TWIMC:

My office is sponsoring an informal roundtable discussion here,
tentatively scheduled Monday evening, March 26 on the subject of
Authenticity: Artifact and Technique.  In preparation, I am
interested in getting my hands on some documents related to the
topic, namely what was cited in an October APT workshop in
Philadelphia  as the "NARA Document on Aunthicity", listing its
"seven aspects".  Similarly, what came of the ICOMOS conference a few
years ago on the subject.  I'd appreciate a lead to these and other
references in order to stimulate the discussion, and support a paper
on the subject.  The following is a brief commentary on what I'm
interested in doing:

Intention is for one evening only, likely March 26, 6:00 to 8:00 with
a brief reception before.  I thought that it would be in our office's
central space which can seat, say, 60 persons.

The way it may go is for me as moderator to open up the subject, and
then for the participants, currently identified as Erich Theophile,
an architect practicing in the Kathmandu Valley, Niels Gutschow,
structural engineer Robert Silman, perhaps architect Gunny Harboe
from Chicago, say 5 persons total to each take about five to ten
minutes to address the subject with or without slides or examples.  I
would moderate or steer the roundtable for up to a half hour before
opening up to the audience for an additional half hour.  The
proceedings would be taped for appropriate publication, as yet
undefined.

To set the stage a bit, I would give examples of "authentic" (by
technique) replacement of eroded and disfunctional  wood carvings on
an eastern temple; of a claimed "authentic" (by spirit of design)
replacement of a curtain wall facade on the west coast; the viewpoint
expressed by Dr. James Marston Fitch toward the prototype, statements
made by ICAMOS, and others.  I want to distinguish the "authentic
surviving artifact", from replacements adhering to authentic
technique: Williamsburg and Sakkara for example, and to exchange
other thoughts we have on "doing the right thing" vs."preserving the
original fabric".

Actually the agenda is still in flux.  Your thoughts?

Jim "the Rev." Rhodes