Yesterday I had the privilege of being a juror for “Out of the Comfort Zone: New Directions in Quilting” which will exhibit March 2-July 29, 2012 at the Grace Hudson Museum in Ukiah, CA. It was a wonderful process, a lot of fun and an interesting observation of my own artistic process.
Much of the work submitted for the exhibit was designed by quilters who had made the transition from traditional to ‘art quilts’ but not to professional presentation. With no desire for being so, early on I became the ‘quilt police’ as the borders and bindings choices and constructions drove me to distraction often being so wrong for the piece. Beautiful design and imagery were completely lost when misshapen, poorly sewn and often bizarre color choices were attached to the outside edges with the idea that each piece must have these. They need not!
The finishing alone separated the women from the girls in this exhibit with just one male entry. Those whose work bore neither bindings nor borders and those whose work did but completed with precision and professionalism really stood out for me.
As I wrote my jurors statement I pondered how truthful I should be! Should I write all pretty and rosy as some do or should I be straight with them?
The truly gratifying part of the experience is how far I have come and how much I have learned and implemented in my own transition from quilter to visual artist. Yes, honesty is important!
Gee, glad I didn’t apply! Sounds like a lot of the work was amateurish.
Tell the truth. They need to know.