| BRITISH COLUMBIA ARTISTS |
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There are certain definite views held by the Gallery Council on its exhibition
policy. A continuous change of work on the walls of such a gallery is considered
essential to the life of the institution. In spite of occasional biased opinions
to the contrary, the policy has always been to show good work of any style,
academic or modern. With plans under consideration for the fall exhibition, the perennial problem of a jury or non-jury show confronts the Exhibition Committee. To date, after some sixteen exhibitions, there has not been one which has found favour with all groups. Various types of jury have been tried - three-man juries, five-man juries, single judges. These have been chosen locally and from outside points. All fared the same - their judgement always failed to please certain groups or individuals. Some years ago it was decided to try the non-jury method, but this raised as much criticism from other sources. In light of these sad experiences, inquiries have been made in various parts of the Province. Here are common opinions expressed in outside communities. Painters in smaller communities have little opportunity of seeing good work by which to measure their own efforts. If their work is accepted by competent judges at the Annual Show, they feel that it means something. If on the other hand they send to a non-jury show here, they feel that they gain nothing over their own local shows. Over and above this, the question was raised that such an exhibition gave standing to work which did not deserve it. Usually, the poorer the quality of the work the more the painter advertised the fact that it had been exhibited at the Art Gallery. In light of this information, it has been decided to jury the forthcoming show in September. Exhibitors who give the matter a thought must realize that the jury has no picnic. With over four hundred works to examine and space for about two hundred there must naturally be disappointments, but all may rest assured that the jury has no time to enquire the origin of individual works or favour one exhibitor at the expense of another. |