THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, December 10, 1995 TAG: 9512070156
SECTION: CAROLINA COAST PAGE: 18 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: Mary Ellen Riddle
LENGTH: Long : 147 lines
Creativity and competition make strange bedfellows.
Even though competition is commonly used as the proverbial carrot stimulating us to excel, outdo or venture beyond our normal boundaries, some art educators will argue that it distracts or actually stifles creativity.
But every artist knows some of what winning can bring - money and recognition. Prizes, like carrots, can be juicy.
If you were pegged in art school as one of those who painted to win money, you were considered a prostitute. Don't ask me how we made the call, we just did.
And there was always an invisible barrier between US and THEM. The so-called purists were ready to suffer for their art, living impoverished lives to paint only from the soul.
Many artists today still paint or sculpt or weave purely for the passion of it. And some generate a living by creating what the public demands with a million variations in between. Only individuals can say what is valid for themselves.
There always will be artists who avoid competitions for a host of reasons. While I have mixed opinions concerning competition in general, I see some positives that deserve to be noted and are a direct result of the juried process that several shows here employ.
In Dare County, we are on the threshold of two big shows that offer awards. Icarus 95 is open at the Ghost Fleet Gallery and the Seaside Art Gallery, and the Frank Stick Show opens in February. The beauty of these shows is that artists on any level are invited to show work. Not all can go home with a cash prize.
Sometimes the judging leaves some artists grumbling; for instance, the judges' results from last year's Frank Stick Show were hotly debated. But while I was not one of the winners, I walked away rich regardless.
While I yearn for the bucks, I've gained so much more from sheer participation. The effect is cumulative. Each show teaches me new lessons.
When I began showing in Dare County seven years ago, I became part of a very beautiful family. This involvement altered my perception of winning.
I always thought I had to win in order to succeed. My fellow artists, whose work filled the show year after year - win or not - taught me better. I've learned from them to enter to share my direction and growth, however fast or slow, while I share the growth of other artists.
I can always count on ``courage to be'' and ``humility'' as my rewards. I don't pretend to always understand the judges' choices, and I always hope I am chosen. But if I am not, I know today that I am still a winner because I have shared. If you have trouble with being judged, you might consider these thoughts.
Enter for love or fun. Winning is like a crap shoot. It's just an opinion of one or two people who are unknown to the entrant.
My mother always told me that ``Everyone is a rose. Some are yellow, some are red, some are pink, and not everyone chooses the same color. But you're a rose just the same.''
If the rose thing doesn't work, envision how it would feel to win, then think about bestowing that honor on someone else. That monetary award could be just what that artist needs to buy another pencil, keep the heat on, or . . . take a few lessons (just kidding).
Ah, and if you win! Take from it whatever you need.
There are also some exiting shows on the menu that are contest-free, and just for the browsing.
Curwood Harrison, a water colorist, is showing his work at the Pasquotank Arts Council Gallery on East Main Street in Elizabeth City. He's an award-winning artist who focuses on landscapes, houses and water fowl. This show will hang through Christmas.
In Edenton, the Chowan Arts Council will feature the works of four women titled ``Gifts from the Genes.'' Two sisters and their daughters, Sarah Wood Wickham, Katherine Kemp Wickham, Francis Wood Crawford and Bembury Crawford Curstensen will jointly show paintings.
The Edenton show opens with a reception Jan. 14 at 4:30 p.m. and will run through Feb. 26. The gallery is at 200 E. Church St., Edenton. Call 482-8005 for more information.
Creativity and competition make strange bedfellows.
Even though competition is commonly used as the proverbial carrot stimulating us to excel, outdo or venture beyond our normal boundaries, some art educators will argue that it distracts or actually stifles creativity.
But every artist knows some of what winning can bring - money and recognition. Prizes, like carrots, can be juicy.
If you were pegged in art school as one of those who painted to win money, you were considered a prostitute. Don't ask me how we made the call, we just did.
And there was always an invisible barrier between US and THEM. The so-called purists were ready to suffer for their art, living impoverished lives to paint only from the soul.
Many artists today still paint or sculpt or weave purely for the passion of it. And some generate a living by creating what the public demands with a million variations in between. Only individuals can say what is valid for themselves.
There always will be artists who avoid competitions for a host of reasons. While I have mixed opinions concerning competition in general, I see some positives that deserve to be noted and are a direct result of the juried process that several shows here employ.
In Dare County, we are on the threshold of two big shows that offer awards. Icarus 95 is open at the Ghost Fleet Gallery and the Seaside Art Gallery, and the Frank Stick Show opens in February. The beauty of these shows is that artists on any level are invited to show work. Not all can go home with a cash prize.
Sometimes the judging leaves some artists grumbling; for instance, the judges' results from last year's Frank Stick Show were hotly debated. But while I was not one of the winners, I walked away rich regardless.
While I yearn for the bucks, I've gained so much more from sheer participation. The effect is cumulative. Each show teaches me new lessons.
When I began showing in Dare County seven years ago, I became part of a very beautiful family. This involvement altered my perception of winning.
I always thought I had to win in order to succeed. My fellow artists, whose work filled the show year after year - win or not - taught me better. I've learned from them to enter to share my direction and growth, however fast or slow, while I share the growth of other artists.
I can always count on ``courage to be'' and ``humility'' as my rewards. I don't pretend to always understand the judges' choices, and I always hope I am chosen. But if I am not, I know today that I am still a winner because I have shared. If you have trouble with being judged, you might consider these thoughts.
Enter for love or fun. Winning is like a crap shoot. It's just an opinion of one or two people who are unknown to the entrant.
My mother always told me that ``Everyone is a rose. Some are yellow, some are red, some are pink, and not everyone chooses the same color. But you're a rose just the same.''
If the rose thing doesn't work, envision how it would feel to win, then think about bestowing that honor on someone else. That monetary award could be just what that artist needs to buy another pencil, keep the heat on, or . . . take a few lessons (just kidding).
Ah, and if you win! Take from it whatever you need.
There are also some exciting shows on the menu that are contest-free, and just for the browsing.
Curwood Harrison, a water colorist, is showing his work at the Pasquotank Arts Council Gallery on East Main Street in Elizabeth City. He's an award-winning artist who focuses on landscapes, houses and water fowl. This show will hang through Christmas.
In Edenton, the Chowan Arts Council will feature the works of four women titled ``Gifts from the Genes.'' Two sisters and their daughters, Sarah Wood Wickham, Katherine Kemp Wickham, Frances Wood Crawford and Bembury Crawford Curstensen will jointly show paintings.
The Edenton show opens with a reception Jan. 14 at 4:30 p.m. and will run through Feb. 26. The gallery is at 200 E. Church St., Edenton. Call 482-8005 for more information. MEMO: Mary Ellen Riddle covers Outer Banks arts for The Carolina Coast. Send
comments and questions to her at P.O. Box 10, Nags Head, N.C. 27959.Mary
Ellen Riddle covers Outer Banks arts for The Carolina Coast. Send
comments and questions to her at P.O. Box 10, Nags Head, N.C. 27959.
by CNB