Name: Donna Ridgway Time: 2008-05-26 09:05:53
Comment: I was one of the artists invited to participate in this show. In all photos of the show, one of my five paintings was seen displayed still wearing green painter's tape across the front of the painting. After making a special point to call Ms Barton and ask her to remove the tape, it was never done. I had used the painters tape to affix my price tag to the front of the painting as she had specified in her pre show directions.

My one painting sat upon a cement and straw covered floor, leaning against a straw bale. After I was promised this would be a "World Class Show" I was very disappointed. Nothing about this show was run professionally.

We sent our work to this show, according to the prospectus, with return labels printed, fed ex accounts set up for ease of artwork return, and complete packing instructions in the boxes.

At one point, I had considered sending my work on to other shows with this promoter, but when I saw photos of the 2008 Cow Palace show, I called and emailed both, asking for my work to be immediately returned after the show. It came home 5 weeks later, after it had been transported all around California.

My return labels were not used, my work came home in another artist's packing box. The painting that was displayed was not damaged, but it was covered with a thick layer of corral dust. The packages were full of straw and packing materials were dirty.

That is my experience of this show.

I also do not think the judging was fair as so much of the work did not ever get out of packing boxes.

Name: Sharon Prestegard Time: 2008-05-22 10:05:57
Comment: As an artist who submitted artwork to this show, and because my name is mentioned in the article above, please note that I do not endorse working with Deena Barton as an art show coordinator. Understanding that she was new to this undertaking, I could forgive the lack of professionalism and organization. However, her lack of responsibility (and blaming others for it), her disrespect of artists and lack of regard for our work, and mostly her unreliable word make it impossible for me to trust ever working with her again. I disagree with the article stating that this GNAS art show was a "success". With respect to all of the wonderful artists and the quality and caliber of the artwork that was submitted, I personally feel the awards are meaningless and a misrepresentation of a fair competition. This is not the sort of "success" I want my name on.
Respectfully,
Sharon Prestegard

Name: Debbie Flood Time: 2008-05-22 09:05:21
Comment: I too was a participating artist with 5 works of art at this show.
I was feeling so led astray by the show coordinators puffed up words about how this was going to be a "World Class" show, after seeing the photos of one of my Oil Paintings leaning against a hay bale with non of my other work displayed anywhere near it. Nor was my business cards or framed Biography anywhere near.
After a month of getting help to get my art returned to me, the art was filthy with a thick layer of brown dirt. I had shipped 4 airfloat boxes with only one containing 2 of my 5 paintings. When I had 3 paintings and 3 boxes left to be shipped to me, I got One of my airfloats with 3 paintings stacked inside it, and the box damaged because of the negligence packing, and the other airfloat came along with it, empty. My 3rd box was found at the Cow Palace, empty, it is being returned to me as I type this.
Deena Barton shows to me that she has no idea how art is packed and shipped or how to organize an art show and is very smooth with her words.
I too fell for the GNAS, I have stopped payment on that check and will not be a part of any future shows or Exhibits where these people are involved.
The article posted here, reads to be more fluff, like all the words we got about the Cow Palace show.
I have not heard one good thing from anyone about this show, other than Mym and Ms. Barton.

Also, They allowed a 'painting horse' to display art work to be out on display and a part of the judging of the humans artwork! Yes, a real horse that paints. Artists have enough of a struggle to make it in the art world, with competing against a horse!

Sadly & disappointed,
Debbie Flood

Name: Juliet Harrison Time: 2008-05-22 09:05:21
Comment: I too am an artist who had work at the ill-fated show at the Cow Palace. As the other have said....the artwork there was truly of the highest quality. The running of the show was of the lowest. The show director and her assistants were incapable of running a show of this caliber. The displayed the work with little respect for the value of the work both aesthetic or monetary. Since the closing of the show, they have been rude, uncommunicative, evasive, and irresponsible. I would caution all artists considering doing a show in the future with these people to seriously reconsider. Find venues where you and your work are respected.

Name: ksantini Time: 2008-05-22 06:05:47
Comment: I, too, am an artist who participated in this show. Deena Barton repeatedly demonstrated a lack of professionalism and disrespect for the artists, their work, and the history of this exhibition. There were gross disparities between Ms Barton’s pre-exhibition documentation and the actual event, including but not limited to the duration of the show itself and security measures. Unpacked crates were used as display items, artwork was displayed leaning haphazardly against all objects available. Artwork was displayed at floor level and in a manner that risked its well being. Judging occurred regardless of the fact that the artwork was not all unpacked (nor was it ever) – at least one of the judges was aware of this fact. Unpacked artwork and return shipping materials were stored in a stall near a source of running water. A good percentage of the artwork was removed from the venue at the end of the exhibition, many pieces without their original packaging, and taken by Ms Barton to private residences. This was done without the artists permission. Ms Barton has supplied no sales figures for the show, claims no internet access, and does not return phone calls. 6 plus weeks after the close of the show, many artists do not know the whereabouts of their work (I am one of them, missing for 7 paintings), nor can they get a straightforward answer from Ms Barton as to where their art is and when they can expect it returned. The 2008 Grand National Art Show and Sale was a disgrace, and for anyone to present it otherwise further discolors the stellar reputation that this show had earned in prior years.

Name: Jodi Time: 2008-05-21 09:05:49
Comment: I was an artist at the Grand National Art Show and Sale and I was very disappointed and saddened by this event considering the time and money I personally put into this show. Don’t get me wrong, the artwork and the artists were AMAZING!! Top quality art but the coordinator of the show was very disorganized! If Deena Barton was so overwhelmed she should have hired people to help out, heck even students would have helped ease her workload if that was the problem.

As artists we all had very high hopes for this show. All artists were promised the display of 5 works of art. Most artists did not have 5 art works on display. Some artists even pulled their art out of the show as it was that bad. Some did not have any artwork displayed at all. The hay was so dusty many art works had gotten very dirty. Artists take a lot time and effort making sure their works is clean and perfect but to be displayed on hay was horrifying for some. The coordinator completely does not understand why so many artists are angry.

Many artists are very angry as the show was very unprofessional. One work was even damaged but was put in the show anyway, this artist was very embarrassed by that.
Most all of the artists invited to be apart of the Grand National Art Society are demanding their money back as they no longer want to be a apart of such bad organization, unprofessionalism and lack of care for their art works. Any other artist should beware. I have been very patient through this whole thing and giving a bad review is the LAST thing I ever wanted to do but it is the truth. I have been very saddened by this whole mess as I had high hopes for the GNAS as well but to many things have gone wrong, I have lost trust, and the lack of communication from the president of the GNAS just sealed the fate of my having left also.
Thank you for considering adding my comment.

Very sad Regards,
Jodi

Name: M. Heed Time: 2008-05-21 08:05:39
Comment: The artwork was "world class"--simply beautiful, but, the show was not. The artwork was poorly displayed, exremely cramped with much of it well below eye level, as in sitting on the floor or on hay bales. It appeared as if the "world class" show was in a barn. The people running the show didn't seem to want to talk to prospective buyers and sometimes couldn't even be found.

Name: kathy Lewis Time: 2008-05-21 08:05:35
Comment: Glad the show was a success! How come us artists dont know the sales figures then?
Any information would be REALLY appreciated!

Name: Susan Fox Time: 2008-05-21 06:05:02
Comment: This show was so unprofessional that I removed my work from it. The article is extremely misleading.