I scored a "1" at the Krasl Jury

Quite a few artists posted about their Krasl jury scores on some of the Facebook art show forums. I even received two phone calls from artists asking me to check to see if something was wrong with their images.

So many artists posted about receiving one or even two of the lowest possible score of a "1" out of "7" that it makes me wonder if the people doing the jurying knows what that means, or what instructions were given by the director.

Years ago I was interviewing a show director about how their jurying worked. I was told that any scores of 1 were required to be justified by the jurors. The reason for that was because a score of 1 meant that the artist was so unqualified that they shouldn't even be applying to a juried show, probably knowing nothing of the medium they were applying in.

Larry Berman
http://BermanGraphics.com
412-401-8100

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Larry Berman
<a href="http://BermanGraphics.com">http://BermanGraphics.com</a>
412-401-8100

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Comments

  • When the number of spaces is small and there is intense competition for those few spaces, it is about the art and the difference afforded by better image presentation can be the slight edge you need. I've never been accepted and probably never will be, but I know my work needs to have more immediate boldness, simplicity, and strong clean photography .

  • Does anyone ever feel that it is more about the photography than it is the art?

  • I did get in.  I got no 1s or 7s and jurors 2 and 3, did give me my lowest scores.  It would be interesting to know the cutoff value so I know if I barely made it in or did well.  I don't agree that only qualified people apply to certain shows.  I cringe when I think of my early applications to Coconut Grove and Winter Park.  I was brand new and I know they were good shows but had no idea how competitive they were.  I have learned in my years of doing this that it is very subjective.  I still remember getting a first place award at Disney Festival of the Masters and coming home to a rejection notice from Images.

  • I was glad to find this thread. I read it all, and I'm glad my thoughts echoed those of many. How can there be such an extreme in scoring with two people basically voting you as subpar, and two saying you're above average. 

    I'll have to learn not to let it get to me.

  • Welcome, Kyra! Best of luck at the five, and thanks for sharing what you saw & heard.

  • Hello all,

    So this is my first year entering the world of Art Fairs. Prior to this I have been a fair "goer" and quite a buyer as well. Additionally, I lived 6 blocks from the Krasl (and now a whopping 4 miles away). I have been attending for over 10 years. 

    This year being my first, you guessed it, I applied to Krasl. AND... I attended the jury day. It was a disappointment. The jurors, one or two were very friendly and even conversed with those of us who attended. Two were enormously snooty and did not deign look at us. One even made a remark when one category showed up "is this open to children?" Seriously. He asked that. Some of his remarks and questions were astounding in their condescension. 

    When my scores arrived, they were much like many of you noted. Two 1's (I bet I know who one of those jurors was!) and two 5's.  How do you get such scores? Well, something tells me that some jurors are playing a game. There are so many spots and they know who they want, and so they rank you a 1 to ensure you don't get a chance. 

    It hit me hard at first. I am upset Krasl doesn't at least have an emerging artist or local artist category. I will speak up, mind you. Because many years my husband, friends and I have walked through the fair wondering why some artists got picked. I even used to think it wasn't a juried fair but one where you pay for the spot- first come, first served.  

    So far, I have been invited to five other shows. So I'm feeling better about this, but I still hope and wish I could be here in my home town. I doubt that will ever happen if Krasl continues to find jurors like these. 

  • You all can thank me and a few of us, some who have been banned from this site, for the transparency in the jury scores. This was started by Sara, when she was the director. We sent her and a number of other show directors a list of things we would like to see shows do to improve the jury process. 

    I wouldn't take the scores too personally. I think that most juries are incompetent. I know that very few jurors understand Ceramics from an academic standpoint. What is considered good in the art fair world would not be considered good in the international clay world. However, the system is fair because everyone is judged the same. A 7 vs a 1 is more like a yes no. What is being judges is a "like" vs a "dislike" as opposed to whether the work is good or bad. For me, the idea is to get to the point where I'm getting into the shows I want to do on a more consistent level. There are shows I get into every year. There are others that I want to get into every year, but, it doesn't happen. There are shows that I am just happy to get into just once. And then, when I get into those shows, I want to get in again of a fairly consistent basis. I am in Cherry Creek again after a year of being out. I'm working towards getting in to those shows on a regular basis. There are maybe 8 shows that are the top ones and if I get into 2 in any year I am happy. With 3 or more I am ecstatic. Keep in mind that if I get into 2 of the 8, I am being rejected 75% of the time. I can't let that bother me. This year I am in 3, so it's already going to be a good year.

    I like the St Louis jury system the best. It has 4 or 5 rounds and you only get eliminated if everyone gives you a no. It means that a bad score, or a no vote from one juror, will not keep you from getting into the show.

  • Hello David, et.al.,

    Let me start with: I have no idea what I'm talking about, but...; I've never attended a show jury session --mock or otherwise-- and served on a jury only twice for a membership gallery I belonged to.

    But this sounds like it could be helpful in resolving the "full spectrum results" discussed here.

    --Chris Fedderson

  • Here's a thought...

    How about a system in which, if an applicant receives a "1" and "7" in the same scoring round, an "exception" is triggered. If it occurs during a silent round of jurying, the "exception" would allow the applicant to move on to the next round, regardless of average score. If it is a non-silent round, the "exception" would trigger mandatory discussion among the jurors. Perhaps this could be expanded to an applicant scoring a "1 or 2" and "6 or 7" in the same round.

    The discussion would (hopefully) help jurors come to a more objective assessment of the merit of a given artist's work. When we are not familiar with the technical aspects of a particular medium when judging, it can be tempting to rely solely on subjective/emotional assessment and not take into account the skill, effort, and creative vision that went into making the work.

  • I had the same experience this year. I was in the Krasl show last year and did a decent amount of sales. This year I was not invited. I had three high scores and two “1s”. Huh!? Really? Clearly something went wrong at the jury if this many people are commenting. I’m certain it’s difficult to find judges, so I’ll factor that in my disappointment, however, a 1 suggests I shouldn’t even be applying or haven’t mastered my art medium. I won 4 best of shows last year in my medium at good shows so it was a real slap in the face.
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