I was recently asked by a farily new student how I decide what artwork to submit into a juried exhibition. This student is generally quiet and, to me, has a perception of the world that may be quite different from mine. In hopes to engage the student in some discussion about the depths of visual arts, I chose to answer the question in a lengthy way:
"I choose artwork that is available and of which I am proud. I also consider the location and the type of work that is usually exhibited in the space the competition's exhibition will be held. If it's a national show, it's almost impossible to really know this unless I'm close enough to check it out in person, so I'll go with my first sentence as the best answer. : )
Honestly, many of these shows are simply a line on the records of past shows. As a professional, it helps to show that you are exhibiting your work--not only commercially with a gallery, but competitively through arts organizations whose missions are to display the current trends, techniques, and most importantly, the current ideas/attitudes of artists.
For a beginning artist, it is a chance to learn about the various preferences knowledgeable people have about art. It's totally subjective, but if you enter enough, you eventually get an understanding. These knowledgeable jurors are hopefully combining their own knowledge of
It's not solely about the artist's skill. Everyone has a story, and the more the artist pours their true selves into the work, the more these experienced "readers" of the work will be captivated (as long as the language of the artist is one that is readable.)
I'm rambling, but you grab me as someone who might be interested in expanding your knowledge about art. I don't know what kind of Internet connection you have, but perhaps `you can use the Public library's computers to watch a few episodes of PBS's Art21. These artists make their living (and then some or millions more) creating/producing art. Most of their money is obtained from grants and private donations by wealthy people who really like art that goes beyond the "pretty picture." I think you're thinking about this as well... aren't you? Here's the link: (click the colored tabs at the top right of the page: "artists" will give you a list of the videos categorized by artist. Try choosing Maya Lin, Collier Schorr, Rackstraw Downes, Cindy Sherman, and Kara Walker. Then click "watch now" on the right.)
http://www.pbs.org/art21/
This series (also available on PBS television) explores the practice of many types of visual artists working in vast materials, including the more traditional materials.
I hope you enjoy. Honestly, some of these make me fall to sleep, but some really do capture my interest."
"I choose artwork that is available and of which I am proud. I also consider the location and the type of work that is usually exhibited in the space the competition's exhibition will be held. If it's a national show, it's almost impossible to really know this unless I'm close enough to check it out in person, so I'll go with my first sentence as the best answer. : )
Honestly, many of these shows are simply a line on the records of past shows. As a professional, it helps to show that you are exhibiting your work--not only commercially with a gallery, but competitively through arts organizations whose missions are to display the current trends, techniques, and most importantly, the current ideas/attitudes of artists.
For a beginning artist, it is a chance to learn about the various preferences knowledgeable people have about art. It's totally subjective, but if you enter enough, you eventually get an understanding. These knowledgeable jurors are hopefully combining their own knowledge of
- the various media
- how the work compares to that of contemporaries and art history
- how the work is relevant to contemporary ideas
- how the work evokes question or contemplation to the viewer in general.
- how original it is in the combination of all of the above.
It's not solely about the artist's skill. Everyone has a story, and the more the artist pours their true selves into the work, the more these experienced "readers" of the work will be captivated (as long as the language of the artist is one that is readable.)
I'm rambling, but you grab me as someone who might be interested in expanding your knowledge about art. I don't know what kind of Internet connection you have, but perhaps `you can use the Public library's computers to watch a few episodes of PBS's Art21. These artists make their living (and then some or millions more) creating/producing art. Most of their money is obtained from grants and private donations by wealthy people who really like art that goes beyond the "pretty picture." I think you're thinking about this as well... aren't you? Here's the link: (click the colored tabs at the top right of the page: "artists" will give you a list of the videos categorized by artist. Try choosing Maya Lin, Collier Schorr, Rackstraw Downes, Cindy Sherman, and Kara Walker. Then click "watch now" on the right.)
http://www.pbs.org/art21/
This series (also available on PBS television) explores the practice of many types of visual artists working in vast materials, including the more traditional materials.
I hope you enjoy. Honestly, some of these make me fall to sleep, but some really do capture my interest."
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