In Paul Schiller’s recent letter about Arts Night he failed to tell readers a few important details. Like how he represents both SculptureWalk and the Washington Pavilion as either a present or past board member, a juror or a financial contributor. In fact the company he founded, Lawrence & Schiller, was a major sponsor of Arts Night this year.

Schiller states, “When an artist submits work … you do so knowing that it’s a credible organization that has a fair and qualified selection process. That is the case with both the Washington Pavilion’s Arts Night and our ever-popular SculptureWalk.” How does he know? Is Schiller a juror for Arts Night? If he was on the jury, how did the jurying process maintain impartiality since his piece was one of the “selected” ones? Is that his definition of fair?

Last year was the first time in Arts Night history they decided to jury donations. This year wasn’t the first time I made a little noise about the process. I told them last year that I thought it was unfair to jury donations they solicit. Schiller is correct, donations are voluntary, but the Washington Pavilion solicits those donations through the mail. It would be like signing up to volunteer to work at the Banquet, and when you show up to work your shift, you’re told to go home.

Was rejecting my donation this year a way to punish me for my dissent last year?

SculptureWalk and the Washington Pavilion receive public subsidies and use public property.  I think SculptureWalk and the Washington Pavilion should continue to receive this assistance, because as I have said before a free visual arts center in our community is very important. But with that assistance should come transparency and accountability to the public.

Schiller posing as the gatekeeper of secrecy for these organizations doesn’t help their credibility, even if he doesn’t care about his own. They should be honest about their operations and processes. That’s how organizations like the Washington Pavilion and SculptureWalk build credibility.  Honesty and integrity will never backfire on you.

SculptureWalk made the wise decision this year to release the names of jurors for the first time in their history. I think the Washington Pavilion Arts Night committee should also release the names of their jurors out of respect for the artists that were rejected and accepted. The argument that artists will retaliate against them is hogwash. That assumption is an insult.

I think Mr. Schiller has a very skewed view of publicly funded art organizations – and that’s no secret.

Scott L. Ehrisman
FOUNDER – SFAPR (Sioux Falls Artists for Public Responsibility)
806 S. 10th Avenue
SF, SD 57104
605-929-7550

 

It’s up until the end of the month, get it while you can!

This by far has to be my favorite SW entry this year!

 

Notice sign above “SAVORING D . . . ”

I found this today at Black Sheep Coffee. LOL.

Whoever did it, good job. I look forward to seeing more stuff.

 I have a FUNNY feelin’ the Coca-cola drinking FREAK who did the poster below, is responsible. But, hey, just an assumption. I’m onto you slipper wearing, sushi eating, tea-tottling liberals.

I

I enjoyed Paul’s letter, it just proves the arrogance that exists in these organizations, and their resistance to a FREE society. The other ironic part is that Paul wrote the letter (sits on the board at SW and PAV). It seems he couldn’t recruit any artist to defend their policies). Funny.

A couple of things JUMPED out at me in the letter; There is a part where he basically tells artists to ‘Shut up and Paint.’

He also talks about ‘Clairity’ in life. Hate to break you the NEWS Paul, but both of these PROGRAMS are publicly funded, therefore we require them to be transparent. That’s that FREE SOCIETY thing that artists and newspapers alike bring up ever so often. I suggest you pick up a copy of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, and take a gander at it.

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Art judged openly, fairly
By Paul K. Schiller

I would like to disagree with our troubled artisans who feel that they need crystal clear governance in the judging of art for Arts Night at the Washington Pavilion. This is the same argument and noise they put forth in the judging of SculptureWalk.

Arts Night is a fundraiser for the Visual Arts Center, and submissions of art are voluntary. When an artist submits work into these “competitions,” you do so knowing that it’s a credible organization that has a fair and qualified selection process. That is the case with both the Washington Pavilion’s Arts Night and our ever-popular SculptureWalk.

A funny thing happened on the way to Arts Night this year. Ninety artists submitted work for a fundraising auction that had room for about 60 pieces. In past years the Arts Night committee was lucky to receive 50 to 60 pieces of art. The event is growing in popularity with both artists and art buyers. The result is a sold-out event with a great selection of quality art. The uneventful result of this year’s success was the fact that some pieces had to be rejected.

So we’re back to openness and fairness. I find the art-judging process open and fair. Have I had my art rejected in other competitions? Yes. Does it feel good? No. But rejection results in one of two things: You go around and complain about the process not being open and fair, or you go back and create better art for next year’s competition.

If that’s not satisfactory, then I suggest if you want absolute clarity in all forms of life, you could partner with the Argus Leader and take on their quest for total transparency in city and state government!