Please, if you are a newer member, don’t be put off by this discussion.
Previously the Board would take up these annoying discussions and figure
out an answer before presenting it to everyone else, but now this random
discussion is going to everyone whether or not you are interested in the
topic or find it unpleasant. Please offer your suggestions and ideas, it
will be over with "soon".
One source of the problem is the difference between art fair
“standards”-jurying and Guild membership jurying. Art fair
standards-jurying does include jurying everything you plan on selling, in
order for the fair to meet the expectations of the customers the fair
owners hope to attract. (Brian’s comments show that it doesn’t always work,
though.) Jurying-in of members to the Guild has not been that; it has been
an attempt to find compatible creatives, with “standards” that are not
about finding consistent product to be sold, but rather thatsthe artist’s
pieces brought to the jurying show good design and have taken time,
thought, knowledge and skill to complete (this is in the Guild’s ‘Policies
and Procedures’, https://3rivart.org/policies-and-procedures/). Part of
the idea of membership jurying vs art & craft fair standard-jurying is
that, once juried in, we have agreed that the new member is someone we want
to grow creatively along with.
*Again, apologies to members who didn’t want to deal with this, please hang
around, it will get resolved.*
*Karen suggests, "To maintain our fine art standards, point of sale items
need to be less than 10% work shown at Guild sponsored activities." *Good!!
and we need to fill it out with more information before making a rule:
* 1. Start suggesting what is and isn’t included as ”point of sale items"
so we can make a list or create a description. *(Many members are exploring
creative directions that don't always include the things that they were
juried into the Guild with. I'd prefer to just trust juried-in members, but
if we are going to be legalistic, we have to be clear!)
*2. 10% of what? *(I’m guessing the individual’s booth space, but if it is
something else, please suggest what it might be.)
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On Mon, Oct 11, 2021 at 1:34 PM Judith Brook <moondancefiberart@xxxxxxxxxxx>
wrote:Now that is a great solution. Less than 10% of what is shown at any
one venue. sounds like a winner. Are we agreed? Can we move on now?
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On 10/11/2021 11:22 AM Karen <karenhay54@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
How about this resolution?
The small, cheap items, not the finest art work in retail biz is called
point of sale.
I glued feathers to Christmas ornaments, called them quidditch balls
and sold them during a Holiday Gallery one year. Eileen paints rocks and
glues googlely eyes to them and the kids love them. Sherrie Presta made
delicious fudge and sold it with her jewelry.
To maintain our fine art standards, point of sale items need to be
less than 10% work shown at Guild sponsored activities.
Sent from my iPhone
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On Oct 11, 2021, at 9:44 AM, beadmistrs <dmarc-noreply@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
wrote:
While this is a lovely discussion, it’s gotten way off the point that
as written the beading guidelines for the guild excludes me from membership.
Connie
“Life is a banquet, and most poor suckers are starving to death.”
Roselynn Russell in Auntie Mame
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On Monday, October 11, 2021, 7:23 AM, brianbrook <brianbrook@xxxxxxxxxxx>
wrote:
What you jury in with should be reflective of the work you display
and sell at guild events. For example, let's say I present 5 or 6 (or
however many pieces) for jurying that are metal yard art pieces. It's not
OK to display those pieces and then fill my booth with purchased metal
trinkets with pins or clasps glued to the back (or other similar items).
If I want to sell such items, there are plenty of craft shows that may
allow me in.
Over the past 20 years of doing juried fine art fairs. I've seen
more than a few shows degrade into country crafts and dip mix sellers with
a few fine artists thrown in. When that new , lower level of expection is
reached it's nearly impossible to return to a previous level. Those shows
permanently became mid level craft shows.
So I think it's important to strictly maintain an expectation of a
high level of quality. And, no, not everything I display needs to be
"spectacular", but rather needs to reflect my skills, abilities, and
artistic creativity while meeting the written Guild standards.
Can I still be called an artist if I buy pre-made metal trinkets,
glue a pin to the back and sell them? Sure.
But I would simply need to find a different venue than the Three
Rivers Artists Guild.
Brian
Sent from my T-Mobile 4G LTE Device
