Although I have been doing art shows for over 20 years, I am still learning. With all the discussions about B/S getting into " juried shows" , including sone pretty high caliber events, who are the jurors? Are they doing their job? Are they paid to jury? What are their qualifications for such a broad spectrum of mediums? Sometimes I feel I get the short end of jurors' knowledge when it comes to leather. When published, as few shows do, they seem to be academic people from museums or universities. Very few from the world of selling art outside of 2D and 3D galleries. Where are the qualified fine craft jurors?
Dick Sherer
www.sherersaddlesinc.com
You need to be a member of Art Fair Insiders to add comments!
Joan Tweedell > Richard L. ShererAugust 31, 2012 at 12:44pm
Well, maybe. I was on a jury that included a jeweler with years of experience (along with a photographer, a potter, an oil painter and a watercolorist). Later the show received an irate letter from a rejected jeweler who complained bitterly about how he/she was rejected by a bunch of painters who knew nothing about jewelry. You can't please them all!
The jury I'm on is really just the show committee. Several events in my area are like that. It works OK because we are not judging to limit the numbers, just to see that the work is hand done and the display is presentable.
I would like to see juries with all media represented. For example, if we don't have a jeweler on the the committee, it's hard to jury them fairly.
That seems to be the case with the shows I do here in CO, with possibly some university people from local campus included. It seem to work well as you get quality work, no buy/ sell, and art that the community buys. I think these juries look at the potential tax revenue generated for the community and arts programs by artist's work that sells as well (just a theory).
I juried a saddle show for the Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame a few years back. That was an Interesting experience. Surprised at how instructions were not followed on paper work, photos, etc., but these were saddlemakers LOL.
I think every show does it differently, so there is no rule. One show that I have been involved with is run by a local arts organization. they usually get a panel of jurors from various media, some are exhibiting artists and some are art teachers. The jurors are only paid lunch, although recently since the show went to Entrythingy, the jurors don't even get that, only the satisfaction of knowing that they tried to pick the best for the show. As for the award jurors at the show, they usually have 2 who are either academics and/or art gallery owners, and they are paid for their day of working the show and choosing the award winners.
Replies
I found this thread which was posted before I found AFI. Pertinent to this topic.
Guess I am not the only one who has a sense that jurors are not well versed in the mediums they are jurying.
Well, maybe. I was on a jury that included a jeweler with years of experience (along with a photographer, a potter, an oil painter and a watercolorist). Later the show received an irate letter from a rejected jeweler who complained bitterly about how he/she was rejected by a bunch of painters who knew nothing about jewelry. You can't please them all!
The jury I'm on is really just the show committee. Several events in my area are like that. It works OK because we are not judging to limit the numbers, just to see that the work is hand done and the display is presentable.
I would like to see juries with all media represented. For example, if we don't have a jeweler on the the committee, it's hard to jury them fairly.
I juried a saddle show for the Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame a few years back. That was an Interesting experience. Surprised at how instructions were not followed on paper work, photos, etc., but these were saddlemakers LOL.
I think every show does it differently, so there is no rule. One show that I have been involved with is run by a local arts organization. they usually get a panel of jurors from various media, some are exhibiting artists and some are art teachers. The jurors are only paid lunch, although recently since the show went to Entrythingy, the jurors don't even get that, only the satisfaction of knowing that they tried to pick the best for the show. As for the award jurors at the show, they usually have 2 who are either academics and/or art gallery owners, and they are paid for their day of working the show and choosing the award winners.
I have often wondered the same thing.