Randy, If I am not mistaken, under US law one cannot be prosecuted for misprision unless they actively conceal the illegal activity. Failure to report a felony is not enough to prosecute under federal law. Now, if Nina would exhibit the items and knowingly misrepresent them as having been collected legally, *that* would be misprision. On 6/1/12, Randy Little <[log in to unmask]> wrote: > Why would Photo's of illegal object be any different then having the > illegal objects? The curators know's its Illegal and I am thinking > already in jeopardy of misprision. As is everyone on this list now > that we know she knows about this very illegal activity. Being asked > how to avoid prosecution of the law can very easily make everyone here > in violation of misprision at the federal level. A FELONY ON US as > well as Nina (in the US of course) > > Randy S. Little > > > > > On Fri, Jun 1, 2012 at 9:37 AM, Jacob Hildebrandt <[log in to unmask]> > wrote: >> As someone who was starting on an art project that involved international >> dirt samples, I would like to thank everyone here for the advice. I guess >> I >> will have to go a different route... >> >> As to the actual issue at hand, as a viewer I would say photographs of >> the >> collection would be the next best thing to actually having the objects. >> I >> usually prefer reproductions, but in this case I think something would >> definitely be lost. >> >> --Jake Hildebrandt >> www.jakehildebrandt.com >> >> >> On Thu, May 31, 2012 at 8:03 PM, lucysperlin <[log in to unmask]> >> wrote: >>> >>> Many years ago my former museum mounted an exhibit on the same topic…why >>> people collect. It included children’s collecting, collecting for >>> monetary >>> increase, collecting for sentiment, collecting for perceived beauty, and >>> a >>> bunch of other aspects of collecting. One section (pertinent here) was >>> titled “Illegal Collecting”…..it pointed out what it is illegal to >>> collect >>> and offered alternatives such as photographing said items. I wonder if >>> you >>> could show part of her collection (the part that was legally collected). >>> It >>> certainly would be interesting to most people to think of soil as >>> something >>> illegal to collect. In fact, I think that it is fairly important to >>> address >>> illegal collecting in such an exhibit….. >>> >>> >>> >>> Lucy Sperlin >>> >>> >>> >>> ________________________________ >>> >>> From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On >>> Behalf Of Nina Simon >>> Sent: Thursday, May 31, 2012 1:23 PM >>> To: [log in to unmask] >>> Subject: Re: [MUSEUM-L] exhibiting illegally-obtained dirt? >>> >>> >>> >>> Thank you to everyone for the thoughtful comments on this. It's clear >>> that >>> there are several issues to consider and I really appreciate those who >>> have >>> pointed us in some clear directions on this. >>> >>> >>> >>> With regard to the questions about the goal of the exhibition and why >>> we'd >>> want to show the dirt, here's the story: >>> >>> >>> >>> Santa Cruz Collects is an exhibition that explores the following big >>> idea: >>> the things we collect say a lot about who we are as individuals and as a >>> community. >>> >>> >>> >>> We're including collectors of all kinds - one of the top collectors of >>> American flags, a university special collection, a woman who collects >>> dryer >>> lint, a man whose entire collection was burned, etc. The story is really >>> focused on the WHY of collecting as well as the unique ways that people >>> and >>> institutions acquire, manage, display, and dispose of their collections. >>> We're linking this both to pop culture (hoarding) and to the basic >>> question >>> of why and how museums do the work they do. >>> >>> >>> >>> In this context, the dirt collection is fascinating. The collector has a >>> great story about why she feels compelled to collect this dirt as >>> mementos >>> of her work around the world, and of course, the legal issue is part of >>> what >>> makes it interesting. To many visitors, the idea that dirt could be >>> illegal >>> is bizarre--but allows them to grapple with deeper questions about why >>> certain collections should or should not be acquired or displayed. The >>> questions that David and others have brought up are exactly the kinds of >>> questions we would want to explore with visitors. >>> >>> >>> >>> We may not show it--frankly, your responses are pushing us towards not >>> doing so. But I do think it tells an interesting and useful story in the >>> context of what we are trying to do. >>> >>> >>> >>> Thank you for your feedback, >>> >>> Nina >>> >>> >>> >>> On May 31, 2012, at 11:45 AM, BECKER, DAVID wrote: >>> >>> >>> >>> What is the goal of the exhibit? If the goal is to show differences in >>> dirt from around the world, then dirt can be obtained through legal and >>> ethical means. >>> >>> >>> >>> If the exhibit is about collection and the collecting process, what is >>> the >>> message that the museum wants to send about the collection process and >>> how >>> does this particular collection fit in? It could be the basis for an >>> interesting discussion about the ethics of collection. Those questions >>> could >>> be raised through other representations of the collection or through >>> other >>> collections? Does the full collection need to be physically present in >>> the >>> museum? >>> >>> >>> >>> I personally don’t agree with calling it art as that was not the intent >>> of >>> the collection or the collector, i.e. it was not done by an artist with >>> an >>> intent to make art for a stated artistic purpose or message. To call it >>> art >>> for convenience sake is not in keeping with the artistic discipline that >>> calling it art would represent. >>> >>> >>> >>> I guess I see it as a bigger issue than has been presented in the >>> initial >>> e-mail. If this naturalist had illegally transported a cultural >>> artifact >>> without permission would that be o.k. to display? If this naturalist had >>> transported the hide or fur of an animal that had been killed illegally, >>> would that be ok to display? When I go to a nature center, there are >>> signs >>> that tell me to take only pictures, and not take anything else with me: >>> Is >>> it ok for me to ignore those signs for the sake of my personal >>> collection? >>> Would this same naturalist condone this same behavior if was going to be >>> conducted on a larger scale by 100 people, or by 1000 people, or by >>> everyone? I think there are issues and considerations here that go >>> beyond >>> the issue of whether it is legal or not. >>> >>> >>> >>> Dave >>> >>> >>> >>> Dave Becker >>> >>> Senior Manager of Learning Experiences >>> >>> Chicago Zoological Society >>> >>> >>> >>> ________________________________ >>> >>> From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On >>> Behalf Of Pickering, Bob >>> Sent: Thursday, May 31, 2012 12:51 PM >>> To: [log in to unmask] >>> Subject: Re: exhibiting illegally-obtained dirt? >>> >>> >>> >>> Whether the dirt is dangerous or not, isn’t there an issue of displaying >>> material that is known to be illegal? Does calling it “art” absolve the >>> museum of responsibility? >>> >>> >>> >>> Bob >>> >>> >>> >>> Robert B. Pickering, PhD >>> >>> Director of Curatorial Affairs & Public Programs, Gilcrease Museum; >>> >>> Director, Museum Science and Management, University of Tulsa >>> >>> 1400 N. Gilcrease Museum Rd >>> >>> Tulsa, OK 74127 >>> >>> (918) 596-2706 Office >>> >>> (918) 596-2770 Fax >>> >>> (918) 805-4780 Cell >>> >>> [log in to unmask] >>> >>> >>> >>> From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On >>> Behalf Of Nina Simon >>> Sent: Thursday, May 31, 2012 11:07 AM >>> To: [log in to unmask] >>> Subject: [MUSEUM-L] exhibiting illegally-obtained dirt? >>> >>> >>> >>> This one is for the museum lawyers and collection management gurus out >>> there. >>> >>> >>> >>> For an upcoming temporary exhibition on collections, we would like to >>> show >>> a collection of vials of dirt that a local naturalist collected on her >>> travels around the world. The challenge is that much of this dirt was >>> transferred into the US illegally (i.e. from countries where they are >>> strict >>> about making sure that organic material doesn't enter or leave the >>> country) >>> or was obtained with some trespassing (i.e. from celebrities' yards). She >>> is >>> nervous about exhibiting the dirt in public for this reason. >>> >>> >>> >>> My sense is that if we can call this art, it might not be a problem. >>> Frankly, I don't think it's a big problem period - there's no real risk >>> or >>> danger to the dirt - but I want to learn more about how to address this >>> issue. Do you know anyone who might have some expertise to bear in this >>> arena? >>> >>> >>> >>> Thank you, >>> >>> >>> >>> Nina >>> >>> >>> >>> Nina Simon >>> >>> Executive Director >>> >>> Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History >>> >>> 831.429.1964 x7018 >>> >>> >>> >>> Come visit us at 705 Front Street in Santa Cruz >>> >>> Get involved at www.santacruzmah.org or on Facebook >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> ________________________________ >>> >>> To unsubscribe from the MUSEUM-L list, click the following link: >>> http://home.ease.lsoft.com/scripts/wa.exe?SUBED1=MUSEUM-L&A=1 >>> >>> >>> >>> ________________________________ >>> >>> To unsubscribe from the MUSEUM-L list, click the following link: >>> http://home.ease.lsoft.com/scripts/wa.exe?SUBED1=MUSEUM-L&A=1 >>> >>> >>> >>> ________________________________ >>> >>> To unsubscribe from the MUSEUM-L list, click the following link: >>> http://home.ease.lsoft.com/scripts/wa.exe?SUBED1=MUSEUM-L&A=1 >>> >>> >>> >>> ________________________________ >>> >>> No virus found in this message. >>> >>> >>> Checked by AVG - www.avg.com >>> Version: 10.0.1424 / Virus Database: 2425/5036 - Release Date: 05/31/12 >>> >>> >>> ________________________________ >>> >>> To unsubscribe from the MUSEUM-L list, click the following link: >>> http://home.ease.lsoft.com/scripts/wa.exe?SUBED1=MUSEUM-L&A=1 >>> >>> >>> ________________________________ >>> >>> To unsubscribe from the MUSEUM-L list, click the following link: >>> http://home.ease.lsoft.com/scripts/wa.exe?SUBED1=MUSEUM-L&A=1 >> >> >> >> ________________________________ >> >> To unsubscribe from the MUSEUM-L list, click the following link: >> http://home.ease.lsoft.com/scripts/wa.exe?SUBED1=MUSEUM-L&A=1 > > ========================================================= > Important Subscriber Information: > > The Museum-L FAQ file is located at > http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . 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