The Rejection Committee - Off the Wall Friday

Clapboards & Lilies, 28" by 16"

"We regret to inform you that your submission,  Clapboards and Lilies,  was not selected. . . " Sighhhhh.  Yes, for the first time in 10 years, my piece for the local mixed arts Lily Festival Art Show was rejected.  Renounced. Refused! Spurned!!

Okay, so I'm a being a bit dramatic, but rejection stings a bit even by the best of us.  It just plays to all the doubts in your head that your art really isn't good enough and the jury really didn't want to let you play with them anyways. 

But really, what hurts more. . . .being rejected by the juror. . . or. . . proving the Rejection Committee in your head they're right?  This week our lesson in Jane Dunnewold's Artist Strength Training Class is about dealing with the self fears that all artists have that our work isn't really  good enough.  Where do they originate?  How do we dismantle them? How can we rise above?

Logically, I've never really had a problem with Jury Rejections.  I mean, if they can't see that my work would benefit their art show, well obviously, its their lost.  My Rejection Committee consists of one essential person - Myself.  I'm consistently telling myself that I'm not good enough - that I will never be as good as <Insert Famous Quilter's Name Here> - that obviously I'm just fooling myself that I'm getting better.

Now normally, I'm not an insecure person.  To tell you the truth, I don't think its really insecurity that is fueling these fears.  Its more like the over achiever in me.  That's the part of myself that just wants to strive to be better and better and better.. . . well. . . until better isn't ever good enough.  And really with art,  what is good enough?  How do you measure  - Good Art?  Since the measure of good art is so damn elusive, that's what my Rejection Committee has chosen to pray on.  I mean, obviously, they are the only ones that know "Good Art", right??  To them,  I'm just a plebeian playing with fabric and thread.

With the Rejection Committee consistently chiming in their two cents, they clearly need to be shut up.  So how do I fire them?  For me, its by stop playing the comparison game.  I need to stop worrying if my work is going to measure up to my peers.  I need to clearly define why I make art.  Do I make it for the validation of artists I truly admire?  Or do I make art to declare the mental expressions that run through my head on a daily basis.

So on that note, I humbly submit this:

Dear Rejection Committee,

   I regret to inform you that at this time, I can not accept your rejection of my work.  I am thrilled that you have been able to submit so many wonderful rejections, but unfortunately, I have found that, as of now, they no longer fit in with  the personal view of my work.  I would encourage you to submit future rejections, but honestly, I don't want to foster any hope that they will ever again be accepted.

My best advice to you is that you find a new endeavor to expend your energies on.

Sincerely,
Me

Linking to Muv's...Lizzy Leonard's Vintage Sewing free motion giveaway.

So What have been up  to Creatively?