THIS YEAR'S JUROR

The Shed Research Institute (SRI) will organize this year's exhibition, as a part of the Fair Exchange exhibition curated by Irene Tsatsos at the Millard Sheets Gallery.

Under the direction of artist Jeff Cain, the SRI is an organization that produces site-specific cultural projects. These projects have been presented on-location internationally in public and community spaces as well as at local art institutions such as the Getty Center and Los Angeles Contemporary Exhibitions.

Historically, the annual New Photography Exhibition has been a constant independent success between the community members that produce the work and the community that attends. It is curious why an outside juror needs to mediate the strong connection between photographers and their audiences.

This year, the SRI will not only make an open call for works but an open call for judging. The SRI has organized a system so that the audience can select the winning works through online selection. All images will be digitally submitted and the judgment of what photographs will be physically exhibited will be up to the open call of online judges.

The SRI's goal for Utopia! is to bring artists and viewers closer together by facilitating discussion and participation from both and as a result to organize a compelling exhibition without being the arbiter of taste.