Decisions, Decisions
Mike Ditka the dog and Clint question their decisions. It can be a daily habit.
“No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it is not the same river and he is not the same man.” Long ago Heraclitus said that or something similar.
Mike Ditka and I don’t agree on everything, especially philosophy. Mike is a steadfast existentialist, and I study stoicism. Regardless of the many disagreements we have, we usually find common ground in the wisdom of Heraclitus.
Recently I had the honor of being selected as the juror for the Paseo Arts Association Members Show. Since 1981 the Paseo Arts Association (PAA) has dedicatedly developed the Paseo Arts District into the thriving community it is today. There is tremendous creativity and support for artists in OKC’s Paseo. The PAA itself is composed of a great number of members with remarkable skill and experience. These members also have a refined sense of composition and no fear of innovation. To be asked to make the decisions for this exhibition was a tremendous compliment, and a bit intimidating.
The parameters were simple: the gallery can accommodate about XX pieces on the wall and another X pieces on pedestals. The process was difficult! The gallery itself is a beautiful showcase of community, and I wanted to make sure I honored that. I also wanted to honor the artists who submitted work for the show. It takes a bit of courage and commitment to enter a show.
I wanted the exhibition to offer a variety of media with innovative techniques alongside traditional approaches. I aimed to select a group of work that balanced color with starkness. For the artists, I sought to select a strong set of works that pushed proficiency, innovation, and craftspersonship. For the viewer I wanted to offer a diverse yet cohesive mix of well executed artworks. For the gallery I wanted to provide an overall atmosphere of harmony and rhythm with enough diversity to invite engagement.
With this framework I set out to begin the jurying process. I looked at the hundreds of artworks on digital slides. I made notes. Using the chosen criteria, I selected works until I had about the correct number of pieces. I compared the slides to see how the art pieces worked together. Then I put all my notes away. The next day I repeated the process. The following day I did it again. On this day, I compared the selections from each day. Examining the subtle differences in the selection process. With this I confidently made the final selection of works.
We don’t always have the benefit of taking days to make decisions, but often we can take a moment and look for the decision from multiple perspectives. We are dynamic, and our many different experiences result in many different choices. We will not make the same decisions each day, and so we shouldn’t be surprised when we look back at some of the choices we have made.
It was an honor to be the juror for the Paseo Arts Association Members Show, and it was also a difficult task. I cherish the honor and the task. It was a pleasure to get to see all of the work and be with the PAA team as they installed the exhibit. I am very thankful for Theresa Hultberg, Paseo Arts Association Programs and Exhibits Manager, for her patience and guidance.
There are many incredible works by skilled and innovative PAA members in this exhibit. I do hope you will see it.
The weather has been quite warm for February. That is sure to change, Mike and I may go step in a river. We will never see that river again, and we must embrace being this us as long as it lasts.
