P3D Re: PHOTO-3D digest 2399 Museum? I don't think so...

[Mary Ann & Wolfgang Sell <vmmasell@xxxxxxxxx>]

1. Why don't you donate your entire view-master/stereo collection to a
museum RIGHT NOW?  I mean, get up and go to your nearest museum in
Cincinnati and donate your collection so that, as you say, "thousands of
people can enjoy the images"?   Why wait until you die to do that?

First off, I don't feel that my collection is "complete" enough at this
time to be given to a museum as we just began collecting 3-D cameras and
other items this year. Also, we are still actively searching for a
museum that will actually USE and DISPLAY on collection on an on-going
basis.  When such is found, and I feel there is enough material to make
it seem like it covers most of the history of VM in particular and 3-D
and general, it will be donated REGARDLESS of my living status. My hope
is that, someday, my estate will be big enough to build our own museum
just for these items!!! (Grand plans, I know, but one can hope.) 

2. Do you have children?  Do you have relatives that would like to pass
some of the wealth that you are accumulating now?  Your collection has
value.  It is not very different that a bank account or a house.  Why
"donate" it to the museum and not sell it to the museum?  If a
collection is auctioned, a museum can actually BUY it and then do
whatever they want with it.

No, I don't have children.  Also, why should my relatives profit from
something I (and Wolfgang) have spent our money on.  I would much rather
have the collection be shared by many than let a few relatives have a 
go at the $$$ it would generate.  

3. I assume that you acquired most of your personal collection from
other individuals (collectors, dealers, etc.)  Did you tell them that,
instead of selling these items to you, they could be DONATING them to
some museum?

Yes,  I have done this.  I always say "Don't you have some place that
would love to have your wonderful images or some family member that
would want to keep them as part of your family's history...the answer
has always come back "No".
 
 Or was the desire to acquire these items and as you say, "spend
countless hours looking at them" too strong to pass?  My point is, you
have been part of the system of buying and selling items between
individuals.  Why discredit this system by talking about people storing
collections in closets?

Because my images are NOT stored in closets and just bought for the
purpose of "hording" images.  I think it's great that you were able to
obtain some Realist slides from a fellow photographer and I don't
begrudge anyone who wants to give away or sell their work.  I think it's
great to see so much interest in 3-D.  All I ask is that museums,
librarys and other public entities be given the chance to have these
works of art as part of their public collection.

4. How do you know that the museum will actually make these items
available
to the public instead of just storing them in boxes in the basement (or
a vault)? 

That's why it takes so long to find the right place for your collection.
Sometimes, a new muesum is interested in starting a "key" collection 
of some kind and they will take any and all donations.

 Do you expect me to believe that the museum will put a bunch of VM
 model D viewers for people to view the reels?  

That would be the ideal scenario but, if I'm dead and gone, I guess I
won't know exactly what they are doing with it...will I (unless I can
come back and see them again, myself--oh, a ghost on Photo-3D maybe?)

 You said: "None are taken
 lightly or overlooked because of photographic defects because each
 represents a moment in time during the history of our planet that can
never be repeated."  And what makes you believe that a museum is
interested in these details?  IMO, collectors show more love and 
appreciation, LIKE YOU DO, than a museum.

Unfortunately, this is sometimes true.  Although I have known many
curators who love their museum's collections and feel as if it their
very own.

Please reconsider having your family "auction off" your work and think
about donating it to a worthly instution ... perhaps somewhere in the
Cleveland area where much of your work was done.

 Well, I don't have a will and don't have a collection of any value > >
right now, like you do.  Also, I am not from Cleveland so I don't have >
any particular ties with this city.  When the time comes, I will >
decide what to do with it, but donating to a museum right now is low >
in my list.  And I really don't like to be told by "die-hard" >
collectors that the proper place for personal pictures is in museums >
and not in the hands of individual collectors.

George, I would never begin to "tell" you or anyone else what to do with
anything they possess, that is individual preference.  I just wanted to
make a suggestion because your work is interesting to many invididuals
involved in the 3-D field and something that could be of interest to
FUTURE 3-D photographers as well. 

So sorry if I got your dander up over this suggestion...guess it was my
turn:)

Mary Ann Sell
Vice President
National Stereoscopic Association


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