Jurors
The jury is comprised of seven volunteer members, selected for their balanced knowledge of art and professional expertise. A diversity of backgrounds and skills is sought, including artists, educators, and fine art and contemporary craft gallery and museum owners/directors. Two jurors are participating art fair artists. Jurors are given a Charge to the Jury, adapted from the NAIA, with a guideline to base their scores upon. Panelists are rotated so that new and experienced jurors serve together. Three jury members are selected by the director to judge Best in Show during the Fair.
Procedure
The five images in a single application will be shown to the jury simultaneously in a horizontal grouping on each individual computer station. ZAPP™ makes use of the sRGB color space. In order for jurors to view images with a good sense of color, value and contrast, AFJH calibrates the jury monitors.
All applicants are juried anonymously, beginning with a full category overview. Local applicants receive an additional three points, ensuring a minimum ten percent local representation. The scores are computer tabulated and booths are allocated to the highest scored applicants in each category. Consideration to balance of media is given to select the number of applicants from each category.
Scoring is 1 (low) to 7 (high). Jurors are encouraged to use the full range when scoring. Scoring is based on originality and creativity, design, technique, craftsmanship, and production methodology. All scores are combined and averaged. Each member records his/her score anonymously. Personal information that jurors have about an applicant may not be shared among the panelists. The process, materials, dimensions for each image and artist information statements will also be made available to the jury upon request. When a juror opens an image all the details will appear. Jury members may ask questions on technique and additional descriptions may be read upon request as provided by the artist in the application. Your 25-30 (maximum) word statement is required to include identification of medium and processes or techniques used, specific explanation of how work is produced, disclosure of number of employees (apprentices or assistants) and their role (if more than one) and if an outside source such as foundry or printing lab, etc. is used.
If an artist is ultimately accepted to AFJH, image #1 will be used to represent the artist's work on the show-specific websites.
Approximately 170 artists receive invitations to participate, this number varies based on the amount of double wide booths requested; a wait list of alternates in each category is created from the scores immediately following those invited to exhibit. Decisions of the jury panel are final. AFJH reserves the right to balance its shows through artists on the wait list. The Best of Show winners from the previous year are exempt from the jury process.
Digital Images
Image quality is of the utmost importance. Consider whether your images show your work clearly and to an advantage. Five (5) images are to be submitted for each individual media category entered by the artist. The images must accurately represent the body of work to be exhibited at AFJH. Four (4) images, numbered respectively #1 - #4, must be of individual pieces of work. Image number #5, must be of a display of the artist's work, showing overall continuity and presentation of your current body of work. The fifth image is mandatory. If a booth image is not available you may submit an image taken of a grouping of works representative of the works to be exhibited at the show.
The purpose of the booth image is to ensure the artist has a complete body of work that is represented both in the first 4 images and also within image #5. It also helps identify the scale of the artist's work. Note: this is a blind jury process; please avoid submitting booth images with any identifiable sign, or photo of the artist themselves. Only Emerging Artist Applicants may apply with a 5th image of their work instead of a booth shot. |
