Peg Landham on thu 12 oct 00
Okay, I haven't quite been able to let this one go. Although I think =
Jeremy Kalin did an excellent job of putting it in the perspective of a =
seasoned exhibitor, as I hoped someone would, I still think there's =
something wrong with the whole practice. Maybe I can't start a =
grass-roots campaign, but I hope, in my lifetime, to leave at least one =
or two things better than I found them. So I'll keep trying. And =
stumbling. And trying...
Here's my first draft:=20
(Try to feel honored; I rarely let anyone see those!)
Peg Landham
Dear Promoter,
I am interested in your show, but will not be applying, for one reason =
only. While I understand that putting together an exhibit like this =
entails a great deal of cost, and attention to myriad details, I believe =
the charge you are assigning to the jury process is unreasonable and =
discriminatory. If you think of your organization as a promoter of the =
arts, and not just a financial success, how can you, in good conscience, =
levee punitive damages on new artists simply for the ten seconds it may =
take to see that they have unprofessional slides?
"Oh but," you say, "it takes days to go through all the slides we =
receive." Of course it does. Slides lie, and you have to look very =
closely to be sure what you're seeing. Even then, it's a gamble, so =
having a jury fee helps weed out the chaff.
But does it really? I have noticed a disturbing trend in art and craft =
shows in recent years. A repetitive sameness is occurring, similar to =
the way golden arches eventually spring up at major interchanges. This =
is curious, in a class of people to which innovation is the lifeblood of =
existence. The median age of exhibitors is increasing, too. Is that an =
effect of the graying of America, or are the dynamics of big shows =
discouraging originality?
In the publishing world, most editorial staffs assign a junior to sift =
through the slush pile for that occasional undiscovered gem. Perhaps you =
could create a similar, "emerging artist" category, with no jury fee, =
reduced booth fees, and a mentoring program, to make sure the winner(s) =
of these coveted spots live up to the standards your show sets. "But, =
how on earth would we pay for this?" I'll bet you know of half a dozen =
local art organizations or colleges that would collaborate with you and =
volunteer time for such a worthy endeavor. It would be great public =
relations, and probably get free publicity.
American farmers learned new conservation practices after the =
self-inflicted dust bowl years. Are you fathering a "New Millennium Art =
Famine" with high jury fees?
Think about it, please. Younger artists can't afford to spend hundreds =
of dollars a month on jury fees, just to be rejected without =
explanation. They need to be educated and encouraged. Exorbitant jury =
fees have the unfortunate effect of nipping them in the bud.
Respectfully submitted,
Joe Artist
Suds Acres Bed & Breakfast on thu 12 oct 00
Peggy, I think this is a good idea. Keep trying. I think it is like the
web site thread says what is your focus? What do you want people to do
when they read this? and keep it short. I don't have any experience with
this scenario - just communication. Sorry if my comments seem harsh -
I'm just role-playing here. :)
(My comments in parenthesis)
Peg Landham wrote:
....
>
> Here's my first draft:
(letter to show dudes to try and get them to stop bilking potters)
> Dear Promoter,
>
> I am interested in your show, but will not be applying, for one reason only.
(I am interested here.)
While I understand that putting together an exhibit like this entails a
great deal of cost, and attention to myriad details, I believe the
charge you are assigning to the jury process is unreasonable and
discriminatory.
(Curiosity keeps me going here.)
If you think of your organization as a promoter of the arts, and not
just a financial success, how can you, in good conscience,
(I wanted to stop reading here, as it is condescending, and I didn't
even do anything wrong; but I keep reading because in being defensive I
get caught in the argument. As the reader, even if I agreed I wouldn't
want to pass this on to anyone up the chain of command because it is negative.)
levee punitive damages on new artists simply for the ten seconds it may
take to see that they have unprofessional slides?
>
> "Oh but," you say, "it takes days to go through all the slides we receive." Of course it does. Slides lie, and you have to look very closely to be sure what you're seeing. Even then, it's a gamble, so having a jury fee helps weed out the chaff.
(Losing me...)
>
> But does it really? I have noticed a disturbing trend in art and craft shows in recent years. A repetitive sameness is occurring, similar to the way golden arches eventually spring up at major interchanges. This is curious, in a class of people to which innovation is the lifeblood of existence. The median age of exhibitors is increasing, too. Is that an effect of the graying of America, or are the dynamics of big shows discouraging originality?
(That's it. Done reading... a few glances ahead and I'm glad I'm not reading...
Glanced at the last paragraph.. I think, hmm... too bad you have a point
THERE I agree with - I have to wade through THIS to get there.)
>
> In the publishing world, most editorial staffs assign a junior to sift through the slush pile
(after a few more glances I see someone referring to me... Junior.. eh? )
for that occasional undiscovered gem. Perhaps you could create a
similar, "emerging artist" category, with no jury fee, reduced booth
fees, and a mentoring program, to make sure the winner(s) of these
coveted spots live up to the standards your show sets. "But, how on
earth would we pay for this?" I'll bet you know of half a dozen local
art organizations or colleges that would collaborate with you and
volunteer time for such a worthy endeavor. It would be great public
relations, and probably get free publicity.
>
> American farmers learned new conservation practices after the self-inflicted dust bowl years. Are you fathering a "New Millennium Art Famine" with high jury fees?
>
> Think about it, please. Younger artists can't afford to spend hundreds of dollars a month on jury fees, just to be rejected without explanation. They need to be educated and encouraged. Exorbitant jury fees have the unfortunate effect of nipping them in the bud.
>
> Respectfully submitted,
>
> Joe Artist
>
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Suds Acres Bed & Breakfast on fri 13 oct 00
Dear Norman,
My response to Peggy's letter wasn't suggesting a formula for good
management! It was simply a venture into what might be in the mind
of someone looking over and going through a ton of letters and slides
and my speculations of how they MIGHT actually take the time to respond
to positively (do something to help you and all potterkind etc) that is
off the track of their current task.
I can't speak for this particular hypothetical person :), but the small
amount I've studied along the lines of interpersonal communication seems
to point to the old adage - you catch more flies with honey.
Do I really believe people only do such and so? <--You can fill in
anything you want here. No, and I don't believe I said that.
A busy person choosing whether to spend time on someone's complaint
letter or someone's letter with a query or a solution (especially when,I
imagine, they could be under the impression that it's not their job to
fix the whole way things are currently being done, but maybe just to
keep the slides in the right order and cull pertinent info from the
letters, for example the artist's address, phone number etc.) might be
tempted to go with the more positive, and even remotely less stress
inducing choice.
It's hard for me to see good points, time, effort and the price of a
stamp possibly wasted because the delivery isn't as tactful and tasteful
as it could be.
Short, to the point, tasteful and presenting solutions, IMHO, would seem
to work best.
Samantha Tomich
Paauilo, Hawaii
Norman van der Sluys wrote:
>
> Do you really believe people only read what they want to agree with, and that they only pass on pats on the back to their superiors? That doesn't sound like a formula for good management to me!
>
> Suds Acres Bed & Breakfast wrote:
>
> > Peggy, I think this is a good idea. Keep trying. I think it is like the
> > web site thread says what is your focus? What do you want people to do
> > when they read this? and keep it short. I don't have any experience with
> > this scenario - just communication. Sorry if my comments seem harsh -
> > I'm just role-playing here. :)
>
> --
> Norman van der Sluys
>
> by the shore of Lake Michigan
>
> ______________________________________________________________________________
> Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>
> You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
> settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
>
> Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at melpots@pclink.com.
Norman van der Sluys on fri 13 oct 00
Excellent! I can't think of a better way of putting our case. Of course, I suspect that at least some of these shows are put on by people who could care less about encouraging the arts and crafts, but are in it for the money - for their own causes.
When we lick this dragon, maybe we could start on the organizations that claim to be supporting the arts as a whole, but really mean the performing arts such as music, dance, and theater.
Peg Landham wrote:
> Okay, I haven't quite been able to let this one go. Although I think Jeremy Kalin did an excellent job of putting it in the perspective of a seasoned exhibitor, as I hoped someone would, I still think there's something wrong with the whole practice. Maybe I can't start a grass-roots campaign, but I hope, in my lifetime, to leave at least one or two things better than I found them. So I'll keep trying. And stumbling. And trying...
>
> Here's my first draft:
>
--
Norman van der Sluys
by the shore of Lake Michigan
Norman van der Sluys on fri 13 oct 00
Do you really believe people only read what they want to agree with, and that they only pass on pats on the back to their superiors? That doesn't sound like a formula for good management to me!
Suds Acres Bed & Breakfast wrote:
> Peggy, I think this is a good idea. Keep trying. I think it is like the
> web site thread says what is your focus? What do you want people to do
> when they read this? and keep it short. I don't have any experience with
> this scenario - just communication. Sorry if my comments seem harsh -
> I'm just role-playing here. :)
--
Norman van der Sluys
by the shore of Lake Michigan
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