By Kyle Twardowski / Triton’s Call Staff
The Guam Art Exhibit is not only a place to see and appreciate local art and talk to some of the artists on their experience, but in another aspect, it’s a bridge for local artists to cross over and display their works of art for the community and other artists to appreciate. To get your work out there and to get recognized by someone is on the top of any artist’s wishlist. I would know. I’m trying to make it out to fame just like everybody else.
The Guam Art Exhibit is in its eighth showing with this year’s theme being “The Portrait”. The exhibit was live from the 19th of August to the 7th of September in the Agana Shopping Center. The opening night was filled with the unveiling of the work and also a photobooth, open bar (before the drinks ran out), and closed the night off with a performance from “The John Dank Show”.
Over the course of the few weeks being open, the directors also held live art displays and classes where artists can bring in their work and receive tips from the staff and other artists on improvement of their art. The final night was showcased around spoken word, where poets, songwriters, musicians, and rappers showcased their skills to end the 8th Guam Art Exhibit.
For the weeks coming up to the Guam Art Exhibit, any artist interested in submitting work was asked to do so. The invite was publicized and everything, for open submissions. I was one of those artists who went out on a limb to submit some work in hope of getting an acceptance email.
Well I didn’t. Sadly, I wasn’t accepted to participate, which is fine. I was a little irritated at first, but hey, I got over it. But there are a few things that did irritate me about the whole altercation with GAX.
Not only was my work not accepted, I received an email with a description on how to make my work better and then maybe they might consider my work to be viewed. “I feel what is necessary is either heavy Photoshop work to bring the production value higher or possibly a reshoot” read the email I received from a GAX coordinator. This is the golden rule that you should not break when dealing with an artist, unless they ask for it. If I said “oh hey, here’s my submission, I’d also like some constructive criticism while you’re at it”, then ok I asked for it. But of course I didn’t.
They told an artist, how to make his own art. Everything I put into my work is for a reason. If I wanted it to look a certain way, that’s what I wanted the piece to look like. Don’t tell me what it wrong with it, because it’s not wrong to me. That’s what it means to be an artist. I can do what I want with my work, I’m free. That’s the beauty of it. What I’m saying is that they pretty much lost an artist over this, me.
The other issue I had was that there were visible budget cuts. But who am I? Don’t take my word for it, this is just my opinion, but that’s what it seemed like. My point is that the facility was not fit for something like this. A bigger facility should have been sought out to hold this event to allow for more submissions to be displayed. I know this is easier said than done, however, this is part of throwing an event like this. Be prepared.
To go along with the facility issue, I also felt that some pieces, especially some of the photographs, were a crazy size for display. Using all of that space for three photos, takes away from the allowance of more submissions. “We have a bit of a smaller space than previous GAX shows so we have to be very selective of what’s going to show” read the email I received from a GAX coordinator. So we’re going to limit pieces for acceptance so we can put up monstrous pieces? A possible limit on piece size for submission could have been in order to help fit other’s needs. And I’m not even talking about the giant wall sized painting in the back that covered about six or seven feet up and down. That’s just too much.
With these things being presented, there are visible flaws that do need to be worked out, but overall the Guam Art Exhibit experience is still for the community. The events held through the GAX do shine a different light on the community and act as inspiration for upcoming artists. However, my outlook has been changed through the event of not being accepted. But it has taught me a couple things. To stay hungry and to not care what other people think. It’s now seared into my brain, thanks.