For the last couple of days I've been thinking about the juried quilt shows and why we enter them. I'v been thinking about this need we sometimes have for public validation of our work.
Talking to a few people who quilt, it is interesting to me how quick they are to announce that they don't enter their quilts into shows. I wonder if it is because they entered one of their quilts into a show in the past and was either rejected or received harsh criticism for their work? There are those who have entered shows and because they didn't bring home any ribbons, felt rejected and refused to ever enter another show. As if our work required a ribbon in order to be validated.
These thoughts occurred to me as I work on pieces that I hope to start entering in upcoming shows. I already mentioned that I plan to enter my quilts for consideration into the Quiltcon show. There is also the local San Diego Quilt show that I plan to enter as well. But why?
The thought of rejection doesn't scare me. Being picked on and teased all my life, I've grown a thick enough skin that a bit of harsh criticism from some judge wouldn't phase me at all.
But why do it at all? Why put yourself through such an unnecessary emotional roller coaster?
I read
Angela Pingel's blog posting of when she entered her work into the first Quiltcon show and the criticism she received from the judges for her work. Reading this made me realize just how an experience like this could jade someone into never entering a show again. This is sad because although the judgement was a bit harsh, the public exposure her quilts received has done a great deal in making her and her work more well-known. And who knows the countless number of people who have now been inspired by seeing her work?
I think before anyone enter's their quilt into a show they should read
Bill Volkening's and
Victoria Gertenbach's take on juried shows to help put things in perspective.
My plans to enter juried shows this year has not changed. But my reason is different then what you may think. I see these shows not as a way to validate myself as a quilter, but as a possible avenue to put my work in front of others. The idea that some stranger may see my quilt and be inspired to create something beautiful themselves is what motivates me to enter.
Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't mind getting a lovely ribbon or two attached to my work, but not getting any ribbons would in no way diminish the value of my quilts. My work is validated by the very fact that my own two hands created it. And that is all the validation that I need.
