Today I was completely surprised, shocked, and then angered when I found out from one of my many amazing SecondLife friends that the founders and contest manager of the ARTISTS4SL group disqualified my artwork submission because - as I was told the reason given to her....
"...it did not meet the spirit of the contest"
So what the hell happened that a so-called art contest in SecondLife by a so-called art group called ARTISTS4SL would reject my art submission !!
"...it did not meet the spirit of the contest"
So what the hell happened that a so-called art contest in SecondLife by a so-called art group called ARTISTS4SL would reject my art submission !!
Well I want to first tell those of you that are reading this blog posting that I almost NEVER enter these kind of contests. Why don't I enter them? Two reasons: FIRST: Because I am not one that likes doing photoart of avatars and profile photo art. Its not that I can't do a pretty good job taking SL photos of avatars and artistically manipulating them. But avatar photos - clothed & nudes - have been done millions of times and in so many ways and by some amazing SL photo artists, that I couldn't think of a way I would add a unique inspiring perspective to this style of art in SL. SECOND: Any art contests whereby the winner is chosen by open public forms of voting as opposed to being judged by a pre-determined panel of qualified art judges is just a sham of an Art Contest. We all know that they are moreso popularity contests and not |
We all know that these open vote contests in SL are just popularity contests and not a legitimate way of promoting the best works in an art challenge. It also does not help the members of an art group like Artists4SL who's mandate is supposedly to help educate and ramp up beginner artists by showing what winning artworks on a theme would look like versus those that might need more aspects to their art. By promoting winning artworks simply based on the most votes because the artist has a large network, it confuses new artists.
BUT, despite my natural tendency of avoiding contests like this NUDES theme of ARTISTS4SL, something inspired me to take a shot at this contest by this group. The inspiration was because I got the idea that maybe I could blend a nude model pose in 2D format with my skills in 3D mesh modeling.
BUT, despite my natural tendency of avoiding contests like this NUDES theme of ARTISTS4SL, something inspired me to take a shot at this contest by this group. The inspiration was because I got the idea that maybe I could blend a nude model pose in 2D format with my skills in 3D mesh modeling.
So I recruited a lovely friend to model for me. She patiently posed for me for over an hour. Then I spent two days experimenting in my 3D modeling tool and photoshop to convert my SL photo into a surreal 3D looking portrait sculptured 2D photoart for this contest. The result is what you see to the left and it was called "ALL HE SEES". I contacted the organizer of the contest Jewell Wirefly on several occasions to understand how and where to register to be eligible to submit. I asked what I could and couldn't submit. I finally submitted, my work on the date (even though it was not ready that day). Very importantly, as a final step of the submission instructions from the contest boards, it told artist to now go out and tell all your friends about your art in the contest and get them to vote. |
As much as I don't agree with this "popularity" style of contest voting, it's what they promote so I played along and contacted a lot of my SecondLife, Flickr, Facebook, Koinup friends to look at my art and come vote for me. I said it was a free vote. After I sent out my request for their support, a few asked how many times they could vote. I went to ask Jewell again. She said only once but then dropped another undocumented bombshell on me... ONLY GROUP MEMBERS CAN VOTE. Again, this was not in any instructions or rule. But to show how lame the contest was, even though only group member votes count, they allowed anyone to vote and think that their votes actually counted. I told Jewell that it would be proper that she at least post this new rule near the board - which she did.
I had to tell my friends about this added rule to the voting and didn't expect any friends to vote knowing this. BUT my friends are so awesome that most of them joined the group and then voted to ensure their votes counted. In a matter of four days my art submission was far ahead of any of the other submissions - 57 where most didn't even break double digits!!
Then this morning when one of my friends went to vote, she was not able. She contacted Jewell to ask why she couldn't vote for this leading artwork. She was told by Jewell that she talked to the founder (whom I have to assume is JIMSLATER75 RESIDENT in SL and "artists4SL" in facebook) and they decided to disqualify the artwork because it was not in the spirit of the contest.
So basically I followed all the rules of this poorly structure lame art contest to a TEE and then because my popularity and that of my artwork were far greater than any of their other contestants, they quietly removed my art submission.
To add to the unprofessional manner of how this group's management operates, Jewell nor JimSlater nor anyone from the group even contacted me about their concerns or to inform me that they were removing my submission where I could have argued my defense.
I have removed my membership from this poorly operating unprofessional group. I have demanded they delete my submission from their board that they didn't even do. And I am updating all my notices in facebook, koinup, flickr, inworld SL, and this blog to tell all my art loving friends about what happened and how this group operates.
I personally want to apologize to all my friends for all the hassle and work I put them through to support me for nothing! I love you all for your deep strong support of my art!!
Toy
I had to tell my friends about this added rule to the voting and didn't expect any friends to vote knowing this. BUT my friends are so awesome that most of them joined the group and then voted to ensure their votes counted. In a matter of four days my art submission was far ahead of any of the other submissions - 57 where most didn't even break double digits!!
Then this morning when one of my friends went to vote, she was not able. She contacted Jewell to ask why she couldn't vote for this leading artwork. She was told by Jewell that she talked to the founder (whom I have to assume is JIMSLATER75 RESIDENT in SL and "artists4SL" in facebook) and they decided to disqualify the artwork because it was not in the spirit of the contest.
So basically I followed all the rules of this poorly structure lame art contest to a TEE and then because my popularity and that of my artwork were far greater than any of their other contestants, they quietly removed my art submission.
To add to the unprofessional manner of how this group's management operates, Jewell nor JimSlater nor anyone from the group even contacted me about their concerns or to inform me that they were removing my submission where I could have argued my defense.
I have removed my membership from this poorly operating unprofessional group. I have demanded they delete my submission from their board that they didn't even do. And I am updating all my notices in facebook, koinup, flickr, inworld SL, and this blog to tell all my art loving friends about what happened and how this group operates.
I personally want to apologize to all my friends for all the hassle and work I put them through to support me for nothing! I love you all for your deep strong support of my art!!
Toy