comments@artshowrejection.com

John Zidek
"Best of Category"



in the
#1 Rated Art Festival in the Country
Amdur Productions "Gold Coast"
Downtown Chicago



TO SIN BY SILENCE WHEN THEY SHOULD PROTEST, MAKES COWARDS OF MEN

This site is about
questions and change.

Art shows came into being as a venue for an artist to show & sell their work. Now it’s about promoters, organizations and simply a money making machine and most times not for the artists. Manufactured items are somewhat acceptable because promoters feel they need something for everyone. This is the greatest concern for artists. Giving an artists space to an illegitimate person is wrong. Allowing the illegitimate person to compete with artists for sales is wrong again. Artists who speak up about these issues are basically black listed. Shows in general have a standard response for the buy/sell issue. They respond that they ask if the person makes it and the person in question responds that they do and then the show says they say they make it what can we do? As artists and consumers we are aware that they don’t make it, obviously the show is aware that they don’t make it yet they choose to willfully violate their own contract entered into when the participants apply. Academics and/or artists traditionally jury shows. Academics have their agenda and take care of all of their friends. Unfortunately the same thing happens with award money. Artists have their own agendas – eliminating competition is #l. It’s no coincidence that the new and original artists have the most difficulty with admissions. I believe the jury should include or be made up of business people who are familiar with the wholesale and trade shows. Particularly the hand made section. Local jewelers who are familiar with commercial work would be another good choice. When it comes to jewelry I believe every nation is represented at an art show. Getting to the bottom of the jurying issue is challenging. Obviously the jurors are letting in the manufactured items. I’ve been inquiring and the shows are not divulging the jurors identities. Secrecy is a red flag. It has been rumored that directors are allowing buy/sell people in after the jurying.

 FOR THE NON-ARTIST!!!
 Shows charge a jurying fee. This is a range of $15 to $45 depending on the show. Supposedly the better the show the more money. If you are accepted the booth fees are from $175 - $650, average being approximately $300. Jury fees add up. Shows have from several hundred to one thousand three hundred applicants. One show by their #’s takes in a total of $58,500. in jury fees. In most shows jurors actually volunteer their time. If they are paid it is usually $200-$300 each. Artists include a self addressed stamped envelope. So what are these people doing with the money? They are paid to do a proper job and they are doing almost nothing. Next – what happens to the booth money? Generally it is earmarked for some common good or charity. Organizations totally forget where the money comes from…It comes from the artists jury and booth fees. Believe it or not, most artists are struggling…worn out vehicles, maxed out credit cards and a significant number are dropping out because they don’t have the money for booth fees. So I feel that if shows are going to take money from one needy group to give to another needy group, which I suppose is so they can feel better about themselves, then they should play by the rules. Stop bushwhacking the artists with buy/sell.
Is integrity dead?

I am posting my work and the shows that I am Rejected and Wait Listed.

I will be updating this site in the future and welcome information and assistance from others.

Links at top left corner on every page

comments@artshowrejection.com

John Zidek

johnzidek.com