The Role of Artistic Standards
Vigilance vs. Vigilantism
How three top promoters strive to use on-site reviews to bury buy/sell - without burning artists
A survey and analysis
by Carl Buehler
Buy/sell merchandise should not be allowed into a juried show, all true artists and craftspeople agree. When it is determined that items being offered for sale are not the personal work of the exhibitor, exclusion of the merchandise - and perhaps the offending party - is warranted. For festival sponsors, however, the difficulty often is how to detect buy/sell accurately, particularly if the original jury missed it and the show is already underway.
A growing number of promoters have instituted on-site reviews of "Artistic Standards" as a means of dealing with the problem. But, even with the noblest of intentions by a show's organizer, such reviews can result in unwarranted attacks on artists who may be charged unfairly with misrepresenting their work. Professionals on the show circuit - promoters and exhibitors alike - need to maintain a vigilant but not vigilante mindset in implementing on-site reviews.
A reviewer must be broadminded enough to accept and appreciate diversity in artists' varying approaches to their work, their production techniques, marketing strategies and personal philosophies. And what about professional jealousy? Some exhibiting artists recruited by shows to do on-site reviews might warily eye their competitors as threats to their own financial success. It is important that the rights of artists are maintained as our industry strives harder to protect the integrity of festivals by ridding them of commercially produced and imported merchandise.
More.......
Not a subscriber?
Find out how to get Sunshine Artist delivered to you every month.
Subscribers to Sunshine Artist have access to full articles.
