A Change of Direction
We’re moving back into the house this week so I am writing this early for posting.
I just made a pivotal decision this week: I submitted my entry to a gallery show for this fall, precluding me from entering the “normal” quilt shows like PIQF. This is a change in direction for me that I am going to try to see if I like it. I’m excited! I want to see my work in more art-oriented venues than quilt show venues.
There’s a real trade off with this decision. My acceptance rate will probably go way down because it is generally much more difficult to get into juried museum and gallery shows than quilt shows. Also many of these art venues are not judged, so I will not get that feedback that I get from quilt shows. Many venues don’t even understand quilts as art.
I will still enter quilt show venues where I teach, like Houston, and others that may come up in the future. And I may even have the chutzpah to enter some of the juried exhibits that are shown in some of the major quilt shows. This will be interesting to see how my work fares in this more competitive environment.
Unlike a quilt show, museum and gallery shows are looking to create a “look” and my current work in black and white does not play well with others. So that will provide lots of room for self doubt-was I rejected because my work is not that great or because my black and white did not fit in with other quilts? Oh boy, that could set me off!
Just a glimpse of my exciting life as we prepare to move back into our house:
The hardest part so far was getting rid of our stuff. Resale wanted only a tiny part of it. Charity-now that was a challenge for three reasons: large pieces, needed pick-up and I needed it almost immediately. I followed up on 35 suggestions, all to no avail. And whatever charity you might think would help, they either don’t or can’t accept it under my timeline. And yes, I tried the on-line sharing sites too. So, it all had to be taken away by junk people. They do cull the best and donate it.
I could pontificate about how our society makes it hard for charities to operate….but I won’t.
Our packers have us packed and our movers arrive today. We will have two waves of deliveries. Today our stuff from the rental will arrive and later the stuff in storage will arrive. Oh I cannot wait to have an ordered home. And unordered home is unacceptable to me. I will have a hard time sleeping until it is d-o-n-e.
So I am entering a new phase, both in new venues for my work and a new studio. I hope by next week that I can post some preliminary studio photos!
I will be following your progress in this new direction. As you know, I have considered moving much in the same direction. Wafting good wishes for the remainder of your move and settling in. Cheers.
Thank you Betty Jo! Your quilts SHOULD be in art venues! Maybe our quilts will be seeing each other!
Just wondering why you entered your work in quilt shows . What, other than a ribbon and confidence do yo gain? I’ve entered quilt shows in the past but no more.
Well I enter because they are familiar to me, I go to lots of quilt shows. Also I do appreciate the feedback I get from judging. I think that helps with my perspective. But I may be over that!
Any decision which involves following your heart is the right one. Best of luck.
Thank you Sandra! Not only is my heart telling me this, but my head is also, so I think it’s a win – win!
Hi Jenny,
Good luck with the moving today. I’m tickled to hear that you are moving into more art venue call for entries. Yes you will need some thick skin but there is nothing more rewarding than when they choose yours. And sometimes black and white can be a great punctuation in a show – don’t automatically count yourself out.
Best of luck in your new space!
Nancy
Thanks Nancy. It will be interesting to see how my work is received. I know I will get a lot more rejections.
Brava on your decision to try for art exhibits. I may make you see your own work differently – is it successful as a work of art. I think that exhibit curators may reject a work because it doesn’t fit the theme, or there are already 10 black and white quilts, or… My point is, the rejection may not reflect a judgement of the work itself, but be situational. And art exhibits follow different criteria than quilt shows. I recall the horror of my quilting companions when they saw the messy back of a prize winning art quilt. They had been trained to see the piece through craft oriented eyes.
Thank you for the encouragement Joanna! The thing of course about art venues is that you may be rejected just because of the style of your work, so it will be hard to tell why I was rejected.
I know this is easier said than done, but — you talk about entering your WORK in a quilt show or gallery, but then muse about reasons why YOU were rejected if a piece isn’t accepted. Language is powerful; as much as we may feel personally rejected when our work isn’t accepted, saying/writing that the WORK was not accepted really does help to keep that buffer between the artist and the product that is so necessary in order to go on creating, taking risks, and sending your work out into the world. Also, not being accepted is not the same thing as being rejected. As you said about quilt shows, those who pick and choose among hundreds or thousands of entries are not just separating them into Good and Bad. And who is even to say which are good and which are bad? The decision makers are operating under all kinds of constraints and biases, and are also often thinking about the show as a somewhat cohesive collection. Your process fascinates me, and your highly intellectualized artistic intent is reflected in your finished works. I think you are right to pursue gallery shows, and I wish you continued creative fulfillment. Success (the approval and accolades of others, usually others who don’t know what they’re even looking at) is overrated anyway! :-)
Oh such wise words Rebecca Grace! I really do separate myself from my work and when I send it out I send it out as kind of a representative of me but it’s sure not me. I have seen enough to know that sometimes amazing work is rejected just because it doesn’t fit the rest of the show. But do you see how it leaves so much room for doubt?
Change and disorder are challenging to say the least. Having a whole bunch of it pile on at once can impact your health. Getting your routine back should be beneficial. Bravo on all fronts. Your art, especially the black & white, has a calming aspect.
Thank you for your cheerful attitude Marcia! It is a whopping amount of change, that’s for sure. I can’t wait to be settled and back to creating.
Jenny, Excitement all around….I too cannot wait for your new studio. Perhaps you can share some of the decisions you needed to make and why! Having order in one’s life is most important, I think….it allows time and energy for creative thinking and we all know you use that well! I also love the idea that you’re trying new venues for your quilts…that too will open new worlds to you. Exciting times Jenny! I know you’ll use it well and grow, grow, grow. My very best to you. See you behind the sewing machine soon! Loretta
What a wonderful encouragement Loretta! I am excited about my new studio in my new life. I will be sharing my studio and some of the decisions I made. I always think it’s interesting to see where other people do their work also.
How exciting! New venues, new house(sort of). Visit some of the local galleries to cull information. Our of state galleries are a venue also. Good luck!??
You know it is kind of a new house Debbie. I keep on accidentally referring to it as my new house. It actually feels new!
The Cancer Society resale store is called the Discovery Shop and picks up donations. Ask for Chris the manager. I have donated furniture and they were happy to pick it up. It is located in the Hobby Lobby parking lot on Douglas Blvd. Just before the freeway. They have a website.
Good luck in all of your upcoming ventures. Your work is so outstanding you will be successful any place your work is shown.
Thank you Mary. I did try them and they couldn’t pick up my furniture in the time frame that I needed it. I tried over 35 charities! But that’s all behind me and I’m on to my new studio! Thank you for the encouragement.
Wow!! to both changes, Jenny! I have been waiting anxiously to see your “new” home. And I will really enjoy hearing about your experience with entering the gallery shows. …the self-doubt…how to deal with it–that I will be interested in reading about too. Having a big self-doubt day today :/
Well Debbie I’ll be writing about my entries into art venues so you can come along for the ride, giggle. I’ve been anxiously awaiting my new home too, and I’m so excited that it’s finally here. I can’t wait to my studio is up-and-running!
Good luck with all of this – I know you can handle it – I also know I couldn’t. Can hardly wait to see your new sewing room.
Susan
Susan I know you could handle it too if you knew a new studio and beautiful new house was at the end of the road. I’ll be sharing my studio wants it set up but that could be a while.
You’ve brought up some interesting dilemmas I’ve not thought about. The transition from quilter to art quilter has a more delicate balance than I had thought before dipping a toe into it. I’ve gleaned quite a bit through this post, and will be interested to see how your venture fares. Hopefully, you will be pleased with your decision, and all will go well. If not, shift gears once again until it works to your advantage.
Thank you Julie. I think sometimes you just have to go full tilt into something and try it and embrace it. I can always retreat, but I don’t think I will!