Comments on: Themed Art Exhibits Gone Amok

By: AnnaMaria Windisch-Hunt

AnnaMaria Windisch-Hunt — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 20:58:41 +0000

“Words and Symbols” is my current exhibit in our 8 thousand sq. ft. gallery. A theme, if you wish. But what makes this work here in Miami, is that there are several thousand artists all wishing to be seen.
I do several themed shows a year. This is how I find new artists. However, I send out the notice only two weeks prior to deadline and I do that for three reasons.
1. I do not believe in pressuring an artist to perform.
2. They either have the work available or not.
3. I do not believe in forcing an artists budget

By: Louise Farrell

Louise Farrell — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 15:25:26 +0000

Actually I like themed shows. If one isn’t comfortable with the theme you can pass it by and not get involved. But a theme pulls a group show together and gives it a core.

By: Suzette Fram

Suzette Fram — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 16:23:52 +0000

YES, thank you. I dislike themed shows, they hem you in and for me this never results in my best work. Yes, it is a way to stretch yourself, and sometimes the results have been good, but too many times they have not.

‘Vague’ themes are the best because they can be interpreted in so many different ways. It is really fun to see what others have come up with.

By: russ potak

russ potak — Sun, 27 Jun 2010 00:42:54 +0000

Thank you Jenny. I don’t think I’ve ever been read out loud in a car before. I feel honored.- Thanks for the moral artistic support, from “artists who stare down themes.”

By: becky nielsen

becky nielsen — Sun, 27 Jun 2010 00:28:01 +0000

Working to a theme can be deadening, just as sometimes trying to meet someone’s expectations on a commission feels futile. But if I can find any live spark when someone mentions a theme and I let it smolder a bit, I occasionally have found myself going in a direction that I would not have anticipated – and it’s great! I’ve discovered some new and exciting (to me) ways of working that I never envisioned. That is great fun.

By: Tracy Wall

Tracy Wall — Sat, 26 Jun 2010 15:34:07 +0000

It seems there’s many sides to this coin.
- If select artists are asked to produce something they would prefer not to merely to fit the theme, I can see where it’s not a good fit. When it’s a juried open call to any artist, perhaps you’d get a more interesting sampling.
- When the ‘theme’ is actually just a description of wanted subject matter, it may limit the interpretation of the art down to strictly the objective description or of it’s a ‘pretty picture’ of the subject. (*yawn*)
- If the theme is a concept, I would hope part of the challenge of the show (as an artist, curator or viewer) would be the interpretation of the theme. Karen, call me weird, but I like vague themes. I like to see the mind of the artist working in how they interpreted the theme.

By: Karen Baker Thumm

Karen Baker Thumm — Sat, 26 Jun 2010 14:41:59 +0000

I agree about themed shows although the ones I’ve been invited to have almost all been ones that are already in my genre; equine art.

A local arts council put on an equine themed exhibit two years ago to which I wasn’t invited, even though I’m known in the local horse community for my work. The curator invited her friends only. Some of the work was okay, but much of it looked like artists working out of their element. None of it was outstanding work.

On a related point, Alyson, what do you think of themed exhibits where the “theme” is so vague that you have no idea what it’s about? One of the local arts groups does these regularly, and I feel stupid having to ask for clarification of the theme. Seems to me that it should be defined in a more obvious way to the artists while still leaving room for interpretation and expression. Art should not be obtuse.

I rarely enter these shows.

By: Elaine Brady Smith

Elaine Brady Smith — Sat, 26 Jun 2010 14:11:56 +0000

I can never seem to get up the muster to do a theme that I am not interested in producing. And deadlines to enter themed shows are always a problem for me to meet. If a theme show comes along and I already have a piece that fits into that theme…I will enter.

By: Tina Mammoser

Tina Mammoser — Sat, 26 Jun 2010 10:07:25 +0000

I agree! I think it also comes under the topic of pigeonholing yourself too, sometimes. Which you’ve talked about before. By chance I’m hoping to do a themed show in 2011 but only because there’s a small group of us in a larger society who all do work about water, it’s our existing theme and we thought it might be interesting to do a show together. There’s a ceramicist I’d also like to show with for the same reason.

By: Jacqueline

Jacqueline — Sat, 26 Jun 2010 03:12:19 +0000

I second what Kirsty said. Do your own work and if a theme show comes along that your work fits into, that’s fine. It’s another opportunity to show your work. Just make sure it’s a really good match and something that you’d be proud to put in your bio or CV.