This is very much the case with our art guild, and I was just about to make that point in a new post. We are certainly not in it for the money. By the time we pay for the reception, the catalogue, invitations, and other miscellaneous expenses, we are lucky to break even.Perhaps it should be mentioned that this event was at a non-profit community art center and not a commercial gallery. While that still doesn't smooth over or excuse what happened, it's not quite the crass commercial rip-off some are suggesting. Usually in these shows for non-profits, the entry fees cover the prizes, some sort of honorarium for the jurors, and any overhead or publicity for the show. In this case, I believe any funds beyond that go to help the center provide financial assistance for needy students who avail themselves of classes offered there.
Also if I understand eddyms point, if the juror doesnt want landscapes in his/her exhibition (which I agree is the right (and job) of the juror), then if he/she thinks the photograph is a landscape, it can be skipped. If this is the case, perhaps the gallery or art center putting on the Photography Exhibition, should be more forthcoming about the genre that will be selected. Anything less, sorry eddym, is dishonest and unethical. Plain and simple, if youre only going to accept contemporary portraiture, say so in the Prospectus; dont take artists money when you know their art wont be selected.
But I dont want to digress from the core point: eddym, they didnt review my art work and I am sure youll agree that was not right.
Derek, I'm not sure I understand why you are so sure that the organizers of the show knew that the juror would not accept anything but portraiture. Maybe they did, and maybe the show was misrepresented, as you allege. This could be the case, or it could just be that they did not know their juror well enough to realize that his prejudices were such that he would accept nothing that was not portraiture. If they did know that, then you are correct, they should have advertised the show as a portraiture show..
Your "core point" was that the juror did not review your work, and if that is true, then I do agree that it was "not right," in the sense that the show was not as advertised and promoted, not an "open category" show. But I am not so sure that it is true.
What do you expect to gain from your letter of complaint? The show is over, so you can't be accepted now. You will be able to vent your anger and disappointment, and if that makes you feel better, then go ahead. Me, I'm ready to write a flaming letter to Sears because the washing machine repairman didn't show up Thursday as he was scheduled. I just can't find the right address!
So write your letter if it makes you feel better. But don't expect it to change anything
On a separate note, I saw your website links to the Animal Rescue Site... we're of the same mind there. Be well and your "other side perspective" is certainly appreciated--just not sure why this thread has made you so defensive?
I'm not sure I completely agree with the "cohesive show" idea -- but maybe, like so many things in life, it depends on your definition of "cohesive."
For some further insight, I edit and publish a newsletter and maintain a website (at my expense) for a local art club I belong to. That puts me on the board and I have been entangled in this dubious business of mounting shows for a dozen years. Our organization, like many, has about 110 members, of whom about 9 do most of the work. It's like pulling teeth to get people to actually start the process far enough ahead of time to pull it off without last minute panics. As such, we frequently are left with accepting judges who are available and willing to do it for a fairly meager stipend, rather than any fancy interview and selection process. We try to have different judges every year and not repeat a previous judge for eight or ten years. Often we are left with getting recommendations from previous judges or other art groups. With that sort of approach, I could hardly say we grill the candidates about their philosophies.
In my experience, some of the best judges are those who teach art, especially at the college/art school level. Though they may personally specialize in one area, their career requires a broader understanding of the art world. Our annual open show is divided into five major categories -- oils, watercolors, "graphics" (prints, drawings, pastels) sculpture amd photography. The general intent is to exhibit the best work in each of those categories. So for us, I guess "cohesive" is the best of a diverse selection of subjects, media and styles. There are special awards that can go to any piece, but we have a 1st, 2nd and 3rd in each category to make sure there is some spread. (We do have a disclaimer that only a 1st may be given if there are too few entries in a category.) There are always results at the end that others may question, but no matter how objective anyone tries to be, it's still a crap shoot.
The show that started this thread I view as fairly prestigious and established, so I would expect it to be well run. But my own group has been doing their open show for fifty-one years and I know what it's like from behind the scenes, and one is optimistic to expect too much formal organization. What appears to have happened might have gone a little better if they had multiple judges, but of course that increases the expense. Some juried shows use separate people for selection and awards too.
Every year some of us scratch our heads about what we could do better or more efficiently, but in the end I'd say there's not a whole lot of difference from "what we did last year."
As eddym alluded to, some of us begin to experience burn-out!
In the end ya pays yer money and ya takes yer chances.
DaveT
Why haven't I seen you at our meetings?
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