The fifth annual Charman Prize exhibition, October 12 to January 3, at the Masterworks Museum.This exhibition, which ought to be one of the most prestigious in Bermuda’s annual art calendar, does not live up to its potential. Mind you, the show is pleasant enough just don’t go expecting anything earth shattering, or even remotely close to that. They do have a very fine cafe, however.It is my understanding that everyone who submitted to this exhibition got in, which makes one wonder about the need for three overseas judges.What were they expected to do, just pick the prize winners? Typically judges, more often termed the jury, select the entire exhibition, not just the prize winners. What was their role in this exhibition?Since all submissions got in the show, in my imagination, I did the jurying and having carefully examined the exhibition, as well as the catalogue, my view is that approximately 16 submissions ought to have been eliminated; these simply did not meet the four basic criteria set out by Masterworks.The criteria are:1. fine use of the principles of design and composition;2. technical mastery in the use of materials;3. skill in the artist’s chosen medium;4. a distinctive and convincing style.Also, I could not help but notice that a number of our more accomplished artists ones who have previously exhibited in this exhibition are conspicuously absent this year. Of course they may have absented themselves for any number of reasons, but I have heard that many did not participate because they were bothered by what they see as a lack of consistently applied standards.If this is the case, Masterworks needs to know it. Allowing artists in the show who do not meet the criteria that Masterworks themselves have established, is doing the Bermuda art community a disservice. Keeping in mind that many will rise only to the level that an organisation expects of them, demands a higher standard for artists to strive after. Demanding higher standards will result in a general improvement in the quality of work produced and by extension, the betterment of the exhibition as well.Despite what I have just said about this exhibition there are a number of works that stand out as excellent, especially the grand prize winner.Interestingly, the afternoon of the opening, but well before the public arrived, I was asked who I thought would be the grand prize winner. I responded to that question by initially stating that I did not have a clue, but then I walked the walls, picking out several possibilities and then stood by Molly Godet’s Green Man Gombey, and said, “This one”.Later that evening, after the winners had been announced, I was pleased to realise that I had been correct. Other possibilities could have been, Lynn Morrell’s Sea Serpent, Alan C Smith’s Sea w/inx5, or Chris Burville’s Reef Sunset. There are also other good works in the show, which may not be of the calibre of the prize winners, nevertheless, are good, solid efforts. It’s just that this anything-goes approach and the absence of so many of our accomplished and well known artists, pulls the overall effect of the show down to the point of mediocrity.What I have written in regard to this year’s Charman Prize Exhibition, is similar to what I wrote last year. I said it then and I will say it again, I take no pleasure in being negative about this exhibition, but I have to be honest in my reviews as well.After I had written last year’s review, I decided not to submit it for publication. Instead I sent it solely to Masterworks, in the hopes that it might be helpful. I assume that after each Charman Prize exhibition, they themselves review the show, to consider what might be done to improve it, but that is only an assumption.I write art reviews in the hopes that what I say, is constructive and helpful and this review is no exception.