RE: Degrees of Art: Controversial Observations ~ & Announcing a New Visual Art Contest: ART DEGREES with need for SBD Sponsers.
Very good post, and it speaks to me. I am administrator on a artist network where we are trying to maintain a high level of professional quality.
I am often stumped about what to say when approached about it with a question how to join - I then look at the work and wonder: did you really look at the art on our site and you feel you fit into that category? Then of course I don't know what to say to them. I really don't want to be rude, but if the grandma pins that art to her fridge, it doesn't mean it belongs on a professional artists website.
The ratio of artists that had approached me (via the comment section on our site) is about one in fifty that I would give a second look. But what do I say to the rest? Eventually, I deleted the comment feature altogether.
Delicate subject full of fragile and inflated egos eh!
And the problem, for me at least,is that if I spoke my mind honestly I would be slated and hated for being a snob, elitist, disillusioned, ungracious, unkind ~ I could go on.
If you have any relevant thoughts or contacts that may be interested in helping to get ART DEGREES started I am all ears!
Thanks for your comment.
Happy creative days.
xox
thank you - I know what you speak of. At times I deflect the "blame" by saying that these decisions are done by committee and out of my reach. I used to be a juror for provincial art awards in Alberta, where I lived in Canada. The votes are secret ballots, nobody knows what others voted for. On the other hand, at my Alma Mater I was on the STP (Salary-Tenure-Promotion) committee, and the votes were open - needless to say there was a lot of bitterness that in the end did cost me my job (on a vote by professors that voted against me, based on my previous votes).
Cheers 🍺