Fifty Years Later (2014)
As the 23rd annual edition, it is one of the bigger shows around here…and, as I said last year, it is getting harder and harder to get work accepted into the event.
Sometimes I wonder what the citeria might be to get in…yeah, I know, judging and selection can be quite subjective. It can depend on:
–The judge’s personal preference, bias, taste, mood.
–The theme or general nature of the show.
–Whether your work/style fits with other selections (closely related to the previous).
–How much gallery space is available.
–Overall number and quality of entries.
–Number and quality of entries in the specific categories you entered.
–Whether or not you followed all the rules to enter the show.
–And who knows what else…
A local photographer once told me the story of winning “Best of Show” at one juried exhibit, but having that very same photograph rejected outright when he tried to enter it in another, similar show.
Go figure.
Art can certainly be in the eye of the beholder. Or, more accurately, maybe art simply is in the eye of the beholder.
Anyway, back to Louisville…
I did manage to have one of my images accepted and a second one put on the waiting list (out of the six I presented). So that was nice. I am always surprised, though, by which ones are accepted and which are rejected–it almost never conforms with my taste or expectations. (Or should it?)
This time around I decided to go with people and architecture images rather than choosing from my many landscapes and nature abstracts. I have no idea if that helped or hindered my chances. I just picked six photographs I personally liked. Should I have picked pictures more like what the judge himself makes? Er…no…that would have been artistically quite false. Not a good road, that–trying to guess what someone else might like.
(The judge this year, by the way, is Joseph Roybal, a professional, “off the beaten path” travel, landscape and portrait photographer.)
So, the image at the top of this post is the one that will hang at the show. Below are the others I submitted. Which one(s) would you have selected? (If any!)
The Ramp. Barcelona, Catalunya, 2014 (on the waiting list)
395 Years. Barcelona, Catalunya, 2010
The Girl in the Plaza. Barcelona, Catalunya, 2010
Olympic Legacy. Barcelona, Catalunya, 2013
The Pier, #1. Barcelona, Catalunya
And the details for the Louisville Show:
-May 31 to June 8.
–Louisville Center for the Arts building, on 801 Grant Ave in old town Louisville.
–Reception and awards scheduled for May 31, 7-9p.m.
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2 Comments
The are at least 2. The Ramp and Pier#1. Most of yours are more compelling than the ones that made it. I agree. Never try to 2nd guess the judge. But there’s no telling what will be accepted by any given juror.
Thanks, Russell! I totally get the subjective nature of judging. You just have to go with the flow. You aren’t Russ Burden are you? I tried Googling but no luck. Thanks for visiting.