CLUB SANDWICH 68

PEOPLE, PLACES AND THINGS

Charity is the winner again with the publication of the latest Linda McCartney Calendar

            Like new year itself, the Linda McCartney Calendar is becoming an annual institution. Launched in 1974, it has arrived in many shapes and sizes - from a poster to collection of postcards - but has always been issued, whatever the circumstances, no matter how hectic the year.
            The 1994 model, in common with many before it, has been published in conjunction with a worthy charity - this time it's the British Dyslexia Association. All proceeds will go direct to the organisation to aid its stated goal of ensuring "that every child and adult with specific learning difficulties receives the teaching, advice and support they need to enjoy a fair chance in life". It's a marvellous cause.
            The 1994 theme is historic photo processes, with twelve Linda McCartney photographs variously developed as sun prints - salt prints, cyanotypes and platinum/palladium prints. Salt print and cyanotype techniques were employed to produce Linda's Sun Prints book, indeed some of the 12 monthly shots come from there, while the platinum/palladium prints were included in her autumn 1992 exhibition in Los Angeles.
            The outcome, yet again, is the product of a happy coincidence: the BDA was contemplating the production of a photographic processes calendar and was brought together with Linda - someone with interest and experience in this specialist area, a name strong enough to generate considerable funds for the charity and the desire to publish a calendar.
            Since the question-mark hanging over most charitable projects is "just how much of my money will the charity receive if I buy this?" it's particularly gratifying to report that, once stores have deducted their customary mark-up, the BDA will receive the bulk of the remaining proceeds, having negotiated a healthy subsidy from a paper manufacturer and a printer, and acquired design services free of charge. Linda has "waived her royalty, too.
            Three different types of calendar have been produced. The first - on sale wherever you'll find a range of good calendars - is A4-size, folding out to A3 upon the wall. There's also an A3 version folding out to A2, and a limited edition A2 printed on fine quality paper - some of these will be signed by Linda, for sale at charity auctions. The 12 signed original prints used to produce the calendar have also been donated by Linda for auction, with all proceeds going to the BDA.