[MR] A little more on competitions

[Kevin and Lora]

Brigantia wrote:

All of the comments I'm reading just serve to re-inforce my desire to not
have competitions. People are always hurt/offended. Perhaps a more gentle
thing is to have display with comments. Granted, those who enter
competitions for the sole purpose of wanting the accolade of an award will
feel slighted, but display with commentary will help to put all on an even
footing with no sniping that I should have won the prize when someone else
did-for what ever reason the other person won. Granted, I am also strongly
in favor of tactful, informative commentary.

reply:
	I have displayed and competed quite often in the past year or so.  I would
be very upset to see competitions disappear.  They provide a challenge for
me.  I enjoy taking the theme from an event and working my art towards that.
My goal this year is to compete in Tempore Atlantia for one year.  That
means that at the end of one year I will have art and documentation which
applies to our entire time period.  I could have done this on my own without
the competition but this way I work in sections and have greater focus and a
deadline.
	One thing I have noticed is that there is a distinct difference in the type
of comments received from display versus from competition.  When I display I
get very positive comments usually thanking me for sharing my art.  These
comments are from people who may or may not have an understanding of what
work goes into what I do.  They do however appreciate my work and for that I
am thankful as well.  When I compete I get more critical comments.  Usually
these also include suggestions of books to reference, format for
documentation, style of art to try next, etc. I WANT these comments when I
compete.  I want the suggestions and the help.  While I get great comments
from display, I rarely get guidance from display.  I also expect these
comments when I compete. This is also why I have put out both a display and
entered competition at the same event, so that I get that guidance. I have
gotten some harsh, some clueless and some helpful comments on judge forms.
I consider it all a part of hanging my stuff out for comment.  It is then up
to me to use or not use the information I gain. (If I took every suggestion
I ever got about fighting...I'm shuddering just at the thought!)
	Tactful informative commentary is nice. Please note that I have only rarely
encountered a judge who meant to be hurtful in their comments.  Time and
other distractions make long comments difficult. Short comments are
sometimes misconstrued as short attitudes or interest.   It happens and
there are many people artisans, judges and patrons who are working very hard
to improve the system.
	Eliminating competition would not stop sniping.  That usually happens in
other forums than on judge forms or comment cards anyway.  Artisans will
still want comments and guidance.  And (by nature) we artisans are usually
and emotional lot<grin>.  It is how we are able to put our hearts in our
work.  It is part of the beauty of our work.  It also makes us sometimes
more sensitive to criticism.
	Please notice, this post had nothing to do with accolades.  I haven't
mentioned winning or losing competitions.  Although I do want to win when I
compete (Could you imagine entering Crown List and not WANTing to win?)it is
clearly not the only reason to enter. I haven't even mentioned which
medieval thingee I make.  It doesn't matter.  Rarely are the prizes
announced ahead at regular events so it is hard to say someone is in it just
for the prize.
	I had not intended to add to this large thread.  So many have commented
already.  However, I did want to point out that there are many reasons for
competing beyond the win or loss aspect.  Because of the reasons I compete
I'm not in favor of the more "gentle thing."
	Last, I wanted to point out an interesting side-effect of the more recent
sponsorships of focused competitions like the ones at 12th Night. It
generates awareness and inspiration for the art and sometimes provides a
prize which will help the artist along in their endeavors since for these
competitions the prizes are usually something dealing with the contest like
a book or supplies.  And isn't inspiration incredible!

Tegan de Moreton