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<DIV>Sorry, a short rant:</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Too little, and much too late for any shred of dignity to adhere to the AWS
over this matter, no matter what kind of a pompous notice they write. The
release indicates an attitude that certainly wasn't in place when the first
photographer stood up. And no explanation? </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>I feel at the very least they owe their membership an explanation of
just how this one got by 'em, if not the public. I mean, did not one
of the judges have any doubt at all with regard to this? Didn't anyone
look at her other work and see an obvious, well, let me be diplomatic and say
'fascination with photographic style'? Judges bought into her
explanation, is that it? It took all these months to test the
painting/electronic submission? </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Vigilant for a violation of standards, yeah, right. This
organization has been retreating into fuddyism for many years, resting the
behind upon laurels rather than raising a hand to get watercolour some
dignity. Then, caught on said behind, this is the best it can do
-- sounds like the squawking of an elderly aunt.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>pat chapin</DIV>
<DIV><A href="http://www.patchapin.com">www.patchapin.com</A></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><B>From:</B> <A title=unkyjack@comcast.net
href="mailto:unkyjack@comcast.net">Jack Russell</A> </DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE
style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A title=aquanet@cleverwhiz.com
href="mailto:aquanet@cleverwhiz.com">'aquanet'</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Saturday, February 14, 2009 7:04
PM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> [Aquanet] AWS strips winner of
gold medal</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV class=Section1>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Some of you may recall that last
year’s winner of the American Watercolor Society gold medal, Sheryl Luxenburg,
had been accused of using photos taken by others – not her own original work –
as the source material for her winning painting. (There was also a question
about her submission being an electronic image rather than a painting.) It
looks like the AWS jury has passed judgment. Essentially, they’ve told
Luxenburg to give back the medal and prize money. The quite lengthy release,
below, apparently has gone to AWS members. It was posted today on an online
watercolor discussion board.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Jack<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">===================<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Verdana color=black size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">The American
Watercolor Society, Inc., (AWS) releases the following statement to the AWS
membership and the artist community about the withdrawal of 2008 Gold
Medal:<BR><BR>The controversy surrounding the American Watercolor Society’s
141st International Exhibition Gold Medal winner, “Impermanence,” by Canadian
artist Sheryl Luxenburg has been the subject of innumerable blogs, websites
and chat rooms worldwide for many months.<BR><BR>We sincerely appreciate all
those who contacted the society and respect all opinions expressed on this
issue. This dialogue has contributed to our understanding of the extent to
which the art community has taken an interest in the outcome of this issue as
it affects each artist and the respective art societies.<BR><BR>The American
Watercolor Society has been holding an annual juried exhibition of watercolors
from artists throughout the world for over 140 years. It was founded to
promote watercolor and support painters of the medium. The goal of the AWS has
always been to promote original art and it is against this backdrop that the
controversy first emerged.<BR><BR>The American Watercolor Society, like other
watercolor societies, has developed its eligibility requirements for entry
into the exhibition over the course of many years. Eligibility for entry is as
follows. “The Annual Exhibition is open to all artists working in water media
(watercolor, acrylic, casein, gouache, and egg tempera) on paper. No collage,
pastels, class work, copies, digital images or prints; original work only.
Maximum frame size is 44” in any direction. Image size limit is no smaller
than 10” x 14.” All paintings must be sturdily framed and have plastic glazing
(Plexiglas).<BR><BR>The requirements as contained in the prospectus as well as
the acceptance form are quite specific and leave no room for ambiguity. Upon
acceptance, the requirements are further emphasized by a disclaimer signed by
the artist stating that “The accompanying artwork is an original; not a copy
or likeness of another’s work, i.e. painting, drawing or
photograph.”<BR><BR>Our prospectus clearly informs artists of these
eligibility requirements which were designed to maintain high standards and to
focus on originality.<BR><BR>By establishing these requirements, the onus
rests with the artists to ensure compliance with the rules set forth. Each
artist is therefore free to accept or decline these conditions.<BR><BR>When it
was determined that Ms. Luxenburg’s entry violated our eligibility
requirements, the AWS requested that our Gold Medal and prize money be
returned. The Medal and prize money were returned, and Ms. Luxenburg has been
disqualified from entering any future AWS exhibitions.<BR><BR>Watercolors
accepted to our annual exhibitions reflect a wide variety of styles and
inventive handling of the medium and attest to the fact that innovation and
exploration are not only encouraged, but welcomed by the AWS.<BR><BR>The AWS
will continue to count on the integrity of artists entering our exhibition,
but in fairness to our own members and the art community in general, we will
remain vigilant for any violation of our standards. Any artist who is
determined to violate our entry procedure can expect a fair evaluation
initially, but if found to have done so, can expect a serious and permanent
final resolution.<BR>Statement released February
2009.</SPAN></FONT><o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P></DIV>
<P>
<HR>
<P></P>Aquanet mailing
list<BR>Aquanet@thedigitalbraintrust.net<BR>http://lists.thedigitalbraintrust.net/mailman/listinfo/aquanet<BR><BR>Check
out the Aquanet web
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