Thursday, August 21, 2008

Pity Post

Ugh.

Well, as I said, I put the For Pele's Sake! piece in the Minnesota State Fair. They posted the results, and I most definitely did not win. I didn't even make 5th place. I've entered several years in a row now, and have never won. I don't know that I will enter again, it's a huge blow to my self-esteem, and I've now spent a goodly amount of my morning so far in near tears, and wishing I'd never entered.

The trouble with quilt competition, is that you tell yourself that you will never win. Unfortunately, there is always a little seed of hope in you somewhere, and when you in fact don't win, it hurts. And given how much of yourself you put into a piece, it's like a personal rejection. Or am I the only one who admits this?

Was I hurt again by not doing something traditional? Do I just suck and not really realize how bad I suck? What are the chances of eventually making a career out of quilting, if you can never win in a competition?

The kicker is, my scores are never bad when I get the judges slip back. So what am I missing? What is it that makes another piece better than mine? Of the last four times that I have put a piece in, 3 of the 4 were art pieces. The fourth was a traditional northwoods type style. Guess what? The traditional piece got the highest marks. The do not have a strictly art piece category, I have to list them under Wall Quilt. Is it really that I do contemporary art pieces? Would I have to start doing traditional pieces only to have a chance to win? Do I just suck? lol

I'm trying to force myself to go to the studio today, but I have that depressed feeling that you get when you watch a days worth of Lifetime movies! So please forgive my self pity post! I know it's stupid of me, and I don't like being weepy! At least I still have the cheerful thought that I get to leave for Hawaii in just a couple weeks.

Just please tell me, that I am not the only one that sort of feels personally hurt when my pieces don't win at all!

5 comments:

Margo said...

Stephanie, maybe you just need to find a different venue to enter your quilts into? One that has a lot of art quilts may be more accepting of your work. Go ahead and have your pity party, then design your next piece! You might also get some helpful tips by taking some (on-line?) classes with teachers who can help direct your artistic efforts. Please don't give up!!
SEW LONG!

annlp said...

Of course you are not the only one who feels this way. I have had many rejections and a few successes. Just got a rejection from Houston and it hurts. But I know that some judges love my work. Try different shows, some are more friendly to art quilts than others. But do what makes you happy and keep posting your work. It certainly makes me happy to see it.

Anonymous said...

I think you should make what makes "your" heart sing, not what you think judges might like. Stay true to yourself, and the accolades will come. And, I loved your piece!

Mickey Depre said...

Get in the car...drive down...we can "pity party" together!

Trust me...the State Fair is not the venue for your level of art.

I'll email some suggestions.

Mickey

Eileen said...

Stephanie,
Have you given any thought to joining SAQA? It sounds like you might do better in one of their venues.
There was just a big discussion on the Quilt Art list about being accepted into a juried show and what the jurors are looking for. Let me know if you'd be interested in reading a juror's blog and I'll send it to you.