Staci applied to Seawall in Portsmouth, VA for the first time this year. The application was completed electronically using the show's website. Image submissions were also handled via the show site.
When I clicked the “submit” button, the website starting acting a little strange and I didn’t get any kind of confirmation. I then emailed the show to confirm that the application and images were received okay. I got a reply back that all was fine.
Two days ago, I got an email from the artist liaison at the show with the subject line: Important Seawall Art Show Message.
Apparently, one or more jurors were questioning the booth image that was submitted with the Staci's application. They told the liaison that it didn’t appear like the 2D work in the booth shot looked anything like the separate 2D images Staci had submitted and, in fact, it didn’t look like the work was fabric (Staci’s medium).
The liaison sent us the booth shot and sure enough, it was somebody else’s booth. We’re guessing that the glitch I suspected at the time of submission actually resulted in some files ending up in the wrong place.
While one could argue that the home-grown online submission process had some flaws that need fixing, it is also true that this jury was obviously spending enough time with the applications to detect some inconsistencies within a given application. This is the way the jury process should work.
We won’t know whether Staci is accepted or not for another couple of weeks but whether she is or not, we know she will have gotten a fair shot. I think that’s all any artist asks for in the jury process. Thanks to the folks at Seawall.
Oh – the jury fee was $35.
Comments
Happy ending - Staci got her acceptance email today.
Computers don't always work as we think they should. Good thing they caught the mistake. Of course, the US Mail doesn't work much better sometimes. We had 2 pieces of mail get lost in a 2 month period this winter. Who knows where it went? At least with the computer there is some way to check on things.
Hope you get in. You, too, Alison.
But what if the booth picture they mixed up was in the same medium but not as professional looking as your booth picture?
Larry Berman
You can praise them for doing what their job is, but any system that can get artists images mixed up is not set up properly. They should have specified that files should be named lastname_firstname_imagenumber.jpg before upload. Then they wouldn't have the mix up because all images from the same artist would fall into place alphabetically.
Larry Berman
http://BermanGraphics.com
412-401-8100
I applied too. I hope I get in. It sounds like a nice show to do.
Thanks Dave - Staci applied, in part, because of the great comments about the show in various blogs/discussions on AFI.
Good Luck with the show! Hope Staci gets in. Seawall has had two years straight of weather issues, so you are due a great weekend. It's not just the jury that does a good job there, it's the whole committee. Constant attention from the volunteers all during the show. Drinks, snacks, booth sitters, etc.