"Uncommon Couture" - How Do I Decide About Participation in an Exhibition?
September 10, 2015
Artists and makers frequently have to make decisions about participation in shows, exhibitions or competitions. Depending on your experience, time and finances the criteria will change and evolve.
In the past, I've had work in an exhibition titled, "Uncommon Couture" that just opened at the Florida Craft Art Gallery in St. Petersburg, Florida. I've had other work in a separate show that opened Saturday, September 12, 2015, titled, Body as Agent: Changing Fashion Art at the Richmond Art Center, Richmond, California.
Recently with the up-tic in the economy, I am much surprised by the number of invitations to participate in exhibitions. With each opportunity the question arises, "How should I decide about participation?" -- sort of like "to be or not to be" in each one.
One of my hard and fast rules about participation (actually my #1 minimum requirement) is insurance at the venue. After much experience (good and bad), I have chosen this requirement as a measure of whether the sponsor has their act together. The issues surrounding insurance have been discussed at length in several previous posts.
“We all hope that the insurance coverage isn't needed, but it is just this guarantee to the artist that raises professional exhibitions above the lower level venues and events. Participating artists are assured that their work will be protected with superior handling AND will have a "back up plan" (i.e. insurance) in case of damage.”
The need for insurance at a show can be a "red hot" topic leading to heated discussions on occasion. This really isn't about whether you have business insurance in your studio. [Yes, I have business insurance.] This is about a minimum professional standard in an event that characterizes itself as something above the day-to-day mundane -- is this a real "show" or is it just a hangout.
In previous posts, I have gone on record saying "no insurance, no show. "Competitions or exhibitions that do not provide insurance are for the hobbyist/amateur level such as the county fair, a display at the mall or at the local library, as just a few examples." In these venues the artist/maker assumes all the risk. Often, these artist/makers are just beginning to accumulate experience in showing or selling their work.
I understand that insurance is an expense that is getting very expensive. But in my opinion, every exhibition or opportunity needs to consider insurance as a demarcation of professionalism and a minimum accommodation to attract the best work. Providing insurance is a reflection upon the exhibition sponsor's expectation for the quality of work to be shown.
We need to stand together supporting professional standards. No insurance, no show.
If you are invited to participate in any situation where you are sending your work to a location outside of your control, then you have a reasonable expectation that the sponsor will provide insurance.
- Read the contract.
- Raise the issues with exhibition sponsors.
- Learn how to establish appropriate insurance values (in a future post.)
All of the images above in this post have been exhibited at "Uncommon Couture" at Florida Art Craft Gallery in St. Petersburg, Florida. Exhibition dates: August 28-October 24, 2015
Location: Florida Art Craft Gallery
501 Central Avenue
St. Petersburg, FL 33701
727-821-7391
Thanks to those who joined me on Saturday at the Richmond Art Center at the opening for Body as Agent: Changing Fashion Art. 5 - 7 pm, free and open to the public.
2540 Barrett Avenue
Richmond, California 94804
Open until November 15th, 2015
This post was update on December 10th, 2021.
GUIDE TO IMAGES IN THIS POST. Oreo “Unlock the Magic”
Photo Credit: Steven Brian Samuels
previously at "Uncommon Couture"
Yellow Bracelet with orange dots, super thin.
Reverse side: “America Online” dark blue & white address label.
previously at "Uncommon Couture"
Red Hot Flower Pin
Recycle post consumer tin cans & plastic.
previously at "Uncommon Couture"
Totally to the Point Flower Pin
Recycled post consumer tin cans & plastic.
previously at "Uncommon Couture"
Silicon Valley from the California Collection
Three bracelets displayed in a custom made wooden fruit crate. Bracelets and fruit crate label constructed from recycled tin containers, 10k gold rivets, aluminum rivets.
Currently at Richmond Art Center "Body as Agent: Changing Fashion Art"
Additional work at "Body as Agent: Changing Fashion Art" include: Bermaid Santa Rosa