Michael McDowell on mon 8 apr 96
Ron Roy writes:
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Ron, you raise one of many questions that need to be asked about such a show,
and aswered before such an event could be succesfully put on. Off the top of my
head I would imagine that however jurors were selected it would be important to
find three that represent a spectrum of styles, that still exemplify the
criteria by which the show would be judged. Photos of their work probably ought
to accompany call for entries. I think that the three juror format could help
balance out the biases that each is bound to bring to the task, since we all
have them.
Another question is: Isn't it a bit unrealistic to think that it could be truly
International in scope? The recent posts on shipping costs to and from
Australia, have kind of popped that soap bubble for me.
Anyone else have thoughts on this?
Michael McDowell
Northwest Washington State
Ron Roy on tue 9 apr 96
Jurors and their bias. Yes we all bring our own preferences and the best
pointers to what we prefer are what we make - I guess I should add - in
most cases.
I have been one of three jurors a number of times and it worked well in
that we all agreed which were the best in show. There was less agreement
when we got down to what was going to be left out.
The worst examples I have seen were juried by a single person - usually not
someone in clay.
I am finding it hard to find the line between meaningless generalization
and fixing on the real problem. I do think a clear statement about the
reasons for the show and agreement from the jurors will go a long way to
help in putting on a good show. After all one of the main reasons for shows
is to help people appreciate what we do and not a show case for the jurors
preferences.
I think there should be divisions within shows - That would help the viewer
to make connections and comparisons between related work. I am included in
a show at the Royal Ontario Museum (will be there till next January) in
which the work of Canadian potters is set beside and compared to ancient
Chinese and Japanese pots. The contemporary work is from a private
collection. There are modern and old pots in the same case (3 to 5 in each
case) with a written description of each pot in the case. Those I have
talked to about the concept of the show find the presentation "clean" and
enlightening. I guess what I am trying to say is - what you are looking at
makes some kind of sense.
Does anybody know what I am talking about?
Ron Roy, Toronto, Canada
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