The Art of Jurying Art…

What does a juror look for in their selection of art for a show?  Why does one great painting get accepted and another not?  What are they thinking!???

A friend of mine and gallery owner said of jurying a fine art show that to have the best process would be to have a gallerist, a collector and an artist be a jury of 3 for a show.  That way, the biases of each could be minimized by the others – potentially.  The gallerist is looking for what will sell in their gallery, the collector will choose what they like and similarly for the artist.  It does seem like a good mix and would probably work well.  Some large shows have a panel of jury members and I would think that is the best option.  However, for smaller, regional shows, it may be cost prohibitive to hire 3 jurors for a show.  So when we look for a juror we try to find someone who will be fair to all the work presented – the styles, the medium, etc.

I take on a couple of jury positions each year and I have to say, it is hard work.  Read on what Sylvia White has to say…I think these words are invaluable to both juror and artist…

Sylvia White [sylvia@artadvice.ccsend.com]writes an e-newsletter called ArtAdvice and it is filled with great information on numerous topics.  With her permission I am including this valuable information in this blog below.  Be sure to check out her site on the net and learn from this very knowledgeable person….

” Most juried shows, are by nature, an eclectic blend of a juror’s vision. By definition, this show is a subjective and singular vision, based on my personal tastes and aesthetic. So little research has been done in the area of developing a sense of taste, a style, an aesthetic preference. Mostly, we assume this is a result of our collective visual experiences. Our eye becomes trained to like that to which we have been exposed and our brains are programmed to respond to familiarity. Training in art history and looking at contemporary art, in combination with our life experiences and associations, slowly start to develop our sensibility and mold our vision.

In selecting an exhibition, I let my instincts guide me. As difficult as it is to judge work from a computer monitor, I review each image in the same way I look at actual art. There is no way I can define what I am looking for. Style, composition, content, artistic integrity all play a role, naturally. But, in each case I am looking for the artwork to speak to me, to reach out to me in some way, to touch my inner spirit,  stimulate my intellect, or visually entice me.  All the artwork I choose must communicate on at least one (preferably more) level: my heart, it has some emotional impact; my head, it makes me think about things that are important/relevant to me; my eyes, it must have visual impact, strong composition, etc.  In addition, it must be well crafted and professional, not only in appearance, but in fabrication.  Not all juror’s look for the same thing, but this is MY criteria.  It is only in this way that I can define what becomes a unifying theme of an exhibition. But, that’s not all. Jurors look for a lot of different things when putting a show together. Although the quality of the art and the impact it has on a particular juror is what constitutes art that makes “the first cut,” there are a number of other complicated factors that artists are usually unaware of.  Often times, the consideration of how a show will “hang together” becomes more important than an individual jurors feelings about a particular piece. Poor photography is the most common artists’ enemy, if the work can not be seen, it can’t be understood.  Painfully, I often have to omit pieces I genuinely love. Yet another reason why artists should not interpret rejection and a personal comment about their work. Many times, it is as simple as you didn’t select the right pieces to enter.  In other cases, size or media restrictions eliminate pieces that otherwise would have been chosen. The venue, laying out the show in my mind, and how pieces interact/speak with one another, are all important considerations. In the end, there is no way to predict how or why a juror picks specific pieces.

I believe that surrounding oneself with art, enriches our lives and nourishes our soul.  It is painful for me to think about the sadness and frustration that artists experience when they are rejected from a show.  It is unnecessary and unjustified.  Artists must continue to explore every avenue possible to show their work , regardless of the occasional rejection, and must try to understand the “juror’s dilemma.”

I hope artists and jurors alike find this valuable info…in the meantime – happy painting and keep entering competitions!

Art Defined in Textile

I love the southwestern Native American textiles. The blankets, weaving patterns of brilliant color into geometrical designs are incredibly beautiful. In the Northwest, Pendleton Woolen Mills produces woolen blankets with fabulous designs and color.  Another art form… 
The southwestern weavings are incredible…some of subtle shades of grays with perhaps red or a muted turquoise; others brilliant in color. The process of hand weaving is so very time consuming. It is with pride that these artists display their work at the Indian Fairs and Markets.

 

Twenty + years ago I was working in the Denver area and had the opportunity to go to the Indian Market that was held at a stadium in Boulder. It was a festival of Native American Art with the rugs and blankets hanging throughout the show.   It was beautiful in the display of colors and craftsmanship.

I have a few pieces, a couple of small rugs, a Pendleton blanket that serves as a bedspread in a guest room. I guess what I love about these pieces is the use of color…they are bright, lots of colors and it doesn’t matter what the “seasonal” colors are in the fashion world…these pieces use the basics of color to play one off the other…just like a color wheel.  It’s all art.

Who gets to decide what’s “Art”???

What is your definition of  “art”?

When you stop  by a magazine stand and go to the art magazine section there are quite a few publications out that lobby for being art magazines.  There’s Southwest Art, Western Art, Wildlife Art, Art, International Art, and on and on.  So…what’s “Craft”?  Someone that makes one of a kind jewelry is an artist or craftsman?  A potter?  You ask a 100 people, you probably get a 100 different answers.  My take on it…it’s all art in some form.  I think  sometimes people stick their noses in the air at a certain type of art either because they don’t understand it or don’t like it.  Ok…it’s still art…and then someone says…define “Fine Art”…It is an endless topic….just go enjoy some art!!

I like to think that I paint from the heart.  I paint what’s right for me.  and depending on the medium in which I am working depends on the style it is.  I use photos or reference or go out in the field to paint.  I paint what feels right at the time.     

I like to go out and paint plein air when I feel  like time is not critical, but I also like to go out and photograph points of interest that I think might be a good source for a future painting.  It is an enjoyable time to spend looking for spots to photograph.  I put all my images on my computer and go through them periodically when I am looking for reference photos.  Often I go back to old images and find one that for some reason didn’t spike my interest earlier, but now is something is demanding to be painted.

I want to encourage anyone who wants to use their artistic skills…do it for  yourself and what makes you feel good.  I think about this woman “Virginia” who lives in our town and walks around town selling her art.  She has Down’s Syndrome, yet she is an artist.  She does watercolor paintings of lots of subject matter and spends a good deal of time “marketing” her paintings to shop owners, customers, people on the street.  One gallery downtown had a month-long art show for her…this was a pretty prestigious  show place, I might add, and they did one of their regular  shows  for her – .  She’s probably the best marketer of art for miles around!  That’s an artist hard at work!  My hat’s off to  Virginia!  And her paintings are great!   That’s artist success!

So whatever your “style” is, whatever you are trying to say with  your painting or whatever art you are collecting; just do it from the heart!!

Collage – a collection…

Mona On My Mind bzgriffith

A Matter of Time (clock for YWCA art auction) bzgriffith

Collage is one of my favorite art forms.  Taking bits and pieces from a variety of textures, adding paint, stamp art, found items, drawings, paintings and put it all together in a meaningful testimony of something that comes from one’s heart.  It’s a way to express innermost feelings of importance to the artist and be something interesting to the viewer.

A few years ago I did some collages for an art show using art stamps, papers, Asian coins, leaves, yarn, etc.  Several had an Asian theme; one was reflections on art.  I put them in shadow frames and kept the favorite ones.

Up From the Ruins - kl griffith

Kate put a collage together for the Survivor Show at Allied Arts of Yakima.  It was part of her recovery process and she continues to do collages with water color paper, founds quotes and clips from magazines, papers, and objects of interest and relevance.  Sometimes she does a narrative to go with the collage.

"Geishas" bz griffith

My friend Dianna does wonderful artistic collages with meanings deep for her.  This wonderful abstract work has been shown in juried shows and she will open a solo show at the Weinhart Hotel Gallery next month.  She does a blog – Mind Sieve that sometimes shows her work.

There are numerous magazines published that are great reference for  the collage artist…Stampington publishes several that relate to journaling, blogging, assemblage, etc.  All great resources.  I think this company first started publishing  Somerset magazine that originally focused on art stamps and that craft, but gradually this publication became much bigger and broader in the artistic sense.  Now they publish such publications like  Artful Blogging, Artful Journaling, Where Cooks Create (I think that is the title), and more.

So I encourage you to create a collage(s), whether it is part of a journaling exercise, a wall hanging, etc…make it about you; what you are made of, what you represent, where  you want to go…the possibilities are endless…It’s found objects, glue, paint, paper…and it comes from the heart…

spray paint and railroad cars…

The railroad that follows the Columbia River and provides transportation for paper mills and distribution centers always has numerous cars sitting idle, waiting to be loaded and moved to some other destination.  Some of these cars, from time to time, will be laden with graffiti from who knows where.  Sometimes you can pretty easily decipher what is painted on the cars with spray paint; other times not.  Sometimes you will see only words; sometimes characters.   I wonder who did the painting; where were they and why?  those railroad cars travel all over; a moving gallery of “art” – if you consider this art.  I think it is a type of art form…It may certainly not be one you identify with or even like in the least, but you must admit there is a certain amount of artistic talent needed to create some of the things you see on the sides of the cards.

Whenever I drive by railroad cars with the graffiti on the their sides, I wonder about that art form.  Where has that car been?  Who did that painting on the car?  Why?   Is is just graffiti?  Is it an art form?  I guess I think it as an art form or sorts.  I have seen some pretty intricate paintings even though it is defacing someone else’s property.  So I think it is sad that someone with obvious talent is doing a basically wrong thing by spray painting the side of a rail road car.  So what does it mean?  What do the words say?  Gang related messages traveling thousands of  miles in warning.   Some of the paintings have more than writing on them; some in really vibrant color.  I am sure it  relates somewhat to supply on hand at the time.  Are these “artists” skulking around after dark in the railroad yards looking for a clean canvas to deliver their message on?  Is it a warning or just mischievousness; is the message meant to go somewhere specific or is it random?  I wish they had canvases and a gallery…there’s talent there…

Define Art…

Art…it’s a pretty personal deal.  My goal with this blog is to tell about something “art-like” in my world…or maybe one of my friends world.  We don’t all look at art the same way.  Thankfully!  Art can be the graffiti on the sides of freight train cars, the works of master painters, children’s projects from school, stuff you see on walks, a plate of food, a deli’s showcase, photography…So come with me on this journey.

(Jean’s wood cut images)

Art…A couple of years ago an elderly friend of mine passed away.  She was a wonderful artist who was talented in lots of mediums – watercolor, block print making, etc.  A patron of the arts, Jean was a founding member of the local Art Center and volunteered there for years.  Late in her life she brought some beautiful tiny wood block prints to the center to sell.  She said her kids had picked the ones they wanted and she had just decided to sell the rest of them.  I bought two of them and cherish them.  They hang together in my dining room in a grouping of  some small works.  Whenever I take a look at them, I fondly think of Jean, her great smile and gentle ways.  Art for her seemed to be done for purely pleasure.  She didn’t seem to care if  she made a bunch of money on her work; she did it for the pleasure of making art.

After she had passed away,  her children gathered things that they didn’t want and had a yard sale.  She had lots of interesting artifacts from around the world, but the two things that I fell in love with were two sets of wood block cuts for printing/imaging.  I am a huge fan of art stamps and have a collection that is quite extensive.  So when I saw these wooden boxes of wood blocks, I had to have them!  There is a collection of letters and numbers in different fonts, some well-worn; others hardly used.  On occasion I pick a couple and ink them up and stamp them into a project, but mostly I just take them out and look at them and remember my friend Jean…