Linda Arbuckle on mon 13 oct 97
----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>do jurors and curators usually put themselves in the exhibit they
>are choosing? We would like to hear opinions about this.
My experience is that jurors usually do not, although curators may if
they are artists asked to curate based on their knowledge of their area,
or a technique, or concept. Juried shows are chosen on the basis of the
individual work submitted to the show. Curated shows are invitational
and usually based on curator's knowledgeof/research about the artists
and their work.
It doesn't seem unusual if someone with an expertise in, for instance,
wood-fired work, figurative sculpture, or ceramists of a certain area,
et al. is asked to assemble a group of works based on his/her
perspective, and because of this includes him or herself. As Louis Katz
pointed out, it's one of the compensations for doing all that work, and
one often knows the most developed network of artists with shared
concerns.
The NCECA Clay National held every two years is juried, and I don't
recall seeing a juror's work. Every other year is a curated show, and
the curator doesn't usually participate. I've curated educational shows
where I felt I wanted to show viewers a specific thing and wanted to
include as much other work as I could, and felt my participation not
important. On the other hand, I've been asked to curate majolica shows,
with the expectation that I also participate as part of that survey of
work.
There are also shows that offer both... invited artists participate in
curating the show and each invites another artist to participate, like
the shows at the Arrowmont Utilitarina Clay I and II shows with the
conference.
Lots of ways and reasons to do one or the other thing. Hard to make
sweeping statements about when it crosses a line to abuse of power or
shameless self-promotion, but I don't feel I see this happening much .
Linda
Linda Arbuckle
Associate Professor, Graduate Coordinator
University of Florida, Box 115801, Gainesville, FL 32611-5801
e-mail:arbuck@ufl.edu (Note: this is a new e-mail address)
Jean Lehman on wed 15 oct 97
I have gotten a couple of questions regarding this policy at the Strictly
Functional Pottery National. I'll will answer to the list in case others
have the same question.
The curator, project director, organizer (that's me -- whatever you want to
call me!) will not enter the SFPN competition. The founder and past curator
(Scott Jones) will not enter the SFPN competition. We have always assumed
it would be awkward, and a conflict of interest.
The juror may be invited to show a few pieces but may not be eligible for
awards, of course. Past and future (!?) jurors may enter the SFPN. In the
past, our jurors did not show any of their pieces. However, due to many
requests from people who attended the exhibit last year, we have asked
Cynthia Bringle (our 1998 juror) to bring some pieces. Her work will be
shown upstairs in a separate gallery, mostly to draw people up to that
gallery. She will also be here giving a two day workshop when the exhibit
opens, so it will be good for the participants of the workshop to see her
work.
That's our policy, but the SFPN is a national competition. I see no problem
with an invitational show including the curators in the exhibit. And, in
the case of the Texas show, there can be "invited artists" (the organizers)
and "accepted artists" (the ones who entered and were accepted into the
exhibit). I'm not sure it is worth expending all this much energy on!!! It
*IS* a clay exhibit after all -- and I, for one, will want to see it!
Jean
---------------------->
Jean Lehman, in Lancaster, PA
j_lehman@acad.FandM.EDU (that's an _underscore_ not a hyphen)
http://www.art-craftpa.com/lehman.html
Check out the 1997 Strictly Functional Pottery National at:
http://www.art-craftpa.com/art-craftpa.html
"Rafael Molina-Rodriguez (Rafael Molina-Rodriguez)" on fri 17 oct 97
Jean :
Let me begin by saying how much I respect you and the exhibition you
organize The Strictly Functional Pottery National. I say we need more
shows that focus on this area of pottery.
>The curator, project director, organizer (that's me -- whatever you want
>to call me!) will not enter the SFPN competition. The founder and past
>curator (Scott Jones) will not enter the SFPN competition. We have
>always assumed it would be awkward, and a conflict of interest.
Yours is the example that should be followed by ALL exhibition
organizers/curators/jurors.
>However, due to many requests from people who attended the exhibit
>last year, we have asked Cynthia Bringle (our 1998 juror) to bring some
>pieces. Her work will be shown upstairs in a separate gallery, mostly to
>draw people up to that gallery.
IMO, this would be absolutely acceptable to most people.
>And, in the case of the Texas show, there can be "invited artists" (the
>organizers) and "accepted artists" (the ones who entered and were
>accepted into the exhibit).
Provided the invited artists/curators and the accepted artists are
described as such.
>I'm not sure it is worth expending all this much energy on!!! It *IS* a clay
>exhibit after all
I respectfully disagree with this sentiment and others like it. I don't mean
to sound hyper-sensitive and idealistic but to assert that "It is a clay
exhibit after all", "one exhibition in thousands each year", or " But, IT'S
JUST A SHOW!" IMO is to diminish exhibitions of pottery and by extension
pottery itself. This contradicts the very thing that we on this list are
trying to do which is to foster an understanding and appreciation for
individual hand-crafted pottery versus the mass produced machine made
wares you can purchase at your local Super Wal Mart.
Rafael
a.k.a. "The Alienator" because I don't think there is a person or group on
this list I haven't alienated at one time or another. ;-D
>>> Jean Lehman 10/15/97 07:26am
>>>
----------------------------Original message----------------------------
I have gotten a couple of questions regarding this policy at the Strictly
Functional Pottery National. I'll will answer to the list in case others
have the same question.
The curator, project director, organizer (that's me -- whatever you want
to
call me!) will not enter the SFPN competition. The founder and past
curator
(Scott Jones) will not enter the SFPN competition. We have always
assumed
it would be awkward, and a conflict of interest.
The juror may be invited to show a few pieces but may not be eligible for
awards, of course. Past and future (!?) jurors may enter the SFPN. In the
past, our jurors did not show any of their pieces. However, due to many
requests from people who attended the exhibit last year, we have asked
Cynthia Bringle (our 1998 juror) to bring some pieces. Her work will be
shown upstairs in a separate gallery, mostly to draw people up to that
gallery. She will also be here giving a two day workshop when the
exhibit
opens, so it will be good for the participants of the workshop to see her
work.
That's our policy, but the SFPN is a national competition. I see no problem
with an invitational show including the curators in the exhibit. And, in
the case of the Texas show, there can be "invited artists" (the
organizers)
and "accepted artists" (the ones who entered and were accepted into
the
exhibit). I'm not sure it is worth expending all this much energy on!!! It
*IS* a clay exhibit after all -- and I, for one, will want to see it!
Jean
---------------------->
Jean Lehman, in Lancaster, PA
j_lehman@acad.FandM.EDU (that's an _underscore_ not a hyphen)
http://www.art-craftpa.com/lehman.html
Check out the 1997 Strictly Functional Pottery National at:
http://www.art-craftpa.com/art-craftpa.html
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