Fair quilt judging. No fair at all.
10-03-2017, 05:21 AM
#21
Super Member
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Sonoma County, CA
Posts: 4,299
I don't think fairs are the same as quilt shows and I wouldn't expect anything close to the same amount of judging. Fairs are strictly local things, and I would be surprised if any local fair paid actual quilt judges to review the entries. I'm sure it's a group of locals, who may or may not know the first thing about quilting. Even state fairs, I'm not sure if they get professional judges.
I think if you're a competitive person who enters your quilt in order to have it judged and win a ribbon, you probably are entering your quilt into the wrong venue if you put it in your local fair. On the other hand, if you're entering your quilt just to participate in the community and show off your handiwork, the fair is the right place.
I think I'd be disappointed if a show that used to be juried and judged went to the "everybody wins by participating" model but for a local fair? It seems more appropriate, especially if they're trying to increase entries.
I think if you're a competitive person who enters your quilt in order to have it judged and win a ribbon, you probably are entering your quilt into the wrong venue if you put it in your local fair. On the other hand, if you're entering your quilt just to participate in the community and show off your handiwork, the fair is the right place.
I think I'd be disappointed if a show that used to be juried and judged went to the "everybody wins by participating" model but for a local fair? It seems more appropriate, especially if they're trying to increase entries.
10-03-2017, 05:53 AM
#22
Super Member
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Central Wisconsin
Posts: 4,391
I was a quilt judge in a small county fair. We gave only blue or red ribbons to all with merit ribbons to those who deserved it. Not all categories got a merit ribbon and some got more than one. But entering a quilt in a judged show should be a learning experience, so we added comments to the tags. Even those with merit ribbons might have room for improvement or special feature that earned a comment. No money was given.
At another fair I entered, all quilts got a ribbon; blue, red or white. (Very few whites.) No comments were given but we got money. These were beautifully displayed on racks.
At another fair, only one blue, red, white or pink are awarded. No comments are given, but we got money. If you want to hear any comments you need to be there when they are judged. Then those quilts were folded and put behind glass doors in a cabinet.
At another fair I entered, all quilts got a ribbon; blue, red or white. (Very few whites.) No comments were given but we got money. These were beautifully displayed on racks.
At another fair, only one blue, red, white or pink are awarded. No comments are given, but we got money. If you want to hear any comments you need to be there when they are judged. Then those quilts were folded and put behind glass doors in a cabinet.
10-03-2017, 06:09 AM
#23
Power Poster
Join Date: May 2008
Location: MN
Posts: 24,522
It seems like there are two "standards" going here -
1) Best of whatever is shown - in which case if the options are poor, worse, and worst - poor would get the winning ribbon.
2) A comparison to a "standard" - that all, some, or none of the entries meet
1) Best of whatever is shown - in which case if the options are poor, worse, and worst - poor would get the winning ribbon.
2) A comparison to a "standard" - that all, some, or none of the entries meet
10-03-2017, 06:58 AM
#25
Super Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 9,608
It seems like judging in anything is very subjective, but the 'everybody wins" philosophy makes have a contest at all worthless.
10-03-2017, 08:39 AM
#27
Super Member
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 4,363
Our local fair has really good prize money surprisingly, and they do only give ribbons on merit, which I think is a good thing. If there is no quilt in a class worthy of a First place, then they will start with a Second or even with just giving out Honourable Mentions, in some cases.
Watson
Watson
10-03-2017, 10:26 AM
#28
Super Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 9,608
Our local fair has really good prize money surprisingly, and they do only give ribbons on merit, which I think is a good thing. If there is no quilt in a class worthy of a First place, then they will start with a Second or even with just giving out Honourable Mentions, in some cases.
Watson
Watson
10-03-2017, 01:12 PM
#29
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 947
I honestly don't understand competition and "showing" for quilts, particularly at a fair. It doesn't add to my happiness in my work to have a ribbon given it, and it doesn't detract for my satisfaction with my work to see someone else ranked better. So, to me, competition in something I do strictly for fun, makes no sense.
That said, I'm sorry you're disappointed with your fair experience. What would you have wanted to have happen to have felt that it was worth the effort of entering? In other words, what was your most favorable expectation?
That said, I'm sorry you're disappointed with your fair experience. What would you have wanted to have happen to have felt that it was worth the effort of entering? In other words, what was your most favorable expectation?
10-03-2017, 01:26 PM
#30
Super Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 1,789
OK I will be the dissenting voice. First off I have not entered anything in a fair since I was about 10.
At my local Fair, I have no idea who does the judging of the quilts. A first prize is given in every category, so if you are the only entry you win. That is okay by me, because the quilts are being judged against the other quilts, not a 'standard'. If there are more than three entries in a category then a first, second, third ribbon is given. There are far more quilts than ribbons.
My local fair is geared to celebrate home arts, photography, art, animal husbandry, riding skills, and logger sports. Whether judging a cake or a quilt, it is being judged against the other entries.
Now if I were to enter a quilt in a juried show, I would expect to be held to a higher standard. I would also expect there to be more competition. But you know, I love seeing 'beginner' quilts as well as the incredible works of art. For me that makes quilting and displaying in a quilt show more approachable. The local fairs are very approachable and are often an entry point to people to gain confidence to display in a big show.
At my local Fair, I have no idea who does the judging of the quilts. A first prize is given in every category, so if you are the only entry you win. That is okay by me, because the quilts are being judged against the other quilts, not a 'standard'. If there are more than three entries in a category then a first, second, third ribbon is given. There are far more quilts than ribbons.
My local fair is geared to celebrate home arts, photography, art, animal husbandry, riding skills, and logger sports. Whether judging a cake or a quilt, it is being judged against the other entries.
Now if I were to enter a quilt in a juried show, I would expect to be held to a higher standard. I would also expect there to be more competition. But you know, I love seeing 'beginner' quilts as well as the incredible works of art. For me that makes quilting and displaying in a quilt show more approachable. The local fairs are very approachable and are often an entry point to people to gain confidence to display in a big show.
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