I submitted entries to the Plaza show several times in the past, but finally saw the futility of such and have not and will not enter again. I was a participant in one of the very early Plaza Art Fairs many years ago when I first got out of college, and before becoming so involved in commercial art that I no longer had the time for fine art events until I retired a few years ago. Since that retirement I have participated in art fairs across the country. Not to brag, but a few of those shows are more highly ranked than the Plaza, and artists I know who are from other areas proclaim that their hometown “biggies” are impossible to get into, and they say we are probably passing each other on the highway as we go to participate in the other guy's big show! I think there is a lot of truth to that.
Without further goings-on... this is what I am so upset about: There are seven or eight local artists who are never (never) juried out of this show. They are not invited because of some award and the situation is not explained in any open manner... but their participation from year to year is never in doubt. I could write down the names on a piece of paper weeks before the participants are announced or the jurying even takes place, and my list would be 100% accurate and correct. Here is the point... if you, like me, have experienced entering and participating in art fairs of this caliber, you know how difficult it is to get accepted to a show like this on occasion, and that to be in a show like this frequently is an astonishing accomplishment... but to exceed ten or twelve years without tripping up even one time is, well... hard to believe! (FYI: I have the programs going back some ten years which confirm the claims which I am making.)
If this jurying is not taking place in an honest and impartial manner as is implied, promised and expected, then young, new artists are actually being cheated out of entry fees year after year as they aspire to participate in this great event.
Following is exactly what I emailed to the director of the show this year... word for word except for those artist's names...
Director Name,
We had email conversations about this several years ago and you told me that the unethical (by my standards) policy of jurying which was allowing people to secure a permanent pass around the jurying of the show was going to be addressed and changed.
I am not going to bother at this time to be precise about who is and who isn't a part of this mess as I see it. But off the top of my head right now, the names Name 1, Name 2, Name 3, Name 4, Name 5, Name 6 and Name 7 come to mind and are ALWAYS in the show. As I have said before in various ways, accomplishing that is just not possible under normal circumstances. Different people jurying, different work, times, etc. You as a director and I as an artist who has done hundreds of shows across the country for years know that it is next to impossible to be “perfect” in your applications to the Plaza Art Fair, supposedly one of such stature, etc. – 100% PERFECT!
As I have said before, because young artists pay money to be juried, I believe that what is taking place is criminal and certainly dishonest. And SHOULD be dealt with.
I am simply not going to let this pass. I have tried, and it just eats on me.
Sincerely,
Bob Stewart
In conclusion, I do want to say that if any of these artists has actually entered the Plaza Art Fair year after year and been fairly and honestly invited by each jury, each year, then he or she has my sincerest apology for any implication I have made here or anywhere else. And that person would in fact be an absolute champion of champions in my eyes. I am sure any of us would like to be that good!
Comments
I'd like to not have any more comments on this topic, please. There is not a way for me to close "comments" on these blog posts, so in the interest of not "moderating", the only way for me to really close comments is to delete, which I prefer not to do. Thanks for your consideration.
You have successfully demeaned me and turned my message into a train wreck.
Let's play a little game: Alice, you are the director of a small but powerful show which is going to feature 100 of the best artists you can get, and 10 out of that 100 are going to be local artists. However, you have six dear friends who are really great artists, and you want them to be in your show. You know how good they are, and don't really think they need to be subjected to the jury process, so you just slip them a pass. AND, under the circumstances and as director, you don't think it is important or necessary to tell the other applicants about your friends. Need I go any further?? This is what I contend is taking place under our noses at the Plaza Art Fair*, and this is what you, Alice, are trying so hard to justify or defend!
* The numbers of participants, award winners, invitees, etc. which are given by the show (when you can find them) do not add up, and that coupled with other little bits of information, make my suspicions very real to me. I suggest you do your own homework, and draw (you are artists) your own conclusions.
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