It's a funny feeling really, despite the fact that the whole process is entirely down to Mathematics I still feel bad about delivering the news to the contributing artists that have not made the final selection.
This is obviously due to my position as artist/curator rather than straight curator, because I absolutely know how it feels to put a lot of work into something, a proposal or an application to an exhibition - and then not to be selected and also to receive no feedback on why - I really wanted to curate this show differently - somehow making the process fairer (although i am unsure whether this process really does that or not.)
This is really what the entire thing is about though - going to great lengths to try to make the usually hidden selection process transparent and visible to the contributing artists, and eventually to the viewing public. Part of this is in the fact that all of the questionnaires and processing forms will be available to see at the event, and also that each of the 34 artists profile pictures and the image of the piece which they submitted will be shown at the exhibition - so even if they are not selected as one of the final 12 - they will still be represented in some way at the WLTM exhibition.
I have contacted the best 6 matches, and am now waiting for confirmation that they can attend the event...if not then their place will go to the next best match down.
I have received confirmation from one pair already that they will be able to attend the show, and so have been able to get to work on planning the display of their perfectly partnered pieces.
I hope to make the entire feel of WLTM a bit like a carnival. Creating a slightly larger than life feeling to the event, which will exist for only 3 hours on Saturday 30th. For this reason I am producing posters for each artist, which will be displayed with their work and their perfect partner's work. This will hopefully give the exhibition an overriding feel of a fete or circus.
Here is a sneak preview of what I am thinking...
Each artist will have a poster which is made up on the basis of their answers on the WLTM questionnaire; i.e. Wayne Thexton answered that his favourite book is 'The Hippopotamaus" by Stephen Fry, so his poster might depict a hippo, and Alex Staiger stated that she was from New York, and that she creates exciting, excessive chaotic moments; so her poster might show a circus performer holding the American flag.The poster will be displayed along with their piece of work in The Standing Room, exhibition space at HMS. I am looking at old circus and carnival posters for source material.
