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Eden Charter - December o8, 1995
Eden is a forum of artists focused on the principles of enjoying
what you do, expressing yourself and improving your skills, and
fighting against the role Big Brother has in todays art scene. Eden
was formed for the artists, not for title-craved exploitation of a
name or a spot on the Top ?? lists. Eden can best be compared to a
monastery-- a home where people can throw aside pride and greed,
explore their talents, and be at peace.
Eden members realize that the most important aspect of producing
artwork is enjoying what you do. It matters not what name you have or
talent you possess as long as you find satisfaction within
yourself. Outside influences are meaningless without internal
happiness. A person can have all the riches of the world and it would
mean nothing without happiness.
The two second-most important aspects of creating are the ability
to express yourself and the desire to improve your method of
expression. In Eden there are no good artists nor bad artists.
Everyone is equal on the path of improvement, competing against
nothing and no one other than your limitations. This is why a
group-atmosphere is necessary for the development of the artist. It
provides motivation to produce artwork and creates a forum where other
members can suggest, comment, and constructively criticize
pieces. Eden exists for these sole purposes.
Eden recognizes the dictatorship form groups of today are
taking and denounces them. Eden is saddened to see something as
beautiful as artwork forums to be cheapened to the level of political
factions, warring internally and externally for trivial simulated
power. The electronic voting booths must be torn down to make room for
communes and coffee houses. Its time for change time to lower the
swords of hate and raise the arms of love.
Eden believes communication within the group is important. All
members are strongly encouraged to participate in group mailing lists
and present their projects to other members of Eden for criticism.
Eden does not exercise quality control, but instead encourages each
member to search for improvement of a project before its release in a
group compilation. Currently all collection and distribution of
materials takes place on the Internet through IRC, the Web, and
official FTP sites. This may change in the near future, pending the
motivation of someone to organize other medium. These materials are
collected, organized, and released on the first day of every month,
barring extreme circumstances, at which time a vote may be held to
change the date of release.
Eden does not believe in assigning titles for various group-
related tasks instead, aspects of group organization are taken on
voluntarily by interested members. All group decisions are voted upon
via the main channel of communication currently the eden-members
mailing list on io.com, one week given for each topic to reach a
simple majority. In the event of a tie vote, the topic is thrown out,
as if never presented. Any voting topic may be presented to the group
at any time by any member, therefore any topic that has been thrown
out may be amended and re-presented for a vote.
Applications for membership in Eden currently have the
applicants general information form posted to the mailing list upon
receipt the complete applications are to be uploaded to the
/pub/usr/woody/incoming/eden.apply/ directory on ftp.io.com for
viewing. When this form is posted to the eden-members mailing list,
the applicant is to be voted upon by each member for approval or
disapproval-- the procedure for group decisions to be followed.
Changes to Eden policies may be voted upon via the main channel
of communication. Upon the change of a policy, the charter will be
modified to reflect this, and the amended charter will be posted for
official approval before being publicly released. As with any other
group decision, changes may be proposed by any member of Eden at any
time.