Curation Insights V.1 “Emergence”
UNRAVELING THE MYSTERY OF THE CURATORIAL PROCESS | JR
Juniper Rag, V.1 Curation Insights, Anonymous Curator
We, as artists, wonder about the process of the juror and how that translates into selection. We think this information is very valuable and often difficult to convey. Constructive insight makes us all better at what we do, so we are offering. As we discover what is behind the eyes of experts, we will share this insight with you. All curators are different and insight is subjective and evolves, just as life and art! Having knowledge is always powerful.
Expectation is high, whenever you put your work out to an organization for review. It is an interview, every time. Submitting a fresh, updated biography and statement for your submissions is important and fresh content is a best practice. You are marketing yourself, so send updated and relevant information that's different than your website. The time spent will set you up for increased success. We encourage each submitting artist to think of the viewer, the curator, as well as the art itself. Make sure your execution is even, finished and strong, and of course, that you follow instructions. If an application asks for 100-150 words, don't submit 200. If a jury wants 4 photographs don't submit 5, or 1 for that matter.
Art must have a point of view, a significance. Artworks can be technically sound and even very well-executed, but if they lack a point of view, a purpose for being, they will not hold the same value as works that are more successful here. You stand among a crowd when submitting, so your voice is important and must be distinguishable. Find your message and let it speak. We know the viewer is looking for a reason to engage, so choose to give them that experience.
Overall evenness of each piece and the body of work as a whole is important. When submitting, if you are asked to send 5-6 pieces, please do so. One single piece of art may not be enough for the curator to understand your talent and point of view. When you submit your body of work, do all of your compositions feel strong? Ask yourself if there are outliers. Is your whole group strong overall, sending a unifying message?
Execution. Your medium of choice should be mastered and "even" overall on each piece of art and within the entier body of work. The curator knows and understands difficulty levels of mediums and processes. Make sure you have command over all aspects of your surface. We learned a curator's eye will respond to the unfinished areas or the places that your skill is not applied to. Make sure your presentation is flawless. Messy and untidy edges, sloppy construction and uneven presentations of work get noticed. If you are a photographer, over-correcting or pushing color levels in Photoshop will also be noticed.
Engage the viewer. Does the work make someone respond emotionally, cause reflection, change a mood or transport? A curator is looking for interest and unraveling the story you are telling. By submitting your artwork, you are asking for their time and consideration, essentially. Just like a song has a hook, create a user experience with your art by anticipating their engagement by creating a clear visual hierachy.
Stay away from cliché. No really. Be very careful when attempting subject matter that has been done before. What about your subject is different, ironic or important? Anything cliché can be a serious negative to a curator. Your work should hold up with uniqueness and savagely fight for a place.
Cleverness can be detrimental to composition. We learned that forcing elements that are unbalanced or poorly executed can be noticed and will devalue the piece in the eye of the curator, especially when other pieces in your grouping are executed very well. A significant piece of art can get tossed out of the running and that is unfortunate for many reasons, but especially because the intention and message of the artist will be lost. There is always subjectivity. We admit that this is a good place to learn more about balance. The risk could cost a an artist a place or a prize when submitting to calls and shows.
We were reminded that abstraction is hard to do well. A sense of composition and the show of restraint in mark-making are imperative to experts when looking at abstract works. Remember that balance, scale and emphasis are important to a successful abstraction. Your hierarchy and composition is critical to seducing the eye of your viewer.
A caveat that we would be remiss if we did not mention. About your photos...send great photos. Only submit high resolution images. Unfortunately we cannot print images that are poor quality and not only that, they misrepresent your work. The image should be able to print at 300 dpi for an 8.5 x 11 inch page. Marketing your work, means tackling the basic understanding of photographing it. Look for our articles about preparing great submission photographs of your work.
