Jurying my first art show

This week I had my first experience as a juror for an art show being held at the Newark Arts Alliance the month of February. I was thrilled to be asked to do it even though I wasn't entirely sure what to expect.

I went on Sunday to jury the more than 50 pieces entered. The show is called "Mad About Red" and the interpretation of the color red was left up to the artists. It is an all media show, so I was choosing among fabric pieces, knitting, collage, photography, painting, drawing and mosaic among others. 

I found it was very difficult to weed out what to include and what to "reject." I hate that word because as artists, we are so intertwined with our work it is sometimes hard if not accepted into a show not to take it personally. 

Be that as it may, I had the job of curating the show and I had a wonderful time of it. There is a great variety of works and many very interesting interpretations of the theme. 

WHYY Channel 12 is doing a piece on the show and interviewed me as a part of it. I think the show is "Delaware Tonight" though I may be wrong on the title. I do know that it will be aired on Friday, February 14, at 5:30 and 11:00 PM and again on Sunday at noon. It will also be on the website on Monday. I should be a big star after all those airings :0)

The NAA show is open to the public now and hosts a free  February 14 second  Friday reception from 6-8 PM.

Jurors Statement

I was quite honored to be asked to jury for Mad About Red and very excited coming in to see what interpretations of the theme awaited me. I found that jurying is a difficult job when faced with a room full of beautiful works created by talented artists from many media.

It was wonderful to have an audience with each piece instead of viewing them from slides. My methodology for choosing work was based on quality, presentation, color, interpretation of the theme and harmony with other works.

I approached the curation by moving pieces around and choosing anchor pieces for each wall-larger pieces which by sheer size and impact would serve as gravitational pull for the works surrounding them. 

From there I looked for relationships of that would create a flow from one piece to the other, evoking a mood of color or texture from one wall to the next.

As a self taught folk artist, I am humbled by the range of technical skill in the execution of many of the pieces. I was bowled over by the impact and emotion of some and savored the sense of “story” in others.

I loved the fact that this was an all media show and enjoyed including the variety of 
fabric pieces and jewelry in it.

I found it interesting that the color red is associated with love and with Valentine’s Day,  and one might expect at least one submission of perhaps the word love, or hearts or lovebirds. But there were none.

So, RED. What is it? Just a color? 

No, look around the room.

It is mystery in a doorway.
It is flowers in bloom. 
It is frightening.
It is angry.
It is warm.
It is tactile.
It bleeds.
It punches.
It shouts
It.....

Thank you to all the artists who entered even if your work wasn’t chosen for this show. Keep putting your work out there and keep blessing the world with who you are and sharing your unique voice. We all need to hear it. ~Karen O’Lone-Hahn