13 April 2004 Comrades! Your help is needed. Could you please dash off a quick e-mail to David Platzter, the Executive Director of an arts organization called Printed Matter? dplatzker@printedmatter.org Mr Platzter has just informed us that, after two months of evasive delays, he's finally decided -- for reasons that he's never been able to explain -- to break his 23-25 January 2004 agreement to publish an artist's book by the Surveillance Camera Players (SCP). This agreement expected that the SCP book would take the form of a Baedeker's-style travel guide, would include the SCP's maps and walking tours, would be published in an edition of 1,000 copies, and would be published in time for the Republican National Convention, to be held in New York August 2004. (According to Mr Platzter's own timetable, the book is currently two months behind schedule.) Please ask Mr Platzter to stick to his original agreement and publish the SCP's book as soon as possible. His decision to suppress the book, especially without adequate explanation, reflects very badly on Printed Matter and its support of struggling new artists. You might also advise a friend and/or other SCP supporter to do the same. Thank you! Surveillance Camera Players (please CC us in where appropriate) ------------------- 15 April 2004 Dear Sir or Madam: We are writing to you because your organization is listed as a supporter of Printed Matter Inc. (535 West 22d Street NYC 10011). On 13 April 2004, we were informed by David Platzker, the Executive Director of Printed Matter, that he has suddenly decided to break an agreement with us concerning the publication of an "artist's book" under our name. This agreement, which we consider to be ethically (if not, additionally, legally) binding, was reached in January 2004. Mr Platzker has provided no reasonable explanation for his action. Since Mr Platzker's failure to abide by his agreement reflects poorly on those who support Printed Matter, we ask you to look into the matter and satisfy yourselves that this organization is spending your grant money in a responsible and ethical manner. Thank you. Most sincerely the Surveillance Camera Players phone: 212 561 0106 web: https://notbored.org/the-scp.html e-mail: SCP@notbored.org _____________________ National Endowment for the Arts 1100 Pennsylvania Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20506 the New York State Council on the Arts, 175 Varick Street NYC 10014 the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs New York City Department of Cultural Affairs 330 West 42nd Street New York, New York 10036 New York Arts Recovery Fund New York Foundation for the Arts 155 Avenue of the Americas, 14th Floor New York, NY 10013-1507 The Altria Group, Inc., try 411 Art for Arts Sake, Milton & Sally Avery Arts Foundation The Cowles Charitable Trust, 630 5th Ave. Ste. 1612 New York, NY I0111 The Cowles Charitable Trust P.O. Box 219 Rumson, NJ 07760 Fifth Floor Foundation, Furthermore: a program of the J.M. Kaplan Fund, J.M. Kaplan Fund, 261 Madison Ave, 19th floor NY NY 10016 The Horace W. Goldsmith Foundation 375 Park Ave., Ste. 1602 New York, NY 10152 Elizabeth Firestone Graham Foundation, c/o Bank One Ohio Trust Co. P.O. Box 2003 Akron, OH 44309-2003 Heyday Foundation, JP Morgan Chase, New York Community Trust Two Park Avenue 24th Floor New York, NY 10016 LEF Foundation, Marina Drummer, Grants Administrator LEF Foundation 1095 Lodi Lane Saint Helena, CA 94574 The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, 65 Bleecker Street New York, NY 10012 Womens Studio Workshop P.O. Box 489 Rosendale, NY 12472 ----------------------------------------------------
relevant e-mails
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FromDavid Platzker
Sent Wednesday, January 21, 2004 11:18 am Tonotbored@optonline.net
Subject NY Surveillance Camera Players / The Book ?
Hi,
Read the story in NY Times and curious if you would consider working with us on
an artist's book about surveillance cameras in NYC.
Please email or call me,
Thanks,
David Platzker
Executive Director
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Fromnotbored@optonline.net
SentThursday, April 1, 2004 3:36 pm
ToDavid Platzker
SubjectNY Surveillance Camera Players
Dear Sir:
It's time to make a decision. I say this because of something you said: the six-month period between submission of a manuscript and the publication of the book itself. It is now April. Six months from now is the Republican National Convention. As you will remember, we discussed the utility of having the SCP book out in time for that event. If we get started now, we can get the book out in time [...]
Thank you. I look forward to your response.
Most sincerely
Bill
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FromDavid Platzker
SentThursday, April 1, 2004 4:31 pm
To notbored@optonline.net
SubjectRe: NY Surveillance Camera Players
Bill,
First, I believe the book would be a good one and that isn't an issue. My primary responsibility is to Printed Matter, and since two of our largest funders were the people that drew my attention your [personal] problems working with SCP would be difficult to divorce from yourself [...]
Printed Matter publishes only two to four books a year. Whatever we take on becomes our sole focus for months and in turn has real impact on us on a scale that requires us to stand fully behind our activities.
As said, I believe your book would be a good one, but how prepared I am to deal with the personal issues such as those regarding yourself is something I've never had to stand behind before, and obviously it's a substantial issue to me [...]
Just so you know, regarding costs of publishing, here's what the best bid came in at (printer in Winnipeg, Canada):
No. of Pages: 96 pates, plus cover and optional poster
Page Size: 4 1/8 x 8 1/8 plus optional pocket / optional poster 8 x 16 flat; 4 x 8 folded
Quantity: 1,000
Cover: 10 pt. Cornwall, printed 4/0 colors plus film lamination on 1 side
Optional Poster: 60 lb. Matte, printed 1/0, no bleeds
Text: 32 pages printed 1/1 on Yellow Offset, 32 pages printed 1/1 on 50lb.
White Offset, and 32 pages on Yellow Offset [96 pages total]
Finish: perfect bound / saddle bound; option: IBC has pocket (standard die).
Poster to fin in pocket. FOB NYC.
Prices:
No Poster / saddle bound / 1,000 copies = 2,670 USD
No Poster / perfect bound / 1,000 copies = 2,770 USD
with Poster / saddle bound / 1,000 copies = 3,955 USD
with Poster / perfect bound / 1,000 copies = $4,365 USD
I can discuss this further with you if you like - or should you like to do the book yourself I would be happy to pass on the contact information for our printer who quoted the numbers above. If you would like me to continue to work to publish this book I'm happy to discuss this further too, but I would ask that you meet with me and a board member from Printed Matter to address any questions we may have to allay our fears of becoming caught up in issues that are clearly beyond the scope of the book itself.
Regards,
David Platzker
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From notbored@optonline.net Sent Thursday, April 1, 2004 5:08 pm To David PlatzkerCc SCP@notbored.org Bcc Subject Re: NY Surveillance Camera Players David, thanks for responding and so quickly. "My primary responsibility is to Printed Matter, and since two of our largest funders were the people that drew my attention your legal problems workingwith SCP would be difficult to divorce from yourself." I don't see how. There are several people in the SCP, not just me. [...] "As said, I believe your book would be a good one, but how prepared I am to deal with the personal issues such as those regarding yourself is somethingI've never had to stand behind before, and obviously it's a substantial issue to me." Really? Not one of your published artists has ever had problems with the police/criminal justice system? Perhaps this indicates you didn't run backround checks on them, didn't feel the need to do so. Any I being treated unfairly because of the article published in Newsday? In her book, Jen the LES woman actually mentions (indeed flaunts) her arrest for shoplifting at Kinkos, as if it were a testimony to her authenticity or integrity. . . Shoplifting is a crime, is it not? A misdemeanor, if I'm not mistaken -- precisely the level of crime I am charged with. My personal issues concern allegations concerning misuse of telephones, not surveillance cameras. There is *no* overlap, or rather the only overlap was the one intentionally and obviously maliciously introduced by Newsday, which is in direct competition for subscribers and ad revenues with the Times. One day I hope to sue them (Newsday) for slander. If and when I do, and if and when I win such a suit, where will that place your decision not to publish the SCP book? >To that end - what was the outcome of the hearing that > was to > take place in March? Adjourned until the end of May, when (it seems clear to all involved) I will be given probation. > If you would like me to continue to work to publish this book I'm > happy to > discuss this further too, but I would ask that you meet with me and > a board > member from Printed Matter to address any questions we may have to > allay our > fears of becoming caught up in issues that are clearly beyond the > scope of > the book itself. I'm happy to speak to you and/or anyone else. Just set up a date (other than next Tuesday) and I'll be there. I'm even happy to have you speak to my attorney. Though I'm not a lawyer, it seems far-fetched to believe that Printed Matter opens itself up to any problems whatsoever by publishing a book by the SCP. Most sincerely Bill -------------- From notbored@optonline.net Sent Thursday, April 8, 2004 10:31 pm To David PlatzkerCc SCP@notbored.org Bcc Subject Re: NY Surveillance Camera Players Dear David PlatzkerSo, last week we had what I thought was a productive conversation and now . . . a week goes by, a delay, yet another delay, after a series of delays ("I need to do more homework" etc etc). A total of two months' of delays. You seem to think or to be hoping that, if you delay long enough, I'll simply give up and go away. But I'm not giving up and I'm not going away. We have entered into an agreement: you sent me a proposal, I answered it two days later, you accepted it and went on to contact a printer for a cost-estimate based upon my proposal. It is clear that you have an ethical (if not, in addition, a legal) obligation to keep to that agreement. It should also be clear that, even if my name has been dragged through the mud of the press (Newsday), I'll do everything I can to keep you to that agreement. If we start working on this immediately, we are already behind schedule: we talked about putting the book out by the RNC, which takes place at the end of August, now only four months away, that is, two months LESS than the six months you told me it would take to produce the book. I hope to hear from you soon. Most sincerely Bill Brown --------------- From David PlatzkerSent Tuesday, April 13, 2004 10:31 am To notbored@optonline.net Cc Bcc Subject Re: NY Surveillance Camera Players Dear Bill, I returned this morning from an extended absence from Printed Matter to deal with some personal issues to find your email. I think it's clear that I can not work with you - the tone of your email is that of somebody I do not wish to engage with further. With regards, David Platzker Executive Director ------------- From notbored@optonline.net Sent Tuesday, April 13, 2004 11:00 am To David PlatzkerCc SCP@notbored.org Bcc Subject Re: NY Surveillance Camera Players > Dear Bill, > > I returned this morning from an extended absence from Printed > Matter to deal > with some personal issues to find your email. you could obviously have informed me before your departure that you wouldn't be responding to me for over a week. > I think it's clear that I can not work with you - the tone of your > email is > that of somebody I do not wish to engage with further. this is an obvious tautology: "I cannot work with you because of your tone; your tone is of someone I do not wish to engage with further." you are of course evading the central issue here: the content of my e-mail: the agreement you made and now are breaking for unspecified reasons. as for my tone, what is it: indignant? impatient? frustrated? angry? all of these responses are quite understandable, given your conduct, that is, breaking your agreement (your "tone" is never been a factor for me). At the very least, you owe me a substantive explanation. Most sincerely, BB ------------ From David PlatzkerSent Wednesday, April 14, 2004 12:47 pm To notbored@optonline.net Cc Edward Melendez, Filthpunkdammit@aol.com, Brian Wallace, zero Village, ')"> "Paul C. Vang", R Drake Ewbank, Gray, m h, rkinsman@indiana.edu, John van Gurp, elaine-c, Margaret DraguBcc Subject Re: NY Surveillance Camera Players Bill, Perhaps you didn't read the first line of my last email. I was absent from the office for a period of time to deal with a personal matter. I shouldn't need to tell you about my personal life beyond that. But I will be explicit: I have been out of the office, and out of NYC, to assist with the care of a critical ill family member. I am not of the practice of sending out notices of such matters, especially when I leave in haste. It's nice to see you have a good support system, perhaps you should ask each of people you had email me put up a few hundred dollars and publish the book yourself rather than having them contact me. I'm sure it would be a fine publication. Again, to be clear, I will not be publishing your book. I simply I do not wish to work with you. Thank you for your consideration. Regards, David Platzker Executive Director
By e-mail SCP@notbored.org
By snail mail: SCP c/o NOT BORED! POB 1115, Stuyvesant Station, New York City 10009-9998