[Woodcarver] When should a carving be retired from competion?

[Linehan718 at aol.com]

I understand your position Glenda, but ideally I think new carvings should be 
done for each  show.  I do think that alot of repeat entry carvers are just 
feeding their egos.  However, I read susan irish's comments and have to agree 
that if one starts at a local show on an amatuer level and wins, then one might 
want to enter in a tougher show and so on until it reaches a level that it 
would lose, (kind of like the high school sci fair entries, start local move to 
district, city onto state, regional and then finally the nationals).  then 
that carver might want to submit a different entry to the show that he lost at to 
try to win the next year.  That would challenge the carver and force him to 
continue learning his craft.  I personally don't believe that one good carving 
makes a carver.  He must prove over time that he/she is adept at his art and 
versitile.  the way i read the original question was about blue ribbon carvings 
that were entered over and over in all sorts of shows, the only purpose being 
to accumulate more and more ribbons with the only conclusion being the 
stroking of the artists ego. Every artist must have an ego, it is part of what 
propels him into greatness but at what point does he become a braggart.
     If the wood carving community was larger and more organized(my idea of 
an ideal world, LOL).  Perhaps all carvings for these larger shows, "artistry 
in wood" being among the best of the best, would have to come up the ranks from 
locals shows. a Carver wouldn't be allowed to submit on his own. this would 
incite a great feeling of competition for those trying to get their entries to 
"artistry in wood" and the like.  I think it should be a requirement for some 
of the larger and higher skill level shows that only carvings which have won 
at the lower levels be allowed to compete against each other for the top 
prizes. sort of like the world series of carving.
    My own feeling is that if I submitted an entry into "local contest" and 
Joe schmo submitted a much better one and rightfully won, I would set out to 
work all year on a better carving to submit the next year.  While in my 
workshop, drooling over and tirelessly working on my carving, I would be wondering 
what Joe schmo was cooking up for next year(sort of like the giant pumpkin 
growers working in secrecy all year to produce the biggest pumpkin for the next 
judging).  Imagine my dissapointment to see that he submitted the exact same 
carving for the next show.  I would somehow feel cheated and if he kept on 
submitting it time after time, I would probably stop entering after a few times. Think 
how intimidating it would be to go up against a 4 or 5 time best of show 
winner.  I think at some higher levels of carving, that each entry is a true 
masterpiece and really can't be done much better. I do think the subject matter , 
style and the personal preferences of the judges, does come into play at that 
level.  Things also get very political, what carvers are the judges familiar 
with?  Have they decided that some carvers are blue chip and others aren't?  I 
do think judges are only human and are subject to their own biases,right or 
wrong( the recent judging scandals of the 2004 summer olympics being a prime 
example that not all judges are fair and honest).  there has to be a better way.  
I also understand that the only way to dethrone such an award winning carving 
is to submit a better carving.  But think how discouraging and dauntless the 
efforts of an aspiring blue winning carver would be if faced with the same 
carving  over and over.  I still think the carvings should be retired after 
winning best of class or best of show.  you just can't get any better.

Maura carvin' in nyc
http://www.picturetrail.com/whiteknight718
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