Lots of people ask how the artists in the Cherokee Triangle Art Fair are selected. Some are curious why a favorite artist isn’t at the Fair that year or why an artist friend or relative was not selected.
Simply put, artists' wares are judged for their appropriateness for entry into the fair. The Cherokee Triangle Art Fair prides itself on having only the best art on exhibit. In order to assure that we have the best, a panel of people with suitable credentials is asked to be jurors. The jurors who are chosen are active in the arts, and they may have juried this art fair in the past.
The jurying process is in itself quite regimented. All artists are required to submit three photos of their artwork along with their applications. The application letter stresses that the artists submit the very best pictures they can.
All of the items presented at our fair are hand-made. If a determination is made that an artist has brought in ready-made items, he/she is asked to leave the fair immediately.
To keep the process as objective as possible, the artists’ names are concealed from the jurors. In order to facilitate this “blind” jury process, the Artists Committee assigns each photo to a category such as jewelry, ceramics, and metal work, and then codes each entry with a number. That number corresponds to the number on each of their photographs.
The jurors view the photos and make their determinations based on several factors. The quality of the item and the quality of the materials used to craft the item are very high on the list. They look for variety and inventiveness, as well as for fun and new items that have not been presented at the Fair before. Each numbered item is given a score, and the scores are tallied. The jurors do not talk among themselves nor compare notes or opinions.
After the jurors have made their determinations, the co-chairs take it from there. The committee pulls out the top scoring artists and assigns them booth spaces. The names of the artists are unknown even to the co-chairs until the final cut has been made and the acceptance letters are ready to be sent.
The Cherokee Triangle Art Fair co-chairs prefer a smaller, more intimate fair than some other regional fairs. In addition, Cherokee Parkway only has room for around 220 booths. That number varies according to how the trees have grown throughout the past year. For the 2008 Art Fair, the committee received roughly 350 applications. Therefore, many talented artisans do not make the final cut due to the limited booth space.
If your favorite artist or craftsperson doesn't show in the fair this year, please don't be too upset. It could be for a variety of reasons; perhaps they didn’t apply this year, or the photos they submitted did not show their art well. Maybe something new and exciting has replaced them this year due to our limited space. But keep in mind, they could very well be in next year's fair! To find out if your favorite artist is in the fair, and if so, where their booth is located, visit the Association Booth located in the median at the intersection of Cherokee Parkway and Everett Avenue. You’ll find a list of the artists and a map on display there.
All of this lends itself to one of the best, if not the best, art fairs in our three-state region. The Artists Committee members enjoy the part they play in assembling an outstanding collection of artisans to become our neighbors for the weekend.
