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The amazing Claire Wendling's Call For Entries poster for Spectrum 23. |
"The incomparable Spectrum volumes have for so long now been the pinnacle of achievement in imaginative artwork, they need no encomia. Every artist with serious intent and a jot of talent aspires to inclusion, and each displays that inclusion like some Medeival prince bearing an unfurled banner. May it flutter forever."
—Harlan Ellison
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Bastien Lecoufe Deharme's cover for Spectrum 22. |
Everything that increases the recognition and appreciation of the artists and our field is a positive and that's precisely what John's additions have accomplished. Everything that heightens the concept of a fantastic art community has value.
Because it is Community that's at the core of Spectrum, as it always has been, Spectrum is family. There are divisive folks who feign support for artists while simultaneously picking their pockets: that's not Spectrum. Spectrum has always given back, to the many not the select few. As I mentioned earlier with regards to the Society of Illustrators, what Spectrum has tried to do for the last twenty years [now 23] is add to the conversation, not dominate it, not to take it over. It's an attempt to bring all artists with an interest in fantastic art together, regardless of methodology or philosophy, with the goal to help broaden the market and overall appreciation for what they do. To increase networking and educational opportunities, to help provide a welcoming sense of place, without artificial class barriers, prejudice, or pretension.
There has been fussing through the years about the increase and inclusion of digital art, fussing about the trend of 'dark art,' [most recently, fussing about the idea of art awards and art annuals and even the existence of SFAL], fussing about…well, you name it, somebody has fussed about it. But that's the nature of being inclusive: not everyone is happy about everything all the time. But there's strength for our community when we're unified under a single banner; it's too easy, far too tempting, to splinter off into like-minded hives formed under specious definitions and arbitrary criteria. Spectrum's view has never wavered in [twenty-three] years: art is art and all artists are equal. It doesn't matter how they create or what they use or where they're from: Spectrum is a home.
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Donato's painting heralds the new location (and new Spectrum logo) |
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Quixotic Fusion's performance for the SFAL1 Awards Ceremony |