[Woodcarver] Judging Carving Shows

[Woodcraft Shop]

>>>>>>>>Not that I'm prejudiced or anything- but I was robbed.


So Donna, tell us what you REALLY thought about the judge!  LOL!

Patti, 

I agree with Donna in regard to having 3 judges for a competition.  And I am
totally against any sort of point system where the judges individually assign a
value to a carving based on different criteria.  The whole point of having 3
judges is to have interaction between them ... to glean from each others
background and expertise.  One judge may catch something about a carving that
the other two have missed.  You do not want 2 judges or 4 judges ... 3 judges
will always have a tie breaker.  

And Maura's suggestion of having the 3 judges come from different carving
backgrounds is very helpful, if possible.  An animal carver, a caricature carver
and a realistic human carver judging together will add diversity to the overall
judging results.  Also try to avoid having repeat judges especially from your
own club.  The "good ol' boy" mentality sometimes factors in.  

As far as categories in the competition, like Maura said, it depends how many
entries you want and how diverse you want the show to be.  My dear friends in
Converse, IN will add a category to the competition so everyone can have a
chance to compete.  If you walk in with a carved kumquat and there isn't a
category for that, they'll add one!  LOL!

A Peoples Choice award is always fun at a show even with a separate judges
competition.  It gets visitors involved in the show and gives them a reason to
come back year after year.  Some shows will also have a Carvers Choice award
that is awarded by the most popular piece judged by the exhibitors at the show.
At least this award is picked by folks who know what woodcarving is about.

Hope this helps Patti.  If there is anything else I can do to help, give me a
call or drop me an e-mail direct.


Larry Yudis, Show Chairman
International Woodcarvers Congress
Affiliated Wood Carvers, Ltd.
PO Box 104
Bettendorf, IA 52722
563-359-9684 (days)
563-355-3787 (evenings)
www.awcltd.org 
 

-----Original Message-----
From: woodcarver-bounces at six.pairlist.net
[mailto:woodcarver-bounces at six.pairlist.net] On Behalf Of Donna Menke
Sent: Friday, November 30, 2007 6:42 PM
To: [Woodcarver]
Subject: Re: [Woodcarver] Judging Carving Shows

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My main recommendation would be to have more than one judge. One recent show I
was in was judged very poorly, in my opinion, and I think it was because only
one person was judging. I would much rather have 2-3 mediocre judges than one
opinionated person inflicting their judgment on an entire show. Granted, I was
miffed because a couple of my entries were not placed well- and after talking to
the judge I was amazed at the reasoning. Get this- I was in the open class, and
one of the best carvings I'd ever done was given no ribbon at all because the
judge thought maybe one of my students or other person had ripped off my style-
excuse me??? The other was a complex carving in a hard wood, relatively large.
It came in second to a hard wood carving because the base on that one was of a
different hard wood. Duh- I kinda thought it was neat to have it all out of the
same wood. The details on the other, very stiff looking, carving were done with
a circle punch no
 less- while mine had gesture and personality. Not that I'm prejudiced or
anything- but I was robbed.
Not that it matters- but then why enter competitions?
I will be entering one of these carvings in another competition soon, and I'm
anxiously looking forward to seeing how another judge places it. If it doesn't
do well than I'm full of baloney and I take it all back. If it garners a blue
ribbon I will wave it under the nose of this other judge. The first carving, by
the way, got a blue ribbon at this other show last year.
Just a rant- take it for what it is worth- Donna Menke
http://www.woodworks-by-donna.com
Author: The Ultimate Band Saw Box Book

----- Original Message ----
From: Patti Landmann <lowvillecarver at yahoo.com>
To: Woodcarver Mail List-New <woodcarver at six.pairlist.net>
Sent: Friday, November 30, 2007 1:36:00 PM
Subject: [Woodcarver] Judging Carving Shows


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Carvers,

If there is anyone out there with some time to spare, could you tell me about
how a "simple" judged carving show could/should be organized.   

Our club has always had a "People's Choice" awarded show and so the results were
fun but fairly meaningless.   Often things are voted on for cute or fun or
popular subject and not the quality of the carving or skill of the carver.  Our
club discussions usually end with someone saying...too much work...can of
worms...nightmare..etc.  So each year we opt for fun.   Maybe this is the year
that we can change that if I can find some simple introduction to a "real"
judged show.   

I hope to hear from a few of you.    Thanks in advance.

Patti Landmann


      Patti Landmann 

  lowvillecarver at yahoo.com 
 

     
http://www.picturetrail.com/lowvillecarver.............for carvings, family and
more http://lagrandmama.blogspot.com/...........for my Grandma experiences
http://picasaweb.google.com/lowvillecarver...........for Bird, Deer & Flower
Photos from our house http://www.centuryinter.net/treasures/.........for my old
dated web site,still good stuff:


  




 
      
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