Re: Gallery

[Don Roberts <droberts@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Marilyn Dalrymple wrote:
> Hi Everyone,
>
> I have to get my .02 cents worth in concerning the critiques of the 
> gallery.
>
> I think positive critiques can be helpful and some people are just 
> naturally soft or positive, however you want to look at it.  But, why 
> would this stop the people who want to give tougher critiques from 
> commenting?
>
> There will always be those who are tough with their critiques and 
> bless them, they are helpful if their comments are truly given in the 
> spirit of teaching.
>
> Unfortunately, there will always be those in life who can be cruel.  I 
> find that being harsh is rarely helpful and some people don't seem to 
> understand when they cross the line between being tough and being cruel.
>
> I stopped critiquing because more time was spent on critiquing my 
> critiques than the work in the gallery.
>
> Marilyn
Agreed, of course, that some will always be cruel and I detest that 
also.  But one can be honest about their opinion.  Aesthetics is, after 
all, really only opinions.  In spite of all the learned verbiage it 
boils down to "Do I like it or not?"  The reasons can be just 
instinctive or technical  or political or idealogical or lack of 
understanding etc.  There are many reasons and most of us understand 
that a critique is saying "This is not the way I would have done it.".  
I have been showing pictures for over 50 years and have had raves and 
have had complete derision.  Either way I learn from it, I hope.  
Sometimes the lesson is that this is the wrong audience for my work.  
That may be why some have left or maybe not.  The reviewing does take 
time and the reviewers tend to come and go.  I am not trying to 
criticize you Marilyn because I have seen your critiques for a couple of 
years now and I am sure you are trying to be helpful.  Sometimes, there 
just isn't much positive you can say about an image but if you ignore it 
the artist feels slighted and takes offense.  It's not easy and that is 
why I also ebb and flow with my critiques and submissions.  I was just 
noting that we have lost the most aggressive and outspoken members here 
and I regret it.  Tension sometimes is a good thing.
Don