Whatever floats your boat...
Waiting, Judging, Volunteerism
I've been waiting for a big job since April. Thought I would start this monday..Now they want drawings. I don't draw well. So I'm cooking and blogging today.
I was the county fair judge for childrens' painting the other day. It was my first time judging for this agricultural organization. They have their own language and system. I was intimidated by the paperwork and the fact that I would have to interview each child about their piece.
They decided to give me a high strung mother volunteer (who admitted to no art involvement or background) to help me with the paperwork and award system. I needed her, but soon couldn't stand her.
I had five categories of paintings to judge. I was to interview each child and then check off a series of observations. For instance, did they learn something from the project?, do they conduct themselves well? technique, creativity, presentation.
Then I was to award each of them a Blue, Red, or White ribbon. ( The head told us judges that the show was 90% Blue, and she had only seen 10 white ribbons for art in 30 years). She herself, had been awarded a white for her muffin at 9 years of age because it was browned around the edges. It still hurts her.
After awarding each child in a category, I was then to give 1st through 5th place for that catagory.
So the way I understood it..The first ribbon is the artist competing against self. The second ribbon was competing with others. Capiche?
The kids were great! We had intelligent conversation, some laughs, etc. My volunteer broke in after the 3rd child to tell me I was spending too much time talking with them about their work.
"We only have til 4:00"
"What time is it now?"
"2: 30."
Her eyes wandered to my black bra strap. I have bra issues. As long as they aren't both hanging down I feel presentable.
My eyes wandered up to her out-of-date hair. A hairdresser friend of mine told me that women who stick to an out-of-date trend are trying to capture the time they had the best sex. -I wish he had never told me that.
She began to question my awards. I gave more reds than she was comfortable with. I gave them to older kids, 15-18. I explained clearly and concisly and encouragingly, "why" to each kid. Then wasted more time explaining to her.
Shouldn't blue mean something? And..aren't I the freaking judge?
She dissappeared and then came back with a painting that had been mistakenly judged by someone else in the wrong category. It had a blue ribbon attached to it. I told her that I would not have given the piece a blue. She told me that it could not be re-judged. She hung it up. I had reds on pieces next to it that were far superior.
At one point madam hairdo informed me that this maybe the first art project that many of these kids had ever done. I nodded. In my mind, I thought about the cows and fat hogs competing in the barn next door. It's nothing for the parents of these same kids to drive across the country with a trailor that costs more than my house to spend tens of thousands on a winning cow, or sperm. Nobody shows shit stock in the ring...But art? Who cares....Blue ribbons for everyone.
There was a 16 year old girl who had an intriguing painting. It was the most original by far, but it had technical and presentation problems. The organization seemed to have a lot of emphasis on following directions and behavior. (tell that to caravaggio). So according to the interview and their check-off sheet I gave her a red. When it came time to judge her piece against the others in her category, I wanted to place her 3rd.
"You can't do that!" Chirped madam hairdo.
"Why?"
" You can't place a piece with red ahead of the other blues in the catagory."
"Why not? They are two different awards, with separate messages."
"Those are our by-laws. Besides, many people from the fair will come to look and they will think you are unfair"
"Ridiculous. I will not return next year."
"That's okay!" She said with some satisfaction as she turned her back to me.
I left feeling bad for the girl who should have placed. I left wondering if volunteerism..So touted and encouraged...is part of what makes this part of the country so mediocre, ignorant, and backward.
*While blogging I have burnt the edges of Mr, Flophouse's meatloaf..White ribbon"
I was the county fair judge for childrens' painting the other day. It was my first time judging for this agricultural organization. They have their own language and system. I was intimidated by the paperwork and the fact that I would have to interview each child about their piece.
They decided to give me a high strung mother volunteer (who admitted to no art involvement or background) to help me with the paperwork and award system. I needed her, but soon couldn't stand her.
I had five categories of paintings to judge. I was to interview each child and then check off a series of observations. For instance, did they learn something from the project?, do they conduct themselves well? technique, creativity, presentation.
Then I was to award each of them a Blue, Red, or White ribbon. ( The head told us judges that the show was 90% Blue, and she had only seen 10 white ribbons for art in 30 years). She herself, had been awarded a white for her muffin at 9 years of age because it was browned around the edges. It still hurts her.
After awarding each child in a category, I was then to give 1st through 5th place for that catagory.
So the way I understood it..The first ribbon is the artist competing against self. The second ribbon was competing with others. Capiche?
The kids were great! We had intelligent conversation, some laughs, etc. My volunteer broke in after the 3rd child to tell me I was spending too much time talking with them about their work.
"We only have til 4:00"
"What time is it now?"
"2: 30."
Her eyes wandered to my black bra strap. I have bra issues. As long as they aren't both hanging down I feel presentable.
My eyes wandered up to her out-of-date hair. A hairdresser friend of mine told me that women who stick to an out-of-date trend are trying to capture the time they had the best sex. -I wish he had never told me that.
She began to question my awards. I gave more reds than she was comfortable with. I gave them to older kids, 15-18. I explained clearly and concisly and encouragingly, "why" to each kid. Then wasted more time explaining to her.
Shouldn't blue mean something? And..aren't I the freaking judge?
She dissappeared and then came back with a painting that had been mistakenly judged by someone else in the wrong category. It had a blue ribbon attached to it. I told her that I would not have given the piece a blue. She told me that it could not be re-judged. She hung it up. I had reds on pieces next to it that were far superior.
At one point madam hairdo informed me that this maybe the first art project that many of these kids had ever done. I nodded. In my mind, I thought about the cows and fat hogs competing in the barn next door. It's nothing for the parents of these same kids to drive across the country with a trailor that costs more than my house to spend tens of thousands on a winning cow, or sperm. Nobody shows shit stock in the ring...But art? Who cares....Blue ribbons for everyone.
There was a 16 year old girl who had an intriguing painting. It was the most original by far, but it had technical and presentation problems. The organization seemed to have a lot of emphasis on following directions and behavior. (tell that to caravaggio). So according to the interview and their check-off sheet I gave her a red. When it came time to judge her piece against the others in her category, I wanted to place her 3rd.
"You can't do that!" Chirped madam hairdo.
"Why?"
" You can't place a piece with red ahead of the other blues in the catagory."
"Why not? They are two different awards, with separate messages."
"Those are our by-laws. Besides, many people from the fair will come to look and they will think you are unfair"
"Ridiculous. I will not return next year."
"That's okay!" She said with some satisfaction as she turned her back to me.
I left feeling bad for the girl who should have placed. I left wondering if volunteerism..So touted and encouraged...is part of what makes this part of the country so mediocre, ignorant, and backward.
*While blogging I have burnt the edges of Mr, Flophouse's meatloaf..White ribbon"
Views: 8
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Comment by Jay1p on November 14, 2008 at 11:04am
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Screw the meatloaf. From what I've read so far you have a blue ribbon blog. RSS material for sure.
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