When I first decided to enter a quilt exhibition, my primary goal was
not to exhibit the quilt, but to FINISH the quilt! The exhibition
offered that wonderful thing, an externally imposed deadline which could
not be ignored, unlike those I set myself. I did finish that first quilt
in time, with an hour or so to spare. I discovered that this was a very
useful way to work. I was able to set myself challenges and the deadline
ensured I met them.
When I was first persuaded to enter a juried show, I
did so reluctantly, unwilling to commit precious dollars to enter a work
which might not even be exhibited. I eventually made the decision to
enter the exhibition because the theme intrigued me and I wanted to make
the quilt. As it turned out, my work was not selected. Although this was
naturally very discouraging, I decided to persevere. Whilst some
rejections are more painful than others, they are simply part of the
process, and happen to everyone.
I recall my rejection in 1998 from a national juried
exhibition, with it’s theme reflecting modern interpretation of crazy
patchwork. Based on the principle that one negative outweighs ten
positives, receipt of the rejection letter saw all my self doubts come
rushing back, as they frequently do. The insecurity I felt was
compounded by the fact that the selector was somebody whose opinion I
greatly value. I took out the quilt and sat looking at it for some time.
Having reassessed the quilt, I decided that I still liked it, and was
really happy that I had made it, so it didn’t really matter that it
wasn’t accepted into the exhibition. I was grateful for the motivation
which the exhibition had provided, because I would certainly not have
had the inspiration to make that particular quilt in that manner if it
was not for the exhibition theme.
Rejection from a show doesn’t necessarily mean that
a quilt was not good enough, or even that the jurors didn’t like it.
Usually there are many more quilts entered than can be selected, and it
can be quite a difficult task to reduce the numbers sufficiently. The
jurors are not just selecting the most appropriate (you’ll notice I
did not use the word ‘best’) of the individual quilts, but bear the
responsibility of putting together an exhibition in which all the parts
come together to produce a cohesive whole. Sometimes a very deserving
quilt can eventually be rejected simply because it is so different from
the other quilts selected that it does not fit the overall ‘look’ of
the show.
In fact when I saw the catalogue from that particular
show, I could see that my rejected quilt would not have fitted easily
into the exhibition. It is a quiet, unobtrusive little quilt, and would
have been lost amongst the strongly coloured works which dominated the
show. As it happens, the quilt has since been selected for publication
in a book featuring the work of quiltmakers from around the world.
It is not uncommon to find that a quilt rejected from one show is
selected for another, sometimes much more important, exhibition. You
should never let a rejection cause you to lose faith in a quilt which
you feel is successful.
I have been exhibiting my quilts since 1986, and have
lost count of the rejections I have received in that time, but it has
never occurred to me to stop. So why do I inflict this punishment upon
myself? Because I have learnt so much along the way and made so many
quilts which I would have never thought about if not for the particular
challenges set by those shows. I will NEVER enter an exhibition where
the theme does not interest me, or where the size requirements impose
restrictions I will find difficult to meet. But a theme which intrigues
me, whilst challenging me to think about my work differently, is often
irresistible.
I make quilts because I find it challenging and
interesting, a way of pushing myself to learn new skills and discover
new ways of expressing myself. Entering exhibitions is, for me, the
necessary motivation. It forces me to stop procrastinating and provides
the necessary focus to tackle the next project. Designing and finishing
a quilt which pleases me is the priority, one which is not always
achieved. Being selected into the show is simply a bonus, the icing on
the cake.
I encourage anyone who is even the least bit tempted,
to make a quilt for the next juried show which comes along. You may not
have your work selected for the exhibition, but you will have a new
quilt, possibly very different from any which you have made before, and
you will almost certainly have learned new skills along the way. This is
a very worthwhile return for your investment of time, energy and money!
