Newsletter
Summer, 2008
At-Large Member, Jean Cassels of New Orleans has a new picture book out:
TWO BOBBIES:
A True Story of Hurricane Katrina,
Friendship and Survival
Co-authored by Kirby Larson and Mary Nethery,
Illustrated by Jean Cassels,
Walker Books, August 2008
*A Junior Library Guild Selection
*Indie Next List: Top Ten Books of the Season
A story of a dog and a cat, both with bobbed tails, that survived the streets
of post Katrina New Orleans for four months on their own, by depending on each
other. They were rescued and adopted and are living a happy ever after. Forgot
to mention the cat is blind... the dog was it's leader and protector... amazing
story.
Br'er Rabbit Captured!
A picture book wrote and illustrated by Jean was released
Fall 2007 and is a SIBA finalist.
Steel, Glass, or Concrete Artists
Call for Entries
ArtDC is sending out a call for work involving steel, glass, or concrete. They'd like to develop a new show based on these materials. They'll post a call for curators and suggested images to meet a new theme shortly, so please upload new work. The call can be found here: http://artdc.org/forum/index.php?topic=9989.0
Illustration West 47
Call For Entries
September 19, 2008
The Society of Illustrators Los Angeles has taken the Call for Entries process
into the technology age!
Visit www.entersila.com to enter the competition
without leaving your computer.
GUILD ADVOCACY
Write to the US Senate about the Orphan Works Act now!
Urge the Senate to protect creators' rights on S. 2913
"The Shawn Bentley Orphan Works Act of 2008" S. 2913 is currently
awaiting a vote by the full Senate. Senate Majority and Minority leaders
are trying to "hotline" the bill, but individual Senators have
put a "hold" on the bill. We urgently need you to contact your
Senators to stop this bill.
Write to your senators immediately! Congress will recess on August 2nd
for summer break. The bill may still be amended if the bill is scheduled
for a debate by the full Senate. Write to your Senators and urge them to
amend the bill, and ask them to vote against the bill if it is NOT amended.
The Graphic Artists Guild opposes the Shawn Bentley Orphan Works Act of
2008, S. 2913 unless it can be amended to protect visual creators and to
include, at a minimum, a publicly accessible "Notice
Of Use" filing.
A public Notice Of Use doesn't eliminate fraudulent claims, but it will
reduce the likelihood of users making fraudulent claims of an orphaned
work.
"The Shawn Bentley Orphan Works Act of 2008" has already passed
the Senate Judiciary Committee. This is our last chance to stop the "hotlining" of
the bill before it passes the Senate. We were unable to achieve all of
the significant changes to the bill we wanted to better protect the rights
of visual creators and rights holders. We were able to get one significant
change; the prohibition of usage of an orphan work on "useful articles" (as
described in existing Copyright Law), although we were not able to get
a total exclusion for all commercial usage.
To use this letter-writing portal, enter your zip code and click on the
GO button for a sample letter to use. You may also personalize your own
letter. The letter will automatically be emailed to your US Senators. We
recommend you also print out the letter and mail it.
And, you have an opportunity to take action in person!
Visit your Senators in person in their office in your home state between
August 4th and September 5th during the Congressional recess, or call your
Senators and speak to them directly. Go to our orphan works blog at www.orphanworksnews.com for talking points. Urge your Senators to amend S. 2913 to include at a
minimum, a publicly accessible "Notice Of Use" filing.
TAKE ACTION!
Thank you for taking action!
More Information
If you need more information, contact Paula at 330-784-6776, or email .