It might be interesting to some of you to know how I felt about this latest jurored show I was invited to enter. Called The Figurative Show, it was advertised as showcasing the human body. As anyone who has perused my images is well aware, I do not usually go THAT particular 'figurative' route, though my work is usually figurative in nature.
After researching the juror, a retired art professor at the University of TX, amongst other places, I found myself in something of a quandry. Do I do a piece or pieces specifically for this one show? For almost a week I played with doing some work more along the lines I saw this emeritus prof do. It looked wrong and felt wrong, so I did nothing 'for' the show that I felt I could actually enter. In fact, I just wanted the 'show' out of my head, for good and all. After several more days, I was able to return to what I usually do and felt happier for it.
Did I enter the show? Ultimately, yes, I did. Yesterday morning early I entered three jpgs of more or less recent work. They were 'Trust is a Most Elusive Flower,' 'Chance Encounter,' and 'Figuratively Speaking.' I was going to enter the paper version of 'Numb' but at the last moment chose 'Chance Encounter' instead. I could have chosen NOT to enter the show at all, but I felt that would be conceding defeat before the battle, and I do like my battles after all. :)
I am hopeful that after years in the academic realm, this juror's vision of art has not calcified to the point of immovable rigidity. My best work---the work I like the best---comes from a place that is extremely personal and specific to me. I wouldn't ask the juror to do work like mine; and I am hoping the juror would not ask me to bend my work to fit the square peg of one little art show.
I have been accused more than once of over-analyzing, so this could very well be another case in point. :) Some time next week, I will have my answer. Either way, the world will continue to turn and the birds will still sing to me in the morning, unless some catastrophic event in the meanwhile prevents both. If that happens, then the art show will become a decidedly moot point.