The Selection Process for the Art of Sydney Awards
The number of entries for this year’s Art of Sydney Awards was amazing. In the majority of cases the standard was very high. I spent much of the weekend assisting with the processing of the entries and it was an eye opener.
At the initial delivery point a number of members from the CASS were on duty marking off and checking that the works addressed the guidlines for the sections. I was absolutely amazed that some artists feel that the painting is all that is important and do not make an effort to present clean, well framed artworks. Some had arrived with weak string to hang. Some had old, chipped frames and one in particular had 3 different prices and 2 dates on the back all covered (not too well) with liquid paper. I could go on but the amazing thing is these people saw nothing wrong with this. I can only imagine what a customer would do if they purchased such a work only to find such an uncared for product. Pride should dictate that one’s reputation as a professional artist (one who sells one’s artworks in the public areana) should not be tainted by cheap and shoddy work. Fortunately the committee overseeing this process were able to reject the entries.
When it came to stage 2, there were representatives from each of the member societies on the selection panel and these artists were charged with the huge task of non selection. Each painting is given a number and each member of the panel marks the numbers on their sheet which they feel do not meet the standards required of the exhibition. For a painting to be removed there needs to be a consensus, in this case, crosses against that number. This is done quietly and individually.Each section is managed in the same way.
The selectors do not have a part in the judging. That is left to a single person, (this year it was John Downton) who views all the paintings in each section including those not selected. I was part of the group who facilitated the process and was very impressed with the way John went about the judging. It was a very difficult process as the artworks entered were beautiful in so many ways.
In my opinion it is a thorough and very fair process. Needless to say to be selected is a huge acknowledgement of one’s art. I am pleased to say both my entries were selected for exhibition.
I am looking forward to the exhibition over the long weekend at Darling Harbour. It will be fantastic.