REFLECTIONS ON
THE UPS AND DOWNS OF JURIED EXHIBITIONS

© Wendy Lugg

Ozquilt Network Newsletter Issue #40 June 2001

When I first decided to enter a quilt exhibition, my primary goal was not to exhibit, but to finish the quilt! The exhibition offered that wonderful thing, an imposed deadline which could not be ignored, unlike those I set myself.... 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 .... but 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 from the 1998 Manly exhibition, with its theme of Crazy Art. 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 was compounded by the fact the selector was somebody whose opinion I greatly valued. I took out the quilt and looked at it again. I decided 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. 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 that it does not fit the overall 'look' of the show. In fact when I saw the catalogue from the Manly show, I could see that my rejected quilt, 'Tidemark', would not have fitted easily into that exhibition. It is a quiet, unobtrusive little quilt, and would have been lost amongst the strong 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, and is gaining me a surprising amount of attention. 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, 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, 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!

© Wendy Lugg 2001