Focus on Sculpture 2010
 

Focus on Sculpture 2010 is a juried exhibition of amateur photography.  This exhibition supports the mission of Grounds For Sculpture, which is to foster a greater understanding and appreciation of contemporary sculpture through exhibitions, events, and educational programming.  Focus on Sculpture promotes sculpture in a unique way - sculpture through photography.  Entries are not limited to a narrow definition of sculpture, and photographers are encouraged to point their cameras towards the sculptural elements they see in their everyday lives.

Each year a different professional in the field of photography is invited to choose works from among those submitted for exhibition.  This year, the selections were made by artist Andrea Baldeck.  Her images are found in museums and private collections and she has exhibited widely in both the U.S. and abroad.  She has compiled many books featuring works made during her extensive travels to faraway places such as the Himalayas and Haiti.

Participation in this juried exhibition was limited to amateur photographers 18 years of age and older.  Thirty-five photographs were selected from 202 entries.  Selected works are on display in the Education Gallery in the Visitor's Center from January 24 through April 18, 2010.

Juror's Statement

Judging an exhibition is, at best, a learning experience for both entrants and arbiter, which was certainly the case in this year's Focus on Sculpture.  On my arrival at Grounds For Sculpture I found a field of more than 200 submissions arrayed in two adjoining rooms, a testament to the vitality and accomplishment of participating photographers.  All images spoke of a commitment to craft, engagement with subject matter, and investment in presentation.  My greatest challenge lay in sifting and selecting among so many compelling entries.

Since this exhibition asks for the work of amateur photographers, it is worth remembering that the original meaning of the term amateur, from the French, denotes one who pursues an activity for the love of it.  A passion for capturing the world with a camera, and sharing the results with others, is evident in all the photographers' work submitted.

As juror, I wanted to sense the energy and excitement that prompted the photographer to see, and make, an image.  Rather than hew to any particular school of criticism, I approached each print with a series of questions, the same ones I ask of my own work.

• What visual features draw the eye, and hold it?
• What qualities invite closer examination, the investment of one's time in looking?
• What lures one into the world within the frame?
• How are light and shadow, contour, contrast, line, and palette employed to suggest three-dimensionality in a two-dimensional medium?
• Does the image entice us to see the subject in a new light or from a new angle?  Is there an element of freshness or surprise?
• Does the photographer's use of the tools of the craft enhance, or distract from, the subject matter?
• Does the photograph persist in visual memory, so that we return to it in thought, or retrace our steps in the gallery to revisit it again?

The work on the gallery walls answers these criteria in the varied visual vocabulary of 35 individual photographers.  For every image chosen, there were seven other close contenders.  The quality and creativity of all submissions made the selection process both demanding and rewarding, for which I commend all those who participated.  Such a depth of talent has led to an exhibit that will, I hope, entice and engage a wide audience.

- Andrea Baldeck