Art exhibition results...

So last night we went to the awards ceremony out at DFW Airport... me, Hubby, Mom, and Mom's Hubby. I didn't know what to expect, but it turned out to be a semi-gala affair. Folks were dressed nicely, there was a jazz musician, and there were some nice little finger-foods and apple juice punch (c'mon, where's the champagne?)

During the ceremony they announced there were 180 people who entered artworks, some of them multiple works so there was over 200 pieces. They had a projector showing slides of the artworks on the wall as they handed out awards to folks, which I thought was a good idea so we could see what their works looked like. But I think it would have also been interesting if they had someone talking about the works, what the judges saw in the piece, if they liked it for the composition or color or why they chose it for an award.

What did I win? I won an award for "Best Work on Paper" for a prize of $100. (They also had a "Best Work of Painting" and "Best Work of Photography".) I have mixed feelings on this, and let me tell you why.

They had 3 adult catagories: Amatuer, Intermediate, and Professional. I entered the Intermediate division... I feel I"m more than just an amatuer and yet I'm not supporting myself with my art (I sell maybe one piece a year for a paltry couple hundred dollars, not what I would consider a professional).

So I walk in and see my artwork on the wall, and the placard next to it says the title and "Professional" division.

What??

So I tracked down the woman who was coodinating the evening's events, and asked her why they moved me up to the Professional division.

Woman: Are you currently working in the art industry?

NO. I'm in college and work for a place that fixes cellphones.

Woman: Have you been in any public art exhibits anywhere?

NO.

Woman: Well, the judges moved some people around and made some changes, it was up to them.

So at first it was a bit flattering, I thought well they thought I should be a part of the Professional division, that's a good thing right? I must have won an award in that catagory if they moved me?

Wrong.

This is what I don't understand and what I'm a bit peeved about. In each division they handed out prizes for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place (and honorable mention), prizes of $275-375.00. They moved me up to the Professional division but I didn't win anything for it, when I could have possibly won a prize in the Intermediate division (if they thought it was good enough to be in Professional then it could have won a prize in Intermediate, right?)

The people that won the Best of Painting and Best of Photography awards also won prizes in their division, so they won two prizes for a total of $375 or $475... but I won $100. I hate to sound like a sore loser, but I kinda feel gypped here. Out of over 200 artworks I won Best on Paper, but nothing else. I don't know why they moved me, it just doesn't make sense to me.

I'm trying to tell myself just be happy you won something, there are a lot of folks who didn't. Oh well, there's always next year.

The works will be on exhibit through May4 in the Car Rental Center at DFW on the 2nd floor.

Oh, and here's the piece that won Best in Show and 1st place in the Intermediate division, "Hats on Sticks":

As they say, art's in the eye of the beholder.