There is a positive side to Open exhibitions, for me anyway. I’ve had several occasions when a theme they have used has triggered an idea – even if I haven’t actually entered the exhibition.
It was because of this that I started making the paper shoes.
At this stage, I don’t have a definite plan on where I will exhibit them, I’m just enjoying the making of them for now.
Open exhibitions can be a bit hit and miss in my opinion. It’s really hard to get the right mix of works that appeal to a wide range of visitors, and yet still retain some sort of quality. Obviously there are plenty more that also work well, but I will give the thumbs up to the West Lancs open and the Leeds DWF ( both of which I’ve been involved in) as both have given thought on how the exhibitions reflect on the organisation. I do think though that other venues don’t always see that as a priority.
I had a couple of years break from Opens that you have to pay for, and it was only this year I made the tentative steps of putting my work into the Wirral Spring exhibition (at my local gallery) I hadn’t entered this for absolutely years, but because I’m concentrating more on my own work these days and not being ‘out there’, I felt the need to wave a little flag saying ‘look, I’m still here!’
I’d missed the PV because of the awful weather and until yesterday, my time was taken up doing other things. In the meantime, I’d heard mixed reviews of the exhibition, so I was a little apprehensive of seeing it for myself.
Hmmmmmm…..
I suppose, more so in the last couple of years, galleries have that added pressure of trying to raise funds themselves. In doing this, they would have to try to appeal to just about everyone. So, in the case of this exhibition, it looks like they have accepted ALL works.
Has this policy worked for them? Or for the artists involved ? Yesterday was fairly sunny, people are still off for Easter and yet, there was just me and one other person looking round the gallery.
Maybe not.
