A new Saatchi Gallery Showdown is open and accepting submissions. For the next two weeks, artists can submit their strongest work in our Showdown Competition. The winner and runner up will be installed at the Saatchi Gallery in London. The winner will also receive $1000 and the runner up will receive $500. Enter now:
http://www.saatchionline.com/showdown/add/showdown/4
The entry period for Showdown SCOPE New York is over and now is your chance to vote on the strongest work. We had over 5100 entries and we need your help to select the four winners who will have their work installed at the Saatchi Booth at the SCOPE Art Show New York (plus $500 each). The SCOPE Art Fair runs March 2-6, 2011. Vote:
Thank you. Too generous!
The trouble with showdown is that it is just a popularity contest and the winners are ones with the most friends. Why don’t you have some reputable person jury these things. Although, with over 5000 entries I doubt if any one in their right mind would agree to such an onerous task.
I have to agree with John, but too true, how to go about it?
I totally agree with John, and find it most uncomfortable when asked to vote for a particular piece of work. Voting is then based more on loyalty than preference…
The credibility and respect felt for a number of VIP fairs and online galleries where artists´work is protected and respected by the obligation to pay to see his work , it is not seen here. This page looks more like a super market where the artist of the week, month , day , second, showdwon here and showdown there shows his work for free. Please Mr. Saatchi, do not let us down and reduce the group, however hard this may be for many.
Dear Maria,
I have an appreciation for the democratic frenzy of this seemingly overcrowded process. I am not affraid of sharing space with other artists. The idea of art is not for the priviliged few. As well, the beauty (even of art) is in the eye of the beholder; therefore, who is more qualified than the general public to judge art? Phony “experts”, perhaps?
Further more, everyone, who creates anything, should have an accessible forum to promote their ideas; if you look closely, you may gain a true appreciation for art. I have witnessed feeble, practically blind “experts” assessing art, pronouncing it genuine or fake, valuable or valueless with one blind side glance – how about that? Do you own any art works judged in that manner?
At one of my exhibitions I was told by one observer pointing at my painting that “people like that (meaning the old little me) should be forbidden to paint”. Why?
Hmmm.. did I get upset? No, the next visitor pointed at the same painting and proclaimed “I want three of those”. She could not have “three of those”, there was only one original, of course.
I grew up in society in which artists had been made or destroyed by the power of state, let’s not let anyone go there again.
So sorry, but I don’t totally agree with the comments above. Perhaps the first bracket should be bigger as then maybe that would be fairer. Bringing in a “Jury” will be just another persons preference. How many times have we been to Juried Shows or Art Fairs and liked all the work? Perhaps when you become the artist of the “week, month, day, second” you won’t say that this site is like a “supermarket”.
Honesty is always best…….I’m afraid in this sort of competition it fails to exist. I call on all artists not to be sucked into false pretence.
@Maria,
What are you doing here in our little supermarket then?
And I assume from your tone that you do not count yourself in the “many” that you speak of. Who will reduce the group?
You perhaps?
I wish there was a like button, well said Agota!
I’d like to say a word on behalf of Maria here… first, ” … in our little supermarket…” ?! Since when it became your?! This site is for everyone including Maria and if she called it a “supermarket” it’s her rights to do so!
Besides, she raised a legitimate concern i.e. how to avoid a so called “friendly, facebook-based” voting.. Look at the “Connections” of those who win this “popularity contest” called Showdown… they all have from 20 to 70 pages with “friends”…aren’t you tired of all those people who’s ready to befriend anybody just to get an extra vote!!
Yes Maria did refer to this site as a “super market”. Yes she has raised a “legitimate concern” and yes she has a right to say what she wants – but so do we. We are free to “friend” as many artist as we wish on this site. Some may have all these friends, but how do you know that all of their friends are voting for them…..Perhaps you can tell us why you have two accounts. I’m sure there are not two “Edward Sky Brandt’s” in Sweden! What concerns me today is why can someone upload the same image on the hour? Can this be stopped I wonder?
I have two accounts because one came from old Saatchionline site, I do not know how that happened, I personally didn’t do anything it just appeared when I opened a new one here and I can’t delete it because I can’t log in onto it! I can only see my images but can do nothing about it!!
nobody said you’re not free to do or say whatever you want… but don’t get upset when others do the same!
You need to chill out and read carefully what people say
Agota Molnar wrote “… our little supermarket…” that’s why I said what I said – I don’t like when people include me into something without my consent. This is a site for me as well as for anyone and we are all have different opinions and that means that you cannot speak for everyone by saying “our”
And do you really will try to convince anyone that someone who has no “friends” stand a chance against the one who has “hundreds”???!!!
I am chilled and I’m not upset. The sun is shining and I’m having a good day. You’re not actually making a lot of sence and a bit contradictory with your comments. As this site is worldwide there are a lot of cultural differences and broken English written on these forums, so people may get upset for no reason. Have you heard of the “Royal We”. If so, you would understand when Agota said “our”.
I’m really glad that you’re having a good day and feeling fine, I really do! Wish you many more of such days!
… perhaps we’ll become friends by then 
Sorry if I didn’t make much sense for you… next time I’ll do better
P.S. IDM the royal “we” means ( the use of “we” by king or queen to refer to himself or herself ) according to the Oxford dictionary.
I was being sardonic Edward by saying “our supermarket”. I don’t see this website as a supermarket as Maria sees it. I was merely highlighting how shall I say, what a put down calling it a supermarket is. By saying that it is ours, I was simply stating the truth: this is OUR forum.
While she raised legitimate concerns (if you look at my other posts in other articles I too raise similar concerns) I object to her tone and what she implies. Namely that some are not deserving and that they should be culled from the group. While yes, she is entitled to her opinion I feel that it is very elitist and somehow implies that she and a select few are more deserving to be here than others.
When she writes: ” Please Mr. Saatchi, do not let us down and reduce the group, however hard this may be for many”, may I state for the record, I do not count myself in this group she speaks for. Everyone deserves to be here.
Read my other posts and you will understand where I stand with the friend collecting and vote whoring issue.
Hope that clarifies my position Edward.
Dear Agota,
Thank you for writing.. I do understand your position on this whole issue with voting.. I never questioned that – I simply objected to your freely use of the word “our” which in this case meant all of us ( 70 000 or so… because you couldn’t possibly know what all of us think about it ) but that’s not a problem, not at all! I merely, just like you did, voiced my opinion and meant no disrespect whatsoever! ( in case if you took it that way? )
Thank you and have a good day!
http://www.saatchionline.com/showdown/match/showdown/3/artist/71619/art/1142057
Just want to see if anyone can vote on this piece? I have not been able to get the link out on this for people to vote. I’d like someone to explain the link for people to vote on work…..it doesn’t seem to work…
To vote you have to have an account with Saatchi Online………
Nice approach.
Yes, “nice approach”. Perhaps try to upload the same image every hour like some other people do to get noticed….
And so much for not being allowed submit the same artwork for consecutive Showdowns. I have seen many that were there last time. They just simply upload the new image again and resubmit for the new Showdown.
Where can I find a doctor that does a moral-ectomy?
Damn morals and sense of fairness! Keeps getting in my way in life
I’m really glad that you’re having a good day and feeling fine, I really do! Wish you many more of such days!
… perhaps we’ll become friends by then 
Sorry if I didn’t make much sense for you… next time I’ll do better
P.S. IDM the royal “we” means ( the use of “we” by king or queen to refer to himself or herself ) according to the Oxford dictionary.
i wish there was a possibility when voting to exclude pieces from poping out for you when you don’t like them at all. this way there are many pieces coming back to you wich you are trying to skip.
The voting system is not very random. I have been voting and have untold times had the one image pop up up to 4 or 5 times in a row.
For piece two appear TWICE in a row, the probability is 1 in 5120.
For a piece to randomly appear THREE times in a row of 5120 entries, is a 1 in 26,214,440 chance. Yes that is over 26 MILLION chance.
And so on and so forth.
As I said, I have seen it with multitudes of individual artworks.
I would hardly call that random with those probabilities.
I had problems with that too, how can an image pop up 3 times in a row? I wish I could just go to a section for say for sculpture and vote. That has more of an interest then the other work like painting ect… Just my own taste. Anyhow having an account does seem to solve the other issues on voting.
I’m sorry to say this voting system is rigged…There is no possible way I can be seeing the same images appear daily for voting with over 5000 pieces to view at random….Come on Saatchi, make a fair system or why even bother with a so called showdown.
joseph f / jfilak (I’m guessing you are the one and the same)Do you really think Saatchi is reading this? Yes the voting system is wobbly, but is it not fun to be part of this?
You are unhappy with your vote? Feel grumpy, but not sure if THEY were unfair? Wanna compare with others and realise that your work did not THAT bad? Find out!
So, let others share your pity! It only takes a tiny little courageousness. Let’s call it a COLLABORATIVE work of ART. Share your position on Twitter like I did! Use the tag #CurrentShowdownStanding on your tweet and here it is: http://twitter.com/#!/search?q=%23CurrentShowdownStanding
And then we can talk about ART and discuss what piece should win.
Thanks for your support!
I have tried to use the link for people to vote for me or not but it doen’t work.
I hear that one need to register to vote……this is wrong and too complicated
Regards YVES HERNOT
What John said I can totally understand and I believe as many more people the very same.
Please show more respect toward artists they spend a lot of their time in front of their works.
One way I can see what John says would be more fair is as follows -.
You seem to have judges who have ten choices each in the magazine, find more, as I am fully sure you know a lot of them around the world,
So if you have 20 judges and 5000 pieces to judge that is 250 pieces each.
Then each judge could choose 50 pieces each from only 250 artist’s works.
Then swap those 50 choices around amongst your judges who then can choose 25 each.
Then again swap the pieces amongst them to choose 10 each.
Then again until 1 each, this then leaves only 20 works of art.
Then let these judges choose the last 2 or so out of that 20, but leave the final to be voted for by the members as it would be harder to know who they are.
http://www.saatchionline.com/showdown/match/showdown/4/artist/176196/art/1170081
For once I agree with the voting results ( NY showdown ); all four works are excellent and truly deserved to win! I’ve voted from the beginning all the way through for at lest two of them, cool that both have been chosen! Congratulation to all winners!
p.s. I still think that due to a so called “friendly” voting many interesting works are being pushed aside, so to speak. ( I don’t include myself into that category ) Why not to do away with a link? Or why not to display submitted works anonymously, without artist’s name just a title and a description, at list for the first round? Let the work speak for itself.
SHOWDOWN: Saatchi on line needs a selection process. Works in any media should be approved before they end up in the competitions.
This would upgrade the standard. Otherwise I feel Saatchi on line offers good coverage for one whom wishes to show a large amount of works.
I believe this showdowns are deterioting Saatchi Image.A good friend of me who is a very well knowed painter worldwide went (as a test,on mine request) into the last showdown and finished:3543!!!!…This is only one exemple.Saatchi should stop doing this stupid thinks.You will end up with high mediocrity,damaging your Image.Some galleries here in Paris are shocked when opening a virtual site at Art Paris.You should review your strategy when it comes to this showdowns.
Good luck
Gerard
Stop whining. I don’t think this Showdown is useful, but it is as it is. At least sometimes I get nice comments from other artists, so for me it is worth it.
For your friend and all those who are not satisfied with their ranking here is something to cheer you up:
http://tinyurl.com/32a32w (from the Washington Post)
How can this be possible!
I got a work at the showdown “art paris” and the results that follows, are:
789 out of 3777 entries, tuesday, 2011-03-08, 09:03 pm
807 out of 3777 entries, tuesday, 2011-03-08, 09:22 pm 786 out of 3777 entries, tuesday, 2011-03-08, 09:39 pm
782 out of 3777 entries, tuesday, 2011-03-08, 11:26 pm
908 out of 3777 entries, wensday, 2011-03-09, 01:05 am
915 out of 3777 entries, wensday, 2011-03-09, 09:43 am
1049 out of 3777 entries, wensday, 2011-03-09, 00:20 pm
1054 out of 3777 entries, wensday, 2011-03-09. 00:22 pm
Can anyone explain?
How can this be possible!
I got a work at the showdown “art paris” and the results that follows, are:
789 out of 3777 entries, tuesday, 2011-03-08, 09:03 pm
807 out of 3777 entries, tuesday, 2011-03-08, 09:22 pm
786 out of 3777 entries, tuesday, 2011-03-08, 09:39 pm
782 out of 3777 entries, tuesday, 2011-03-08, 11:26 pm
908 out of 3777 entries, wensday, 2011-03-09, 01:05 am
915 out of 3777 entries, wensday, 2011-03-09, 09:43 am
1049 out of 3777 entries, wensday, 2011-03-09, 00:20 pm
1054 out of 3777 entries, wensday, 2011-03-09. 00:22 pm
Can anyone explain?
Santamaria – is this your 1st showdown? Are you voting for other works?
Do you have a lot of friends? Are you emailing everyone on this site for votes? Are you getting everyone you know including your grandma to vote? If you said yes to the last three questions you have a shot at being in the top 128.
Hi Saatcharians!
Im new to the Saatchi experience and although exciting as it is to enter a showdown and watch your favour grow, I can’t help but think that something isn’t quite right. I understand and appreciate that this site is open to just about anyone and that people can upload and enter their work but is the voting system working properly? How does it work and is it fair?
People (including myself on occasion) have taken to asking friends to boost ratings which i think is fine but asking non-friends is a bit cheeky, shouldn’t your work speak for itself?
Some say that its what you make it and others say ‘don’t take it too seriously’. I have to ask the question, “What is art?” Ive seen (in my opinion) some phenomenal work miss the finals and some (imo) shockers get through. Just how subjective is art? is it 100% subjective? Is it about fashions? Has it all been done?
Please be constructive, I’m not trying to ruin, but simply trying to realise ;o)
I have not entered into any of the competitions.
I have ‘liked’ and befriended many other artist on this site because I liked their work, not for voting purposes. I would vote for another artist work only if I liked it and not for any other reason. I have seen some amazing artwork here!
Hello Everyone!
Besides, I adore Mr Saatchi and his humour and am glad to be a tiny part of his world. now if only he gets to view my art.. I wonder if it will take his fancy? *grins*.
Years ago, a staff of Saatchi wrote to me asking me to enter my art works on the saatchi uk gallery online site which I did. So I should be feeling flattered to be asked to join back then. (sadly I had to rejoin as my web site died and they could not contact me for renewal and my page was closed down)
I tend to stay away from popularity voting too because I can’t be bothered myself to beg for people to vote for my works. Nor do I like to make friends feel obligated to vote just because I asked. *shudders*
I am happy there is saatchionline though and wish through it to bring my art to the right people. However difficult it would be to find me in the haystack.
my 7 cents’ worth
Funny thing is.. I have a feeling Mr Charles Saatchi does not care even a bit of what this Showdown does to his image. Or his company’s image. *chuckles* The man has enough of everything to continue to do just as he pleases.
Maybe someday one of us will reach his stage of life too.