AAJ-WINTER-SHOW-2013

Allied Artists of Johnstown Annual Show 2012

WINTER SHOW

Exhibiting at Ameriserv Bank

Franklin Street, Johnstown

January 19 - February 23, 2013

Jurors Statement/ Johnstown Allied Artists Winter Show 2013

Thanks to the Johnstown Allied Artist for giving me the honor of Judging the Annual Winter Show. Both the total number of submissions,

(eighty-eight pieces) and the general quality of the work was impressive.

Let me start by stating the obvious - Judging Artwork is a totally subjective endeavor. It's only one Juror's opinion on one day. For the artists

that got an award, congratulations, to those who did not, forget it. It means less than zero. Another Juror on another day could just as easily

picked your piece. The important thing, in my opinion, is to continue woking, trust your instincts, and trust that the more time, effort and focus

you apply to your personal artistic journey, the better your work will be in the long term. And isn't that what we're really in this for - to make

the best work we're capable of?

When I consider it, making art has an element of the absurd in it. We are basically creating visual puzzles for ourselves that have no finite

answers and trying to solve them. Unlike, say; fixing a car; where if you do it right it can't be done any better, any decision we make when

we're working on a piece of art is just one of an infinite number of decisions we could make. It could always be better - it could always be

different. Its one of the reasons making art is a noble endeavor and I tip my hat to anyone that even tries.

I thought the overall skill level of the work in this show was high. I thought the presentation was professional, and my impression is that the artists in this show take what they're doing very seriously. Congratulations both individually and as a group. I think you have a fine show here. I'm sorry I couldn't have given out more Awards. Patrick Ruane / Artist