Just a Rant
OK, I’m sitting here trying to come up with an exhibition guideline to justify getting an individual art exhibit opportunity in a local gallery and everything I come up with just sounds like so much bulls**t. To top it off I just got my 10th straight rejection letter/email from a juried show and I’m feeling a tad frustrated. What made the rejection even juicier was the coldest, most insensitive rejection email I’ve ever received.
Early this year I got accepted into 3 shows in fairly quick succession and was feeling pretty good about my work. Since then it’s been bam!, bam!, bam!, bam!, bam!, bam!, bam!, bam!, bam!, bam! and I’m feeling just a bit punch-drunk. Don’t get me wrong, I’m really proud of the work I’m doing and will continue to do it because it feels right. But, how do I get it to punch thru? And, how do I put into words what I do as a whole? Describing individual pieces as I finish them is relatively easy. It’s the overall synopsis which blows my circuits. To be honest, I really just want to paint and blow all this other crap off, but I know it’s a necessary part of trying to get my artwork ‘out there’.
OK, I got that out of my system and I actually feel better now. I leave you with the 3 paintings most recently rejected:
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- Now I’m Free
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- Stormy Monday
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- Cult of Personality
I realized after I posted this that one of the rejected paintings above – “Cult of Personality” – was actually accepted into a juried show earlier this year. A bit ironic, wouldn’t you say?
Hi Don, Certainly, I can understand your frustration and I can also see the “creative genius” that goes into your work. I’ve had enough experience with juried exhibitions over the years to learn about selectivity. The fact that you entered thirteen exhibitions makes me wonder how you select which competition to enter. I don’t know if my approach is the best, but I have a high acceptance rate. First, I decide which competitions to enter that year (usually only 7 or 8). My criteria for selecting a venue include the international reputation (the calibre of artists it attracts), the amount of prize money available, and a fair jurying process. Then, I look at exhibitions from previous years at those venues, and pay special attention to the works of prize winners. I enter only if I feel my work is technically equal and conceptially weighty enough to compete in those venues. Then, once I get the prospectus and see who the selecting/awarding judge(s) is/are, I cull through my paintings to decide which would be most suitable, or I ask other more experienced artists to help me select a piece. Perhaps you do all this already. In any case, don’t be discouraged. I still think your work would make a fantastic solo exhibition!
Kathy, You’ve given me great food for thought. I’ve got to admit that I’m new enough at this that I’ve been pretty much throwing it all up against the wall to see what would stick…well maybe that’s a little bit of an exaggeration, but you know what I mean. I’ve been taking copious notes as I go along, but I only have 1 year’s worth of that so far. I welcome any input you or any of our other artist friends have to offer. Thank you, -Don
Hi Don, I understand your frustration too and the sting of it (I have something to post later today on my blog).
I think that Kathy gave great advice. I follow that approach when I’m approaching a gallery and her synopsis makes perfect sense for submitting entries to juried shows.
Your work definitely conveys your style and your talent. A solo exhibition has to be in your future.
Last year I purchased a couple of books authored by Renee Phillips of Manhattan Arts International (http://www.manhattanarts.com/ourbooks/index.htm). They have been invaluable to me for developing my portfolio presentation, cover letters and more. I still get rejections, but I’ve been accepted too. Her books gave me the guidance I was lacking.
Wishing you all the best as you deserve it. Kathleen
Kathleen, Thanks for your commiserations, compliments and good wishes. I would love to get a solo show!!! Thanks also for the books recommendation. They sound helpful. I’ll definitely be looking into them. Now I’m going to go see what you’ve posted on your blog. -Don
I commiserate Don – I don’t see how your work could be refused for any show! I think it’s all a big crap shoot anyway. I’ve got rejections in spite of more or less following the guidelines that Kathy gives. I use the 24 hr. rule – I’m allowed to mope for about a day after I get my letter, then I must let it go! When the same piece that gets rejected from one show gets an award in the next one, I know I can’t take it personally or see it as an overall indictment of my work!
I also think a solo show of your work would be pretty powerful.
Deborah, I like your 24 hour rule. It’s a good one to live by. I really did feel better after my rant. Sometimes you just have to get it out of your system… You’re right, it is just a crap shoot and I’m going to keep throwing those dice. Thank you, -Don
Well, Don … what are you up to? I suspect there’s another masterpiece in the works. Can’t wait to see!
Hey Kathy, Stay tuned… I’ll be posting a new one sometime this afternoon. I’m pretty excited about it and look forward to your response. -Don