Last night Luis Jacob, John Marriott, Michelle Jacques and myself did a talk at the AGO in conjunction with the show by Mark Lombardi. The evening was interesting, particularly the discussion afterwards. People seem generally to be concerned with truth, and where to find it. Michelle Jacques introduced Lombardi and his work. John Marriott spoke eloquently about the term "conspiracy theory" as a means of dismissal, and made a call that we alert ourselves to our ever increasing loss of privacy. Luis Jacob was inspirational in his thesis that "the truth will out." A copy of my talk, with dorky illustrations, is here.

There have been some good points on this event raised here, in an earlier thread.

- sally mckay 10-22-2004 8:50 am

You know what sucks? I came into Toronto on the 19th to see the Lombari work and some other shows. I think I would have liked the talk, though it seems I share the same conclusions about Lombardi's work that most have come to; the questionable way it frames the content. Don't get me wrong, I liked the work on an aesthetic level, hell I like looking at Edward Tufte's books like their picture books, and Lombardi's drawings definitely have the same appeal, not to mention the process he had developed.

Anyways, sad to have missed what sounds to have been a good talk, though your online GTR presentation makes me feel a bit better, good work.
- marco b (guest) 10-23-2004 7:45 am


thanks Marco. I like looking at pictures of graphs and maps as well. I have a friend who studied maps and geographic imaging systems in school. He used to complain about the trees on the foothills near Calgary cause he didn't like their texture. Sounds weird, but when you are all the time focused on re-representing visual data stuff like that starts to make an impression.
- sally mckay 10-25-2004 8:31 pm


Tino comments in another thread: "Hey, Sally, According to NOW Magzine today. You were 'sensible' at the AGO talk. Can you confirm or deny this?

That sounds just about right. Kevin Temple's review of the Mark Lombardi show is online here. He says he "hoped for a barrage of people voicing their wildly inappropriate conspiracy theories..." and all of us presenters were too circumspect to produce what you'd call a barrage. The discussion period was more vociferous, but there didn't seem to be many cranks in attendance. I like Temple's little review, though, with its apt kick at Bush, and it puts a value on the politics of Lombardi's efforts that discussion here has not.

- sally mckay 10-29-2004 1:16 am