case with science / technology funding panels. However, it would be impossible in most scientific communities to take the stance of not including one's work in a peer reviewed presentation venue. As viable contributions to that venue are highly likely to be submitted from the reviewer's students, research associates, department and institution - often with the reviewer listed as one of the authors. Thus the importance of "blind reviews". However, I'm sure, if a social networking study was done on any particular research oriented community, patterns of acceptance, exclusion, and decision making power with repeat peer judges would appear. But is the art world any different??? In terms of the patterns of inclusion and exclusion in peer reviewed activities, whether or not the curator desires to include their work? It seems that the community of practice in new media art is growing and yet very small leading to patterns of repeat inclusion and exclusion from the yet to be canons of the field. So back to my original question: who's ethics? Or what ethical system is being viewed as the model for new media art curating? Why have the arts, across the ages, depended on the external expert voice for interpretation, presentation, and historicity? Can the artists present their work in an unbiased manor in a public venue that they play a role in organizing? Hum..... Happy New Year!! Pamela Pamela Jennings, Ph.D. Research Manager, Advanced Research Technology Lab Banff New Media Institute http://www.pamelajennings.org > > Date: Tue, 23 Dec 2008 12:51:42 +1030 > From: Dr Melinda Rackham <[log in to unmask]> > Subject: Re: artist curator ethics > > Hi all, > \I generally agree with that position Andreas-- > but lines are as always blurry.. > > To confess I've put a collective I was involved in an exhibition, but > it a was a survey of the field and would have been too odd to not > include it (empyre in "2004networked-australian art now" at ACMI) > and like Mike I haven't made new work now for 3 or more years, and > find it increasingly difficult to refer to myself as an artist even > though people still show my existing net artwork. > > The thing that does annoy me more is when a curator always finds a > rationale to include their partners work in a show.. I know our art > world is small but nepotism seems even more unattractive than self > promotion. > > From another perspective is always seems perfectly reasonable when a > book editor includes a chapter by themselves as obviously they are > an expert in the filed so have something significant to say about it. > > Apart from that wishing a joyful xmas and creative 2009 to you all > > warm regards, > Melinda > > ++++++++++++ > Dr Melinda Rackham > Executive Director > Australian Network for Art and Technology > +61 (0)8 8231 9037 > +61 (0)410 596 592 > http://www.anat.org.au > [log in to unmask] > > Australian Network for Art and Technology (ANAT) is generously > supported by the Australian Government through the Australia Council, > its arts funding and advisory body, the South Australian Government > through Arts SA, and the Visual Arts and Craft Strategy, an > initiative of the Australian, State and Territory Governments. > > > >