What a joy - and considerable challenge - to curate an exhibition of 30 artists from an open call with over 250 applicants from the ILYW open call! Shortly into the review process, I began to grasp the vast range of works to consider: wildly diverse subject matter, palettes, approaches and mediums. Working under the assumption that an exhibition should be conceptually and visually cohesive, I asked myself: what patterns / motifs / themes (if any) do I see in the work? And could these patterns / motifs / themes be used to pull the exhibition together?

 

After numerous views of the submissions, I remained at a loss for exactly what basis - and by what criteria - I should select work. The works submitted were just too diverse to assemble under themes related to “figuration”, “color” or “abstraction”. And besides, to limit the selection in these ways would dilute what’s so fascinating about the range of available works: their wild diversity. 

 

So, I simply started to pay attention to my preferences. I can’t say for certain why certain pieces caught my eye. But the word “beauty” kept coming to mind. Balanced (but not bland) compositions, clear (but not glaring) color, rich (but not too busy) detail, and unique (but not novel) approaches. This was some of my criteria. Overall, I favored visual impact over commentary, and elegance over emotion (not to say that commentary and emotion can’t be found in my selections). In terms of tangible factors that helped me decide: I considered dimensions and media in a way that helped me better understand the work (as best I can imagine, anyway!) and visualize the works as a group. 

 

I pulled this show together by reveling in the subjectivity of selecting works that I perceived as beautiful. I’m happy to share this news with the artists that I did NOT select.  As with all humans, a slight shift in my mood or frame of mind could have meant a different decision. Such is the slipperiness of my aesthetic judgment! 

 

As for the artists I DID select, I believe that notions of beauty guide their work - at least in part. Whether culturally constructed or subjective (or both) there is no doubt that some color combinations, proportions, textures, (and other aspects), might work in ways that are favored - either by the artist or the viewer, or both. I’m the first to admit how subjective my choices are, but I hope you find something for yourself in it!

 

Thanks to Erika b Hess for the opportunity to jury this open call. Thank you Gloria Ann Shows for your support in the jurying process. Thank you to all the applicants. It has been a pleasure to experience your work.
 

Eric Hibit