a thimble full
A couple three years ago, I was sitting with several other artists in a back office of the Ceramics Research Center shuffling through artist entries to a call for artists for the upcoming studio tour. We had been sorting out the returning artists and the new artists.
That year, I was sitting out the tour. My studio was slated for demolition by the town. We’d lost our fight…or resigned ourselves to move on.
The year off would require that I reapply and be juried back into the tour the following year. As we organized the artists’ images (an impressive lot of work), I commented to myself…out loud, “I may not make it back in the tour.”
On the heals of my statement, Jeremy Briddell replied, “A room full of artists and not enough self-esteem to fill a thimble.” Brief silence was followed by a chorus of affirmation.
Through the semester I encourage students to enter shows. My attempts to top off the thimble are often resisted. Students generally present their hesitation by stating that they don’t know what to do. I offer to help them – proof read bios and statements, and take images if necessary. I’ve been known to bribe students with extra credit for entering shows – no need to be accepted. I just want them to go through the process. They resist. I heard somewhere that a room full of artists couldn’t fill a thimble with self esteem.
This exhibition season I’d like to note a few shows that include the work of friends and fellow artists, former students, and current students:
AZ Clay Annual Exhibit, March 18 – April 16, 2010
Shemer House of Fun, April 21 – May 25, 2010
Shemer Art Center and Museum
Gila River Review: Online Literary Journal at Chandler-Gilbert Community College
Spring 2011, Issue 3
Arte Latino en la Ciudad, May 6 – 27, 2010
Phoenix Center for the Arts
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So true Beth! But you are doing a great service to your students by encouraging them in their work and getting them into shows. I know I struggle with that too; will people like my work? So much of us is in our work that rejection is a hard thing. It’s almost like being rejected personally.
Encouragement is good in any field, but this needs to be done both ways from the teacher to the student and back to the teacher. Sometimes we get to a point of “burnout” and we need to be aware of that time. When it happens we need to step back and re-evaluate our source.Maybe we are trying to hard by ourselves and not trusting our Lord for inspiration.
Inspiration is the word that comes to mind. You never know who your work
may inspire! Even when we reluctantly enter a show, the work that we do may encourage someone else to enter. The work that you do verbally and artistically is appreciated. I for one have been encouraged and extremely inspired by your work. Thank you for all that you do even when you may think that no one is looking!
Here’s another perspective that I like to share when I encounter those sentiments: So what if you get turned down for a show? A “no” is not the end of the world. It may even help you learn something about how your work is perceived. In fact, in the art business, you gotta collect a few “no’s” – it’s just par for the course. Rejection is not nearly as bad as you might fear; it’s usually no worse than a bee sting. And it’s something to you need to learn to take in stride, and keep on going.