"Juried Art Shows; Nothing Personal Girl!"
"Why even enter juried art shows?" a lot of fellow artists have
said. I have often agreed, especially while walking away with
one of my paintings or sculptures in hand, after being rejected
from a show I wrote out a $50.-100. check for. It is humiliating
and expensive! "Why didn't they like me?" I pout close to tears
as I lean towards my car.
It is difficult to 'not' take it all personally. What is a girl
to do? Every artist I have met, successful or not, has taken the
rejection of their work personally at one time or another. It is
hard not to. I am an artist though, not a girl trying to be
noted in society like Paris Hilton or Britney Spears. Although I
must admit that I have contemplated what a good diet would do
for me and possible a face lift! I am an artist who is trying to
get my work out there in the .com world of galleries that go on
forever, to improve my search engine and get noticed by Google
and Yahoo. I don't find myself saying to the .com world or to
Google or Yahoo, "Why don't you like me?" Of course not! I get
on my computer and research about how to get my work noticed and
how to compete. I ask myself the hard questions. "Is my work
appealing to the buyers out there in cyberspace? Is it
marketable, while still being true to myself and my own personal
idea of creativity? Have I learned all there is to know?" Never!
Who would ever say or think that'?
I don't look at myself that objectively when I enter juried art
shows though... or at least I didn't use to. I used to think
that it was all connected, my like- ability and my talent. The
juror would not only accept me in the show but would honor me
with an award because they would view my art and see my heart
and glistening smile. They would understand beyond the laziness
and excuse the limitations of my painting or sculpture before it
was polished off enough to truly call it finished. They would
magically understand my true hope for the end result and accept
it 'as is'. They would ignore all other competition and choose
me because I felt so strongly about what I was trying to say to
project the passion inside my heart. Or maybe deep down I felt I
should be accepted because I had worked so hard on the last show
by setting up the table with flowers and linen table clothes for
horderves and wine. Surely I had been noticed!
I am trying to learn to stand back and really look at my work
objectively. What else is an easel for huh? I am taking the same
approach to juried shows as I have been with the .com world and
google and yahoo, with a realistic consideration and an
acceptance that there will 'always' be people who are more fit
than me... look at Paris Hilton and Britney Spears! Yet, because
of my acceptance of the uphill struggle I see myself in the art
world with an upward posture and a confidence that if I
understand the journey and have my mapquest available to me. I
am set. It doesn't take a tsunami to knock me over to accept my
fate of being just like everyone else. I now enter juried art
shows knowing I have done everything that 'I can' to present the
best possible work that 'I' am personally capable of before it
leaves my studio. Look out eminem there is a new rapper in town!