It is that time of year again... that's right it's time for the annual popularity contest, so let's nominate 2010's best and worst. In particular who do you think was 2010's MVP?

Feel free to nominate multiple artists/curators and suggest categories like; MVP, best solo show 2010, best group show 2010, alternative art space of the year, University gallery of the year, favorite museum show, tightest show, most overhung show, most overexposed, most disappointing solo show, most disappointing group show, curator of the year, best conceptualist, best installation, best abstract painter, best figurative painter, best light and space installation, best video piece, funniest art scene moment, best institutional decision, most perplexing institutional decision, most promising new talent, most exciting development and least exciting development.

Email your nominations to me: jeff (at) portlandart.net

Such a best/worst nomination process is inevitably skewed. The "best" simply can be the result of individuals or institutions most able get friends to write in. So be it. Let them have "the best show".

Artists, galleries, art institutions work hard in trying to present worthwhile art.

Why not drop the negative nomination. While negative nominations of "worst" etc. may serve a little humor and venting, they are dispiriting and hurtful. Our community doesn't need that.

Too late for 2010 ? Then in 2011.

It will start on the 1st.

Yes it is a pure popularity contest but it also introduces an interesting sense of urgency and competition, which I do feel can always be a bit stronger in Portland. There is nothing destructive in instilling little more peer review and if our results are truly damaging to someone I suspect they have bigger problems than an online artist's poll.

As for a more sensitive reading of what artists do and don't achieve we provide reviews. Also the categories for the final poll aren't simple opportunities for people to be needlessly negative.

Overall, it is a productive exercise and a way to engage our readers but nothing more.