Named after the small red sticker that once guided scholars through legacy 35mm slides, The Red Dot is here to help you navigate the ever-evolving landscape of visual and material research. While rooted in the University of California, Santa Barbara community, our posts are open to all.
At MIRL, we engage with art history, digital humanities, and material culture through hands-on research and archival projects. Guided by our core principles—critical engagement with visual and material culture, ethical stewardship of images and data, and innovative approaches to research and pedagogy—we work at the intersection of technology and the humanities. We are especially interested in how digital tools can expand the study of images, objects, and spaces.
Here, we’ll share insights on Digital Art History and Architectural History, highlight new image and data resources, discuss copyright and ethical considerations, and spotlight events that shape our field.
The Red Dot © 2025 is licensed under CC BY-NC 4.0
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Stolen LA paintings recovered
Nine paintings stolen from a private collection in Encino in 2008 were recovered by the LAPD this week. They were valued at over $10 million, and included paintings by Emil Nolde, Marc Chagall, Diego Rivera, as well as Arshile Gorky’s Cubist Still Life, at left. Three other paintings stolen at the same time are still… Read more
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College Art Association advocates for Fair Use of images in education
The College Art Association’s Advocacy blog posted news items relating to their continuing advocacy for image fair use in educational settings: CAA signed on a Petition to the US Copyright Office for Proposed Exemption Under 17 U.S.C. 1201 to the 1998 Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) for the use of audiovisual media by college and university… Read more
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Comments sought for proposed UC Policy on Open Access draft
The Provosts Task Force on Open Access is looking for comments on the Proposed New Draft UC Policy on Open Access: Additional Information and Frequently Asked Questions. The proposed new policy extends open access rights and responsibilities to all non-Senate members of the UC community who are authors of scholarly articles, non-Senate faculty, other academic… Read more
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Webinar: Getting the most from LOC.gov
The Library of Congress regularly offers webinars providing an interactive orientation to their vast online resources and services. For example, many records in their Prints and Photographs catalog include information on known publication restrictions and digital images that can be downloaded as large, high-resolution tiffs. The next offering of “Introducing loc.gov: Orientation and Research Strategies”… Read more
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Propose an exhibiton for UCSB Library
If you’ve ever come across items in UCSB’s Libraries that are visually arresting or would encourage engaging discussions, the UCSB Library Exhibitions Committee urges you to propose an exhibition. The Committee reviews submissions from UCSB students, faculty, employees, and affiliated organizations, especially proposals that support UCSB’s teaching and research mission or highlights the University’s curriculum, research,… Read more
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Kunstmuseum Bern lists Gurlitt hoarded art acquisition
Last week the Kunstmuseum Bern, Switzerland agreed to accept the Cornelius Gurlitt “Collection” of hoarded works of art that German police discovered in Gurlitt’s Munich apartment and house in Salzburg back in late winter 2012 (and made public only in November 2013). In the interest of transparency, the museum has now posted lists of works found… Read more