A call for entries for this year’s competition went out in January 2006. Applicants submitted work through an online jurying service right up to the deadline of August 10.
This year’s competition was nearly global. Submissions were received from almost three hundred entrants from fourteen countries located on every continent except Antarctica. In late August, a panel of three jurors undertook the massive task of reviewing digital images of over 650 pieces, winnowing the field to a group of forty final works. Professional high-quality images showing additional details served their makers well. These images were identified with captions including the artist’s name, title, dimensions and techniques used.
Finalists sent their chosen pieces for installation in the Bullseye Resource Center gallery and the jury gathered in early October to review the assembled work. The three jurors for this year’s competition were Jeremy Lepisto, Kirstie Rea and Dena Rigby. They performed their duties with great professionalism and collegiality and, after careful consideration, they arrived at their decisions, evaluating each piece for excellence of craftsmanship, design, and creativity. We thank them very much for helping to make e-merge 2006 an inspiring collection that reflects the high standards of today’s emerging kiln-glass artist.
Something to remember about a juried exhibition is that it marks judgments made in a particular time and in a particular context, under particular constraints, and should not be taken as a permanent judgment of the value of an artist’s body of work. We encourage entrants who did not qualify as finalists this year to continue their efforts to make good work that is also supported effectively by professional photography, choice of display hardware and meaningful artist statements.
We thank the public for its attendance at the opening ceremony on October 14. Over two hundred people came, admired the exhibition and its individual works, and voted for their favorite piece. The Popular Prize was awarded based on ballots cast that day.
