Sunday, February 7, 2010

Question: Should NFS paintings be allowed in a juried art show?


I love to see juried art shows. I'm always curious to see the artwork that made it into the show and which pieces got ribbons or awards. I like to take my time to make my selection for the "People's Choice" award, too.

When friends suggested that we go to a juried art show in Redding while we were in town, I was fast to respond "YES!" We made our way to Turtle Bay and the famous Sundial Bridge on the Sacramento River, and drove through the rain to the Carter House.

The North Valley Art League
in Redding, CA is holding its 26th Annual National Juried Art Show until February 27, 2010. The juror for this show is watercolor artist Julie Gilbert-Pollard.

There were some fine paintings in the show, and some paintings that (in my opinion) were not so fine. Artists from California, Oregon, New Jersey, New York, Illinois, Kentucky, Idaho, and Arizona all had work hanging in the show.

So far, so good.

I was VERY surprised to see that many of the paintings in the show were NOT FOR SALE. Not just one or two, but 22!

I didn't like it. I think that paintings that are submitted for a show should all be for sale. It was like a foxtail in my sock to see so many NFS signs on the paintings.

What do you think? Should NFS paintings be allowed in a juried show?

4 comments:

Suzanne said...

I'm shocked !!! I've gone to these shows for years(decades,actually) and like you have seen 1 or 2 but 22 ? Why bother putting them in a show ?!
I agree with your sentiment.

Celeste Bergin said...

I wonder what accounts for so many in the same show being NFS. Maybe it was the "not-for-sale" show--like we had once! lol. I think it is odd when people don't want to sell their work. I guess I have a couple that aren't for sale--but by and large..I would love for them to be GONE!

Kitty Wallis said...

I think it's fine to put NFS pieces in a show, unless it's in a gallery or someplace where the point is sales and the proprietor is having the show for commissions.

What is the point of the show? I always think first of what I'm showing, how it hangs together, the impact of the work.

All these factors are served as well if the work is not for sale as if it is for sale.

Anonymous said...

In this economy, I'm surprised they're "not for sale." Or at least, the artist would be trying to sell something.