I for one agree that the juror selection, qualification and
standards are appaling, essentially industry wide… It is often more
a who’s who of popularity than an actually objective process… One
reason I choose not to participate in most exhibitions, contests,
awards competitions, grant opportunities etc.
One of the more ridiculous juried processes I know of is entrance
into Penland School for residency, financial assistance and other
programs- If one is a novice in particular: Penland requires slides,
and statements and credentials, etc…If one is a beginner - the
reson anyone would seek schooling in the first place- Isn’t it
ridiculous that they would have such a body of work to draw from in
preparing an application package- yet another example of elitist
subjectivity in the art of jewelry making…and I have connections to
Penland that one would think would insure my entrance ( as my aunt
started and endowed the school!) but the system is so insane that Iis
hardly worth the time in making a request…
regarding standards for entrants responsibilities: I think equal to
entrants responsibilities it is imperative that the organizers take
some responsibilitiy for ensuring far more than taking money for a
space- advertising, admissions policies ( I don’t believe any show
should have an admission if you want it to be well attended- a
person may have a few hundred dollars to spend, but won’t go to the
venue if the cost is more than a couple of dollars that preferably go
to a well advertised charity than to the organizers- that is why
vendors pay a fee no?
As far as standards go regarding entrants policies: people that sign
on for a show should, if they agree to the terms put forth by an
organizer or group, should be required to stay for the duration of
each day ( unless of course there is an emergency). If the person
next to me, as an example, chooses not to stay for the entire day’s
show, then they should secure and cover their wares, and leave, then
return at the end of the day for breakdown, unless its a multi-day
show, in which case I personally find it annoying that while I’m
trying to do business a vendor may pull a trailer up to the display,
blocking access, loading, calling to the driver, etc… It is
unprofessional and discourteous at least, to the person next to the
one bailing out.
I also concurr that some of the media styles are getting out of
hand- basic photos yes, slides, and other specified graphic styles
are over-the top in many cases; it’s as if a show, just because there
is a new or available format jumps to that format rather than
simplifying the process and making it accessible to the person that
can’t hire a professional, doesn’t use slides as a standard practise,
and has no access or chooses not to, or can’t afford a 10 mega pixel
camera with ultra- high resolution and has no idea what a.tiff is in
the first place…An individual’s photograhic or graphic experience
hasn’t a damned thing to do with their skill at making jewlery. A
case in point is a ninety five year old jewelr I know. He shoots
pictures with a polaroid camera and flash bulbs- he has over 75 years
experience as a jewelr and his work is pristine- yet he has given up
on entering exhibitions, and awards competitions because a) his
social security does not allow for the exorbinant fees for a "juror"
to review his photos, and has had many a 45 dollars or more taken and
his polaroids returned as “not acceptable formatting”- This to me is
another example of the sheer greed and financially motivated focus
that most shows, exhibitions, etc are about rather than honoring a
master jewelr with more experience than the juror has been on the
earth… insane- yes! having to do with realizing one’s actual skills
or the beauty in work- not in the least… unfair and despicable -
yes.
regarding a feedback system via the internet- well, what about the
folks that are anti-technology? How do you account for the
registration and inclusion of their feedback if they have no
computer skills or access? I’m al for feedback, but believe their
should be varied ways of submitting it that don’t require
electricity…
Once a professional organization controls anything - that implies
that the things or people under that control are members of x
organization…I can’t afford to renew most of my professional
affiliations that I held for at least twenty five years in most
cases, at this point in trying to rebuild after losing everything I
owned, and making repairs to my house and studio after hurricane
Katrina. I know I have stated that before here but the reality is
New Orleans is a disaster- the largest one in the country’s history
and no one, no federal or state agency is helping residents YET.
There is still unpredictable and unreliable power in the city,
promises of wi-fi access city-wide has just been cancelled, and no
relief is in sight .most people were forced to take out small
business administration loans to put roofs on theitr homes- whether
or not an individual or householder was in business for themselves or
not- across the board the SBA is the sole resource - in my case I
applied a week after the storm for assitance ( I was among the first
group to do so) The SBA lost that application - AND THE 2ed OnE TOO!
How do you afford to keep up with memberships and credentials when
sheetrock and building supplies have quadrupled in price ansd have
become extremely hard to get if one is not a contractor- as the
suppliers are giving contractors preferential treatment and
discounts- when to my thinking it should be the reverse…- 400 here,
200 there, 600 in another place is simply not possible for some of
us…So an organization taking on unilateral control of anything
regarding arts shows, competitions, juried exhibits etc., is not
something I see as viable or fair to everyone making jewelry or
metalsmithing, particularly lessser known jewelers or students not in
a university atmosphere
I like the idea of categorization of events, but it seems to boil
down to who or what agency has the capital to jump to task- answering
the question: who will be the first to publish such a directory?-
Lark Books ? 500 Exhibitions ?. I think the NEA should actually be
the responsible agency- as it is public, and objective and not profit
motivated ( at least in theory!).And I would expect that the NEA
would follow the basics of genre identification and traditional art
descriptor/titling formats (as we discussed a few weeks ago regarding
the omission Metalsmith magazine made in not listing the featured
work pieces as metal clay, but fine silver) : which would be listing
the artisans name, title of the piece, medium used in its fabrication
and size, and photographic where appropriate… However
making certain that all genre is included, or some excluded seems to
be subjective- I’m not sure wire wrappers are actually jewelers, but
rather are crafters as no jewelry making skills are involved…and
are blacksmiths jewelry makers? and what about chainmaille, I think
it’s a viable genre, but there are those that would disagree that its
a costuming genre adapted to adornment and not intended solely as a
style of armour…as it ws intended historically…
I do agree that there is room for change but the details require a
lot of careful thought on issues of inclusion and power and economics
as well as accessibility in a pro bono publico wrapper…
R.E.Rourke