On Saturday I took a gander at this year’s Arts Night exhibit, and was impressed with it’s diversity. I was also surprised that the jurors revealed their names this year. As you may or may not know, last year I took them to task for keeping the jurors names secret. Paul Schiller (Board Member) and his cronies led a smear campaign against me since I questioned their polices. Paul wrote this letter to the Editor of the Argus Leader:
Art judged openly, fairly
By Paul K. Schiller
I would like to disagree with our troubled artisans who feel that they need crystal clear governance in the judging of art for Arts Night at the Washington Pavilion. This is the same argument and noise they put forth in the judging of SculptureWalk.
Arts Night is a fundraiser for the Visual Arts Center, and submissions of art are voluntary. When an artist submits work into these “competitions,†you do so knowing that it’s a credible organization that has a fair and qualified selection process. That is the case with both the Washington Pavilion’s Arts Night and our ever-popular SculptureWalk.
A funny thing happened on the way to Arts Night this year. Ninety artists submitted work for a fundraising auction that had room for about 60 pieces. In past years the Arts Night committee was lucky to receive 50 to 60 pieces of art. The event is growing in popularity with both artists and art buyers. The result is a sold-out event with a great selection of quality art. The uneventful result of this year’s success was the fact that some pieces had to be rejected.
So we’re back to openness and fairness. I find the art-judging process open and fair. Have I had my art rejected in other competitions? Yes. Does it feel good? No. But rejection results in one of two things: You go around and complain about the process not being open and fair, or you go back and create better art for next year’s competition.
If that’s not satisfactory, then I suggest if you want absolute clarity in all forms of life, you could partner with the Argus Leader and take on their quest for total transparency in city and state government!
 ————————————————–
 How ironic the Pavilion would change policy from the advice of a troubled artisan complainer.
Pingback: More Best of DaCola — South DaCola