THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, June 15, 1994 TAG: 9406140148
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 08 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY MARLENE FORD, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: 940615 LENGTH: Long
They're officially the Standards Committee of the Boardwalk Art Show.
{REST} More familiarly, they're the ``art police,'' and their beat is 15 hard, blistering, concrete blocks of the Boardwalk.
``Palette patrol,'' ``culture cops.''
The once-a-year, volunteer squad members aren't picky about titles, just serious about their work. Starting Thursday they'll be in full force (total of three) and armed (No. 45 sunblock) for the 39th annual outdoor show.
For four days, June 16 through 19, the Boardwalk Art Show presents the works of 400 artists exhibiting and selling original paintings, wood and stone sculpture, jewelry, hand-woven clothing, ceramics, photographs and other fine crafts. Set along the oceanfront from 18th to 32nd streets, the hours are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily. Admission is free.
``Our job is to make sure that the art exhibited is up to the standards of the work the artists were juried in on,'' Leonette Adler said. Adler has had nine years' experience pounding the pavement for the sake of art.
Stephena Runyan, a rookie with two years' committee experience, added, ``We're there to maintain the high quality of the show.''
The entire committee is composed of Adler, chairman of the art department of Norfolk Academy and Best-In-Show Winner of the first Boardwalk Art Show; Runyan, coordinator of fine arts for city public schools; and Cindy Moneta, fine arts chairperson at the new Ocean Lakes High School and art instructor at the Virginia Beach Center for the Arts. Moneta is also a two-year veteran of the force. All three are working artists.
Each individually scrutinizes the entire show three or four times every day in their plain clothes guise. Adler tops her outfit with a head-to-nose hat, all three are slathered in sunblock and Moneta and Runyan sport bathing suits.
``About 90 percent of the people on the Boardwalk are in bathing suits,'' Runyan said. ``Who notices us?'' Moneta, whose only ``cover'' last summer was a bikini, agreed. ``But I suppose if we have anything like a badge, it's our clipboards.''
Quality is what they're about, according to Sharon Banks, special projects director for the arts center. With good reason: the local tradition is one of the oldest outdoor fine arts shows on the East Coast. It was also recently selected by Sunshine Artist magazine as the 48th best fine art event selected nationwide from similar shows.
The Center for the Arts pre-juries and accepts the work of each artist by slides. Once the show opens the standards committee makes certain that exhibits are true to that pre-judging in media and artistry. Everything in the show must be original and created by the applicant. Even a photo identification is required with the registration to be sure the artist accompanies his work.
``No commercially produced or photochemically reproduced work is permitted - and this takes technical skill to see the difference. All wearable items must be completely handmade - no paintings on Hanes T-shirts,'' Banks said, elaborating on a printed list.
And when, for example, some artist enters in the medium of painting, then tries to sell something like earrings, too, it's a clear ``911'' for the committee. No jewelry on the application; the artist has two hours to remove the baubles or him or herself.
Adler added, ``One time I thought, wow, this painter was so versatile - he had five completely different styles. Then I saw a whole stack of canvases behind his booth. He was stretching and framing, so I knew he was a jobber with other people's works.''
Sometimes an artist is miffed when asked to make a correction, but usually just removes the work that isn't appropriate.
Adler said, ``We're appreciated by the artists. We're not a threat, but a familiar face. They want this to continue to be a show of high standards. And if we can help them in other ways - where to park, who to call at the arts center for information, good restaurants - we do.''
While none of the standards committee art police gets hazardous duty pay, all agree the stint takes its toll. ``I love it,'' Runyan said. ``It's four days of professional growth and a four-day adrenaline high. But when it's over, I feel like a very large piece of machinery has rolled over me.''
Grinning, Moneta concluded, ``It can be dangerous. Some of the artists are armed - squirt guns.''
by CNB