Aspen Shimmer won Best of Show at North Valley Art League's 2009 Small Painting Show.

I have until this year been reluctant to enter juried shows. Though I preach disregard for public opinion to students, I am very sensitive about criticism of my own art…less so than in early years (I’ve gained more skillfulness), but still sensitive enough.

This year I entered the Small Paintings juried show of the North Valley Art League in Redding. I was surprised and honored to find that one of my paintings was awarded Best of Show.  At the show’s end, I was even more delighted to hear that my other painting had been awarded People’s Choice.

Since I had one success under my belt, I felt it safe to enter the annual juried show at our local Highland Art Center. Taking the strategy suggestions from others who knew the “game,” I entered several pieces in different categories, hoping this would maximize my chances of being accepted somewhere. It worked. I won three awards: a second in oil, a second in watercolor, and a first in mixed media.

While I am happy to have won the awards, I feel mixed about the experience. On a philosophical level, I have questions about the whole jury process, which I think of as part of the “art game.” I don’t think creativity should be judged or made into a competitive venture. We have enough competitive ventures in our society as it is.

And I object to having the power to create a standard (“This type of art is the best”) in the hands of one person. Or even a group of people (think of the École, which rejected our now dearly loved Impressionists).

I have watched from the ringside while other friends and students have entered juried competitions. Some won prizes and were happy; some didn’t and felt terrible and even stopped painting. I have seen excellent paintings I thought wonderful juried out for some lame reason (“no background,” “pencil lines visible,” etc.) and other’s that were not skillful win Best of Show. The whole process is way too subjective for me. Subjective judging of creative effort was one of the reasons I changed my major from English to art history.

On a personal level, entering juried competitions doesn’t fit with my art goals. I paint for the joy of it. My goals are to learn, grow, express my spirit, and share the joy of that endeavor with others. I don’t want or need to make money from my art. While I sell some pieces locally (at very low prices), I often give my art away to friends and family. Yes, I know the argument: “You can’t value yourself as a painter if you don’t have a market price on your art and sell it.” My answer to that is: “Perhaps the world won’t value me, but do I really need the world to tell me my value? I value myself.”

My bottom line conclusion about juried shows? I think I’ll pass in the future. I’m glad to have had the experience, glad to have been accepted, think it’s a worthwhile venture to have made…and don’t like the conflicted feelings it creates in me.

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