On Hold

Sharon's Electronic Resources Blogs are currently on hold while I focus on work projects.

Because I Am A Girl

If you're interested in Website design and Flash presentations, this is a great site to look at:

http://www.becauseiamagirl.com.au/

A lot of sites begin with a Flash splash which provides some kind of introduction to the site and the company/organisation behind it, but if the Flash animation isn't particularly interesting or gripping it can be more of an annoyance than an introduction.

The Flash introduction to this site is nicely done, providing information in an interesting format that is likely to catch attention and keep it. The animations are deceptively simple and stylistic - mostly words - but the way the words move and play is eye-catching in a non-intrusive way.

The music is also interesting, but non-intrusive. You never feel as if this animation is shouting at you. The site has managed to avoid a number of the pitfalls of a Flashy introduction. For one thing, it isn't an introduction so much as a way of presenting the information. This is the text that would appear on a "normal" home page turned into something more interesting.

Additionally, the animation is actually communicating something - it's not just there to look good, but to inform and persuade.

All in all, it's quite well done (and presents a convincing argument). A great exercise in using digital design for persuasive communication.

IN Harmony: Sheet Music from Indiana

The Indiana University has a digital repository of sheet music from the late 19th and early 20th Century music - and they've made it publicly available!

IN Harmony: Sheet Music from Indiana "is a search and discovery system for accessing sheet music from the Indiana University Lilly Library, the Indiana State Library, the Indiana State Museum, and the Indiana Historical Society."

Basically, its a co-operative effort from several libraries to make pdf copies of sheet music available online. It's a brilliant resource for musicians and music students (and it's all out of copyright, if you felt like performing it...)

Virtual Instrument Museum

This is a brilliant resource for anyone studying music - especially anyone who's looking at traditional and folk music.

The Virtual Instrument Museum is the initiative of the Wesleyan University

It works on a simple basis of showing you an instrument and letting you hear it played using photos, video and sound-files - as well as offering brief descriptions.

The instruments can be sorted instrument type (chordophone, etc), geographic region or construction material. There is also a number of alphabetical indices, including sorting by genre and ensembles.

The selection of instruments available is far from comprehensive, unfortunately. The range given is also intriguing. For example, both plucked and hammered dulcimers are represented, but none of the banjos. The piano is included, but not the guitar.

Still it is a very handy resource, and well worth checking out.

Picturing Words: The Power of Book Illustration

Picturing Words: The Power of Book Illustration is another online display from the Smithsonian Institution Libraries.

It looks at a wide variety of works, held by the SIL, which showcase different reasons and methods for illustrating books.

Some are religious works, which have been illustrated to inspire the reader. Some are technical works in which the illustration aids explanation. Then there are also catalogues and manuals.

Interestingly, the exhibition focuses on illustrations in books for adult consumption, rather than picture books aimed at children.

It's an interesting display, although it must be said that you won't necessarily be able to get your hands on a copy of this books if you don't live near the Smithsonian.

World War Poster Collection

The University of North Texas Libraries have put together a collection of war-time posters from the First and Second World Wars:

World War Poster Collection

It's a fascinating look at the artistic styles of the periods, the depictions of "desired" social norms and the use of propaganda.

The site offers brief descriptions for the posters, but no commentary - essentially it's a store of primary sources. Make of it what you will.

Fix-A-Frame - Reference Section

This is a handy, practical resource for anyone who might be producing work that needs framing:

Fix-A-Frame is a Brisbane based company that not only frames works, but also offers advice and sells supplies to "hobby" framers.

If you wanted to know basic, practical information about framing a work, you could do a lot worse than looking at this site.

The Reference section gives solid, basic information about all aspects of framing - including some information on conservation and art history.

The only problem is it's very text based - there aren't a lot of pictures to illustrate the techniques.

I'd recommend the site to any Visual Arts or Photography student.