Juror Statement

Juror: Matthew Bourbon, College of Visual Arts & Design, UNT

When serving as a juror for an art exhibition, the inevitable question people ask is: "how did you choose one artwork over another?” Making decisions about what’s worthy of recognition or what artwork is considered "good" is not simple. Experience helps. Yet, honestly, much of what we deem as worthwhile in art is based on instinctual responses and is guided by our particular set of preferences. The rubric for evaluating art shifts depending on the viewer and on the qualities displayed by a given artwork. And when
I say "qualities" I do not merely mean technical proficiency. An artwork can be memorable because it shows technical skill, but it can also be wonderful for its inventiveness or forceful point of view.

In choosing who to recognize, I decided upon images that made me pause and examine the artwork closer. Sometimes I was impressed by the quality of a technique, but skill was not the ultimate barometer of what I valued. In general, I avoided familiar forms or things that might be too cliché. Instead, I sought works that had charisma. In the works I chose where skill was only part of the image’s strength, I was also seduced by the attitude, mystery, or aesthetic impression of the artwork. I've found that quirky and oddmoments in art are often more impactful, then works that only have overt displays of skill. In the end I want to be intrigued by art, not merely put in a place to acknowledge the competence of the craft displayed.

Overall, I was impressed by much of the work. For those that did not get chosen, keep in mind another juror would likely pick a different group of artworks. Being an artist is like being an actor--you put your work out in the world and it gets rejected and rejected--until it doesn't. A thick skin is part of the job description. Those who persist and show a dogged determination are the ones who develop and eventually make art that is daring, thoughtful and worth our attention--and sometimes get chosen as a best in show. Congratulation to Khyan Freelon, Jake Hathcock, Ronnie Wong, Samantha Marshall, Dylan Robinson, and Johnathan Johnson; from my point of view your work certainly deserves recognition. I enjoyed looking and thinking about your art.

--Matthew Bourbon