Post 419: More About a Call for Art

More About a Call for Art 

Additional thoughts about an art organization's call for art, because baby, its CRAZY out there! Hey, its another blog post about artists answering a call for art and I like to cover lots of angles. More of an opinion piece but a bit necessary, even a bit of a rant - sure. But here goes...

All art galleries, studios, shows, as well as the participating artists want to have a great show, perhaps make a few bucks - all towards everyone success.

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Frustrating, Discouraging, Puzzled and Occasionally, What Were You Thinking?

These are the emotions that anyone running a call for art will feel and think during their call for art process.

I am a volunteer for an art group. I've volunteered to help with many a project for my art group including helping with the setup and maintenance of many calls for art for our art shows. I'm not looking for anything except for understanding, perhaps your patience, and mainly your consideration on the part you play too.

(Oh, I also do the PWAS Artistry Spin Blog and of course, my Donna's Cave Painting Blog are both volunteering too BTW.)

After being on opposite sides of an art call, a call for art, and/or a call for artists (all virtually the same thing), I have developed some opinions on the subject. Maybe you don't care, but I'm using this blog post to toss these thoughts onto the world's canvas. AND I am absolutely confident that ANYONE that has been in the art call process can tell me similar and crazier stories too.

Meaning that I've submitted to a calls for art, and I've written calls for art with a team of artists, a gallery committee no less. But golly, it does all get frustrating at times. There is a TON of work done as a volunteer behind the scenes that you need to be aware of.

Believe me, I do try to be helpful and answer the questions asked, to help folks understand the process and all that jazz. Hey, I already wrote this one - How to Apply for a Call for Art to try to address the topic. And I am sooo reminded of a saying my mom says, "You give them books and you give them books, and all they do is chew the covers."

I've said this in several ways already but...

Read the dang Call for Art. I mean it. In full. Print it out. Highlight the very important key items.

1. BEFORE you do anything when considering answering a call for art is to READ said call for art to know if its the right call for YOU. 
2. Before you register, certainly before you pay the fee, READ the CALL FOR ART! 
3. BEFORE you ask any questions, READ IT. Can I be any clearer?

THIS is the number one most frustrating of items about an art call. The information is there waiting for you. Just take your time and READ it. Slowly. Don't skim it.

This is YOUR JOB as an artist and your duty to the VOLUNTEERS trying to help get the show together. It is NOT the volunteer's duty to walk you through the process and every detail. 

And another thing, don't wait until the last minutes of the art call with the deadline breathing down your neck.

Here's a story for you...

I remember when I was growing up and getting ready to go out into the workforce being taught to avoid asking whomever the boss would be, too many unnecessary questions as much as possible. Seems strange in a way don't you think? Maybe it shouldn't. There are necessary things to ask and there are definitely some goofball questions. And what do you think the "boss" is thinking when you ask a question that has already been answered elsewhere?....If you read the art call, you'd see the answer there.

The thought behind this lesson learned is as follows: If you have all the information, the instructions, the data, have been handed the manual, and have been sent the email with the to-do list, wouldn't you need to not disturb your "boss" (art organizers) from his/her work and knuckle down and do your own work (Read the dang call for art requirements). 

I'm taking this a bit far out there to get to my point but here goes. 

The members of a nonprofit art group are typically volunteers doing the work it takes to get a project done. They don't get paid. They do the work in front of and behind the scenes. Why would you take the time to send an email to ask a question when it is so clearly already stated in the call for art? Yet it happens over and over again. 

I know people are people are people but good golly!

Here's another amazing fact...

Not every call is exactly alike.

Surprise! They don't have to be and they can vary any way that art call organizer might want or must have it. Too bad so sad if it isn't what you do. Maybe its not the art call for you. Could be a very legit reason for it but I just don't see why they need to explain every detail either.

Nor does the art call for the same annual or biannual art show have to be the same.

You'll only learn the differences if you read it.

SO MANY QUESTIONS! 

The gallery committee, the show organizers, art call admins get zillions of questions about:

We were asked about 3D art. If its not stated in the call for art, maybe they don't have a place to put it. Perhaps even to safely display it. Think about some child running through a gallery and knocking into your art piece (HORRORS!). If its not on the call requirements, consider it as - sorry, no 3D artwork. Yet we had someone ask why we didn't. Seriously?

We were asked about sizes. If the requirements ask for a size range, the organizers of the show have their reasons for this request. Maybe the space looks better with larger pieces, maybe there is no place for tiny pieces. Maybe the theme IS that canvas size. Who knows? But if the call says THESE sizes, best to stick with those sizes. Occasionally you -may- get away with close-to-the-size-requirements, but your entries are left to chance at the moment of jurying. I'd put that under a low volume of entries possibility, but it's better to have a variety of artwork inventory sizes available in this respect. 

What if when we get a gallery of our own at some point and want to do a beautiful art show with artworks with all of the exact same sized art, making the gallery space perfectly symmetrical? Hey, it could happen.

I was asked a question about the art size dimensions via an email reply that was answered within the original email they were responding to. I just shook my head on that one. 

Consider that the bigger and more entries an art show has, the more slicing and dicing of art entries there will be especially of art that does not follow the criteria required.

We were asked about a theme. - the art call didn't say it had a theme did it? Did the title of the show say "Gallery Art Show for Nature's Animals"? 

If no theme was asked for in the title or body of the requirements, go with any artwork you like. And I can pretty much guarantee if you submit an artwork to the "Nature's Animals" show with no animals on it, you won't be juried in.

We were asked about photography and digital art. - this is beyond my pay grade. There are differences, some shows may take neither, one or the other, whatever. Ya gotta read the requirements - Surprise!

We were asked about frames - to frame or not to frame, size of artwork to frame, etc. Can you say Display? Art calls will give you the info you need.

We were asked about changing their artwork in ARTCALL.org - as stated in there, you can change the artwork you submitted right up to the deadline. Heck, I even deleted a previous entry to two to newer artworks, so I updated the title, size, price and image.

We were asked questions through the all the wrong channels. - Instead of going through the proper route to ask a support question - the artist goes to a fellow member directly. There is a Contact Form to ask questions ON the art call. Quite a few people didn't use that. The email that we specified to answer questions about the call for art was a group email so that anyone from the team could see the question and answer it as quickly as possible within our parameters. If asking the organizer volunteer directly - you are more in that persons personal space and time. 

We even got a question about the PWAS classes that our art group offers from ARTCALL.org. Not kidding.

We were asked about using the same artwork in the two shows we were running. -It didn't say you couldn't, perhaps it should have been. But what if it sells in the first one? Then you are one down in the next show.

We were asked questions at the last minute! I saw this happen at 11:05pm and the art call ended at 11:59pm. I had gone to bed already. You know the saying...."You snooze, you lose." Except I was already snoozing....sorry artist.

Seemingly innocent enough questions BUT... think about it. The organizers get asked those same questions over and over and over again by multiple people. In person, via email, via Contact Phone and text message. Occasionally I am thinking to myself that there is only one of me and potentially hundreds of you. There could very well be questions unanswered when asked via the wrong channel.

• Basically, don't read more into the Call than is in the Call.
• What if the art call doesn't say anything about the art that you do?
• A call for art requirements isn't just about what it does ask for, but its also about what it doesn't ask for or say. What does that mean?
• If the art call says 2D art including multiple mediums: oil, acrylic, pastels, watercolor. If it stopped there, I would say that's all they may want for that show. (You wouldn't submit an oil painting to a watercolor show.)
• If there is no mention of 3D art and that's what you have. Sorry, they did not ask for 3D art.
• If it says no Photography then no photography. If it says no fabric art...OK, you get the picture.

How to Jury Yourself Right Out of an Art Call

I've seen it. And felt it. You may have seen and felt it before too. I've seen artists not follow the directions, for a lot of different reasons. But remember, the art show really isn't just about you. The organizers can't bend the rules, their requirements for any one person. No matter how fabulous your art might be (for real or in your own mind).

With all that said, here are a few things that the juror's ax may very easily fall on:

• Not submitting your very BEST possible pieces of artwork for that particular show. See Art Rejection.
• Submitting the totally wrong size artwork as requested, under or over sized.
• Being late to drop off artwork.
• Dropping off artwork that has no wire. 
• Having artwork with saw-tooth hangers.
• Having prints improperly presented.

Failure to follow the directions in any way could potentially place a boot in your backside.

This list has happened at about every show I have been to and been in one way or another. 

We have even had a person get angry with US because we did not have the equipment to help wire their artwork that they forgot to wire.

After an art gallery committee was waiting all day for art to be dropped off, at the end of their shift, they went home. An hour later someone contacted me asking where they were, she'd fallen asleep and couldn't be there on time. Serious case of 'you snooze, you lose.'

We've seen sawtooth hangers, we've seen prints in plastic wrap, we've seen artwork falling out of its frame. We've seen not only artwork not signed at all (WHY would you do that to your artwork?), but unfinished sides. And once again, the link to the PWAS Display Requirements is here.

The requirements are as stated so why add or subtract from the stated instructions? 

Maybe I'm the female version of Grumpy Old Men but I'm seriously thinking of just doing the old commercial for Prego Spaghetti Sauce and answering people by just saying "Prego". For those of you too young to remember that commercial, the meaning behind that is, "It's in there". See that here

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2J87QekxQVI Of course "It's in there" means its in the call for art requirements. Here that "Prego"?

Most Artists DO Get it Right, Thankfully

And I have to give out BIG kudos and thank yous to those that did and do follow the instructions correctly.

There are certainly upcoming and newer artists that have never submitted art to a show, gallery or art event before. And of course, we're all human and we do make mistakes...and sure, there is a first time for everything but it is still up to YOU to do the work and the homework. No one has the time or desire to hold your hand through the process, especially with so much information out there for you to LEARN the process. 

And finally, by all means, don't rush and wait until the last minutes before that deadline is looming to enter a show.

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Many people learn by doing, so I do suggest that you volunteer for the art projects that will put you in closer proximity to LEARN the art projects/processes you need to know about.  There so many art groups near you that do need help and bodies that are willing to volunteer in some capacity. Get on a committee, get on the Board, share the experiences and in turn, you will learn from those around you. 

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Author: Donna Liguria  is the Blogmaster for Donna's Cave Paintings and the PWAS Artistry Spin Blog and an artist member of the Prince William Art Society (PWAS) in Woodbridge, VA. Donna specializes in acrylic paintings of landscapes, seascapes, historic locations, animals and many subjects. Visit her Website at DonnaLiguriaArt.com and her Donna's Esty site to shop her art.

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Do you need a handmade, original painting for yourself or as a gift for a friend or family member? Yes, I do most commissions, so please contact me through this blog, on Facebook, My Website at https://DonnaLiguriaArt.com, or go to Donna Liguria Art on Etsy at https://donnaliguriaart.etsy.com to shop my available Artwork.