istotechnician artists has a history Re: [Histonet] Another question!

[Gayle Callis]

Colleagues,

On an aside, the "artist'" aspect to histotechnology has a long historical 
background.  This is particularly apparent when you take Dr. McCormick's 
antique slide preparation workshop.  The art was in the preparation of 
microscope slides made on  glass scored and separated to obtain that 
slide.  After the specimen was mounted under the coverglass the slide was 
carefully wrapped with beautiful paper to protect the viewer from cutting 
themselves on sharp edges. This produced an a slide reminiscent of old time 
framed, matted photographs, and the final labeling  was done in the most 
gorgeous hand writing.  Dr. McCormick also teaches some other ways of 
making slides in the most artistic fashion and the workshop is fun to take, 
and still being presented at NSH symposiums.

I have some slides, one containing scales from a butterfly wing that remain 
iridescent even after preparation in the earlier 1900's.  There is not 
doubt these slides were and are still valuable to the scientific 
communinity, artistically presented but highly viewable.



   At 12:11 PM 5/20/2007, you wrote:
>Dear Colleagues:
>   By now you already know that from time to time I come up with a general 
> question, here is another one:
>
>   Are we histotechs ARTISTS (creating new beautiful and original things 
> daily) or are we ARTISANS assuring that our work responds to certain 
> established norms in a most beautiful way?
>
>   It would be nice to know how we, as a collective, feel about this 
> questions: artists or artisans?
>
>   René J.
>
>
>
>
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Gayle Callis
MT,HT,HTL(ASCP)
Research Histopathology Supervisor
Veterinary Molecular Biology
Montana State University - Bozeman
PO Box 173610
Bozeman MT 59717-3610