Jurors’ Statement
Before we explain our experience of acting as jurors for this 2022 Images Exhibition, we want to express our appreciation for the opportunity to be part of the Arts Festival in this way. It is an honor to be involved in an arts event with so much positive energy and so many quality expressions of the arts. The artworks were varied in style, size, media, and skill. There were wonderful expressions of art from all the participants, and we commend you for your work.
The task of reducing the total number of entries into a cohesive exhibition with a handful of awards is one that we both take very seriously, and we have been on both sides of the jurying process many times. We too have felt the rush of winning and the sigh of rejection.
The two of us may agree 100% in some cases and differ greatly in others. But no matter how the final selection turns out, we hope every artist sees this as an opportunity to grow and learn about their art. Everyone needs to challenge themselves for the future.
We both feel that being a judge does not allow you to randomly pick your favorite style or color. It calls for the use of objectivity, setting aside the things that suit you alone as much as you can. But it also requires feeling a real connection to the artwork itself, as if it had tangible personality. Again, two different ways of seeing one thing.
The jurying process is like balancing on the beam of art. On one side it makes you evaluate explosive, raw creativity, passion, and freedom of expression, while on the other side you review the measurable qualities of things like composition, line, color, shape, aesthetics, style, and skill.
We both repeatedly reviewed the pieces individually, and then jointly, over and over, in various ways. As it is in all exhibits, certain pieces draw you in immediately, pulled by the magnetism of the art, but also confirmed by the execution of the piece.
Then there are the struggles, as sometimes the slightest distinctions separate one piece of art from another as we narrow the field to choose the final exhibition or award the prizes.
We want to congratulate each of you that submitted works and those of you who were selected to receive awards in the 2022 Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts.
Carol Ann Simon Cillo and Steve Getz
Images jurors
June 2022
