Juror's Statement by
Spring Exhibition Judge
David Jenks

It was an honor to be the juror of the 2006 Redwood Art Association’s Annual Spring Show, but it was with a sense of great responsibility that I undertook the assignment of passing judgment on the work of other artists.

We intuitively know what we like and don’t like, and such a process is necessarily somewhat subjective, no matter how objective one tries to be. But it was on an intuitive basis that I jumped into the daunting task of needing to eliminate approximately 100 pieces of art from the very diverse body of entries. The extraordinary diversity, itself, added to the difficulty.

But in thinking of the criteria by which I would be guided, I naturally resorted to the one I strive for in my own work: Beauty—and its two compliments or components: quality and meaning. Therefore, the award winners were simply, in my judgment, the most beautiful entries in the show. They also exemplify specific ingredients of the beautiful which I looked for in all the work which was submitted: harmony (of color and composition), consistency, ample development of the subject, and skillful execution. I did my best to apply these standards irrespective of style, technique, or genre.

As many pieces were included as the space would allow, and I feel the final cut reflects the diversity of the original field of submissions. The end result is a testament to Eureka, the place, and to the talent of its artists.