Suggests 'arts panel' to review Plaza artists

Suggests 'arts panel' to review Plaza artists



Bill Long
St. Augustine
Publication Date: 07/19/09


By BILL LONG

St. Augustine

In regard to the July 14 front-page article concerning the ongoing problem the city of St. Augustine is having deciding exactly what "art" is appropriate for the Plaza de la Constitucion. let me make a possible suggestion.

As a professional wood worker, I participated in various art shows, competitions, and gallery exhibitions across the United States for 28 years. I always chose juried events, as they provided for the highest quality, and most credible and professional venues in which I could display and sell my work. The jurying process is one the city might consider.

In most cases, we were required to submit four professionally done slides of our work, plus one of our entire display set up, to a jury, usually made up of art professors or teachers, well known gallery owners, museum directors, and other professional working artists. This panel of knowledgeable people would meet at a pre-determined time and date to review the work submitted by all applicants. Sometimes a date and time would be provided for applicants to bring in actual pieces of their work for jurying.

As most events had a limited number of available spaces, only those works judged to be most creative would make it. I would guess that the average show I did, would have around 250-300 artists selected by the jury. This (process) helped ensure a quality event for both artists and patrons. An entry fee was always charged to help cover costs of the event.

The rules were simple. The work had to be recently created solely by the artist, who also had to be present at the showing. No manufactured (ie: sunglasses) or objects made from kits were allowed.

This was to prevent re-sellers or dealers. If a team of two or more people created the work, they were all required to be present in order to exhibit their work. No dealers were ever allowed.

Then, a member of the jury would view the various displays when they were set up, to make sure that the work accepted by the jury was what was actually being exhibited and sold. Violators were ejected, forfeited their fees, and were prevented from applying to any future shows.

I understand that we would only have a few spaces in the Plaza, The city could charge an appropriate permit fee, which might also help cull out those only selling or re-selling junk. This process could be repeated every few months or so, to allow new applicants an opportunity to compete for a space.

St. Augustine is blessed with a wealth of talented professional artists, teachers, and patrons, who might be willing to form an "Arts Panel" to provide a dignified and professional venue for the sale of credible art, as well as helping to improve the current situation in the Plaza.

The city, artists, and our visitors, would all benefit.

*

Bill Long is a self-taught woodworker.


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