None of the three pieces that I worked on most of this year and submitted were juried into Quilt National13 and slap me hard if I put myself through that again. Talk about taking the joy of the process. Now I am free to follow through with updating my website and posting the work I've had to keep under wraps all these months. Can anyone tell me it's worth it? I passed on two opportunities to exhibit these locally and wonder if I made a huge mistake. This is really not sour grapes just a personal assessment of cost vs. value. I wonder how many artists have come to the same conclusion? All input is welcome.
and sincere and hearty congratulations to the hardy souls who made the cut!!
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| "Consolation" 2012 |
18 comments:
Yep -- I came to the same conclusion. The virgin rules make it too hard on the fiber artists that spend a lot of time on their work. If you enter 2-3 pieces and the show is every 2 years -- for me, it isn't worth it. I'm hoping IQF doesn't go this way -- but they're talking about it. I understand that they want a fresh exhibit with work that hasn't been seen before -- but the burden placed on the artists -- MOST of whom won't even be accepted -- is too great IMHO. (And I also argue that seeing the work in person is very different from a small pic on the web.) So I respect their rules & I show elsewhere.
these works are incredible deb. and yes it is hard keep things under wraps for a large event. is it worth it in the end, maybe
xt
I don't have enough joyful time left on the planet to play this way anymore. It's bad enough that, like many artists, I am fairly isolated. To have to be coy about any works in progress, to forego any criticism as a project develops is a sacrifice that I am no longer willing to make.
Well, bugger them :) this cements my decision to not enter just "Quilt" shows, as you long ago advised--ART is what we make(NOT putting down art quilters)--and i agree, keeping things to oneself in this respect is hard---difficult to know if we are going in the right direction sometimes, and hard not to share discoveries! All the work put in without constructive thoughts from others would be a blow for me--WHY do the work then? I wonder if some other types of medium have the same requirements?
Arlee, I'll be dipped if I could find one.
I have entered only once. Needless to say my piece was not accepted. The odds seem so long, but darned if I don't know, personally, several people who have gotten in over the years and one had the best of show. I didn't enter anything this year, but still feel like a failure tonight. Still, like you, I'm pretty sure life is too short to jump through all those hoops just to be among the vast number of also-rans.
I look upon quilts as one aspect of my creativity, and have never really wanted to try and 'compete' in the venue. I create a) to satisfy my need to create, and b) to sell what I make. From that standpoint, I have done very well with a), and reasonably well with b), but I totally enjoy what I'm doing and don't really care if some jury somewhere thinks I am 'good enough' for their event! What you create is astoundingly original and uniquely yours. Go with what gives you the most joy and satisfaction...
I entered once and the pieces rejected were juried into other shows. I always scratch my head at some of the accepted work so its a good thing I'm not a juror. Its great to see fresh new work but there are also a whole lot of the same people all the time, too. I'm like Terry and feel like a failure when others are whooping about acceptance to big shows because I failed to even try. I'm very happy for everyone who not only made the cut but who had the guts to attempt it. Maybe there should be a quilt art list show for the non-QN entries?
Probably every two years, JanicePD :-p someone makes that suggestion - a salon de refusees - but I wouldn't want to appear in one, as there are many more positive exhibition opportunities for my non-selected works to be shown.... and I don't want anyone saying sympathetically "Oh, but honestly, I think that one reeeally should have got in, what were they thinking?", and personally I never mention that this or that work was entered in QN but didn't make it. I know I'm in some very good company in not having made it this year, but there's always next time. I COULD start planning my next entries now, but that's not me - as although I have been in and out of QN several times, aceepted about 30% of the times I've entered, I typically make my entries in the 3 months before closing date, but I've often left my run far later than that, as inspiration often strikes me when I'm under almost too much pressure to do anything about
it :-)
I was too depressed over the loss of my Mother to enter. Maybe some time I might. However, when I see all the wonderful art that is rejected, it seems a waste of money to enter.
Ann, I feel for you.
I called this piece Consolation and honestly don't think I could part with it for any price. I started it in the spring just about the time my Mother and my oldest beloved kitty both started thier long difficult paths to death. Although it was not planned as a memorial piece, I clutched it like a drowning person for many more hours than it really needed.
my thoughts are so small they really have no meaning, but i guess if it were me, i would look closely at what WAS juried in. would i have wanted to have made that cloth? OR, would i have wanted to have made the cloth i did?, juried in or not. i guess that would be IT for me.
but...bummer.
yes Grace, it will be interesting to see what made it into the show..only time will tell since it's all hush hush..that was the biggest part of the problem for me..but what I really wanted was for "Los Dados Encantada" to get in..I will post it's story and pictures later this week.
I don't have anything to add to this - I haven't yet even tried to enter QN - next year's my year - so I guess I'll be able to answer the "worth it or not" question much better next year!
That said, for you and other artists whose work is hand done and therefore, takes considerably longer to finish - the costs are proportionally higher, I think.
I generally work a month or two in "advance" (meaning, what's shown on my blog was usually finished at least a month before you even see the beginning process) so it wouldn't be difficult to "hide" a piece for QN.
Currently though, because "Incendiary" took two months to make and I had another piece that had to be finished for October for a show that I'm not allowed to show before it goes into the show I am working live on my blog. I find that very pressure filled! lol
Anyway - I seem to have strayed far off topic. Just popped in to say that I love your piece - I think it's very beautiful - and I love that all your emotion around your losses this year went into it.
Hi! I started making art quilts in the autumn of 2008. I don't come from a traditional sewing or quilting background. I've never been an active member of a quilt guild. Like others, I live in an area where fiber ARTS are generally snubbed by the art elitists and generally misunderstood by those working with textiles in traditional ways.
Two years ago, I entered Quilt National. Obviously, it was the only time in the past I could have ever entered since I was totally new to all this. The only reason why I entered was that I had two pieces coming to a finish at the same time ... a time right before the Quilt National entry deadline. So, I kept them off my blog and entered. Both were rejected, as expected. One had an incredible amount of hand stitching. Like you, I wrote a blog entry called "Quilt National rejects". http://artbysusanlenz.blogspot.com/2010/10/quilt-national-rejects-milestones-and.html
As a process oriented blogger whose family lives all over the world, my blog is how I share my work, my passion, and my life. To keep a major project off my blog for so long is counter productive. Emotionally, it feels very disconcerting ... like keeping a secret or even lying to the world. I don't know of any art exhibition in the wider world of fine arts and fine crafts that has such a strict "virgin" rule.
Well, I entered two pieces again this year. I expected them to be rejected but one got in. I'm over the moon with happiness but also more than a little nervous. I know very well that there will be people who will look at the selected exhibition with critical eyes, quiet insults, and questioning hearts about the merit of those works that made it in.
It is so sad that this one juried show helps divide us, encourages a high level of secrecy, and drives so many of us mentally bonkers. It has driven me pretty nuts too. I've never worried about a juried show as much as this one.
Susan
PS I posted my "reject" yesterday too. Yes, I've always looked at the two from 2010 as "rejects" even though they've been shown in other venues. It is sad but true. I hope I don't look at this "new" reject that way because I really, really like it otherwise.
Obviously Alison is right..who wants their work associated with a reject show. I entered pieces last time around and they were not chosen for QN but one is traveling in a SAQA exhibit and the other has been juried into 2 other shows. So I don't think they are rejects any more than I think anyone's work that didn't get in QN is a reject.I"m pretty sure from the pieces like this that have been shared that they are mostly winners. Will I enter again? Maybe if I feel I have pieces strong enough next time around.
I read all of these comments with interest. Thanks for the discussion.
But what I really want to say is that I love your piece.
Really fresh. Really YOU.
xx
Thanks Judy...your words matter more than you know.
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