Keep Moving Forward.
On my Instagram account, I often share good news about exhibitions I got into, opportunities I’ve had, updates on projects, and other successes. But this is not the full picture. Social media is filled with a lot of people trying to look perfect, and this gives a skewed sense of reality to those looking on. With all of the successes I share on my own account, I wanted to show the other side of things too.
You may remember that last year I took an extended break from sharing my photography with anyone. Returning to it this past February, I’ve been entering a lot of shows, applying for residencies, submitting to competitions, and looking at grants. For anyone, including myself, to think that all of that will meet with success would be very unrealistic. Here are some of my “failures,” “rejections,” or whatever you might call them, over the last 4 months:
Declined from Acorn–I submitted 20 haiku to be published in a haiku journal, and not a single one was accepted.
Declined from MacDowell–I applied for a fellowship through the prestigious MacDowell program and didn’t get in. Now I have to wait 2 years before I can apply again.
Declined from Rose Island–I have applied for this residency two years in a row, and have been declined both times.
Declined from the Film Photography Awards–I submitted the early work for my new project to this program which awards the winning artists up to 100 rolls of film, free processing, and some other benefits. I was “not invited” to participate.
Declined from the Connecticut Academy of Fine Arts— I was looking forward to this juried exhibition at Slater Museum.
And more!
An example of work submitted for a project proposal that was declined.
How do I feel about this? Fine! Like I said, it’s unrealistic to think I’d get everything I applied for. There are a lot of ways to look at it.
I wasn’t ready. Maybe my applications weren’t that strong, my work not polished enough to be accepted for these opportunities. Rather than giving up, I’ll work hard to improve and try again when I’ve got more knowledge and experience under my belt.
It wasn’t meant to be. It could be that the universe, God, or whatever powers that be had different plans for me. I didn’t get that September residency, so maybe this fall something even better will come up. There’s no telling if these rejections are good or bad.
It’s just not possible to get everything you want. Let’s be happy for all the opportunities we get, and all the successes we have. You can’t win them all, and that’s okay. Keep moving forward.
If you were accepted for everything you submit to…it might get a bit overwhelming. If you’re submitting to exhibitions every chance you get, that can be a lot to keep track of. My day job working at a gallery reminds me how often people forget they even have work in our exhibits, because they stretch themselves too thin with shows. Sometimes I feel a sense of relief when I am declined from an exhibit (after the disappointment) simply because it frees up my busy schedule a little bit from not having to worry about dropping the work off, picking it up, and dealing with promoting the work on social media. If you’re super busy too, maybe you can relate.
A success. Keep working towards your dreams. You’ll get there!
There is a certain feeling of vulnerability in sharing your artwork with the world. Most artists are sensitive people. I totally understand the disappointment in being declined from a show you really want to be in, or a residency that you want to go to. It’s okay to feel upset about these things. Your feelings are valid.
No matter how many times your work is declined, keep trying! If it’s an exhibition, your work may not be accepted simply because the juror or gallery owner didn’t like it. That does not speak to the value of the work. It is one person’s opinion. Someone out there will love it, trust me. It’s the same with a residency. One program might not be the right fit or the right timing. If you just keep putting your work out there, you’re bound to find the right venue. Try not to focus on the negatives and try not to think of it as a failure. There is nothing to be ashamed of. This is simply part of being an artist. Learn from it, grow, and don’t give up.
Over time, your applications will get stronger, your work will become more refined, and you will gain a better understanding of what you want to do. My number one piece of advice is not to let a rejection stop you from pursuing your dreams. There will be more opportunities.
