or (2)

Application Photos: full range of work or not?

I am really perplexed about this especially regarding some of the top shows.  We're experienced artists at shows.  Often a promoter's instruction sheet, instructs artists to submit the photos representing the full range of their work which means if you are a 3D artist with functional ceramics, you are to show not only your more intricate items but also your "more ordinary," for lack of a better word items:  the ones that are  less complex to produce and less impressive and lower priced.  When 3 or 4 pictures are required, (not counting a booth shot, we always submit the more complex pieces requiring and showing more skill and more imagination.   We also have those pieces and others like it in our booth. One year after getting into a top rated show, we were approached by a jury person who walked around and we were told that our photos didn't include the full range. That was true as we make about 20 different items and certainly didn't think it would be impressive to do a group shot of the lower range items.  The following year, we submitted one out of 4 photos that did show a more ordinary piece.  We were not accepted that year and speaking to other artists, we were later told not to listen to those instructions in the paper work.  Always send the best of your work, other artists advised us since the competition does the same.   I now think the jury who looks at maybe several thousand photos is not going to be impressed with the artist who includes the mundane photo.  I'd like to hear from artists as well as jury people.  What is your experience with photos and also a jury person's response at shows when you see a booth that doesn't include the full range.  I'm not speaking here about artists who apply in one category, but  then slip into their booths a high percent of something else that would actually fit into a different category.  I'm talking about one body of work that holds together.  Thanks for your response based on your experiences.

Read more…
We all like to receive those E-mails or letters starting with the following:
"Congratulation you are accepted to our show".

Did it ever happen to you what have happened to us? Please comment!!!

This is the second time within 6 month that this is happen to us:
We apply to a show for several years, get rejected or to the wait list if we are lucky,
and than finally, get this "Congratulation you are accepted" e-mail or letter
one of them was even with a contract and booth number.
Then when you are all excited and get ready, to finally participate,
maybe cancel another show you got in,
Comes this e-mail, with an apology:
We are so sorry, we made a mistake you are actually on the wait list.

This is not OK!!!!!!
Read more…