As an update to the previous comments about which pieces of work are on
display at Coventry, I have just been speaking to Pat Read on another subject and
mentioned how upset people are that their lace is not included.
She said she hopes that no-one thinks it was the judges who decided, and told
me that in fact it was not even the Lace Guild themselves. The pieces on
show were selected by the Exhibition Director and the Gallery Staff, and there
seems to be no logic to selection or otherwise. The choice appears to be purely
random, with about 70 pieces not on show; perhaps simply the last 70 in the
pile with no real "selection" involved at all. Because of all the building
work going on at the Gallery, the area for the display is smaller than it was
previously and I believe the Lace Guild was not aware that this would be the
situation. Pat said it was certainly not decided on quality because there were
several pieces she remembered from the judging that she wanted to see again, and
they were not on show.
Jane's piece of lace which was left out was apparently a very small piece
and, space-wise, could easily have been included. Jane is understandibly cross
because this also means that her piece will now not even have the chance of
winning the Visitor's Award, judged by the public. And of course, this applies
to you all who were unlucky enough to not have your lace on show. In the
recent past, the Visitor's prize was won by Caroline Biggins' Honiton Dolphin which
won no other prize, so it does matter.
Sue thought perhaps the selection had been "fair" in that she had her prize
winning piece on show, which maybe explained why the Wood Nymph isn't. In
fact, that is not the case either. There is at least one example of a lacemaker
with three entries, unfortunately none of which was a medal winner, but where
all three are on display. She is understandably embarrassed by the situation.
I am intending to write to the Lace Guild about this, even though it appears
to have been largely outside their control, so the situation does not occur in
the future. They have spent a lot of time, money and effort to run a well
supported competition, and people enter with the hope, but not the neccessarily
the expectation, of achieving some recognition for their work. If it is not
even to be displayed then the incentive, to my way of thinking, is considerably
reduced. I suggest that those of you affected also write expressing your
misgivings.
Jacquie
-
To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line:
unsubscribe lace [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help, write to
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
