AMY MEISSNER
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The serious business of showing.

7/30/2015

19 Comments

 
There are several deadlines looming for juried exhibitions in the textile and contemporary art realm. I'm sure most of you are old pros at submitting -- I'm not, but since I finally have a body of work to pull from, I'm learning how best to approach the task of entering multiple shows. Here's a bit of a take away:

1. Get organized. Give yourself a large layout space and organize all the show descriptions you've been contemplating by deadline date, notification date, show dates. Place available artwork on its own sticky note. Make sure no one disturbs this. It could impact the dinner table for, like, days. Oh, except you never eat there anymore anyway because it's always covered with your crap and the island in the kitchen is way closer to the bottomless carton of whole milk in the refrigerator.

2. Allow plenty of time. Days, really. Computer glitches happen. Kids need snacks and bike rides and summertime trips to the library and then there was that last time you hung up the phone and said, "Unless you're bleeding, do NOT bother me when I'm on the phone!" Right, you need to apologize for that when they wake up. That was a lame thing to say. 

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3. Pay attention to notification dates so you can leapfrog rejected work immediately to another show. If you're upset about being rejected, this is because you aren't submitting enough (insert laughter here). 

4. Start that digital file with all those artist statement variations (20-word count, 100-word count, 1000-character count ... ) and indicate which show you've sent which statement to. Adopt a confident stance. I suggest a Wonder Woman pose for one full minute before copyediting your statement, just one last time.

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A cool hipster pose is okay, too. It gives everyone the impression that exhibiting is no big deal. Meanwhile, remember that emerging artists need to apply widely. Except there's the other advice that you shouldn't enter just any old show lest it doesn't further your career, so, actually you should be really picky.

Or some lousy dichotomy like that. 

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Also remember that "callouses only develop in response to irritation and consistent use," so the prickliness of rejection will eventually go away. 
Bite it a little. There, did it go away?
Darn. Maybe later.

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5. Read the fine print. I nearly submitted to a show once that couldn't accommodate shipped artwork. What? I live in Alaska. Here, let me just walk it to your loading bay. Wait, just let me walk it through Canada first. I also submitted an enormous piece to a show last winter, failing to notice their clearly stated size restrictions. Right. That piece didn't get in. Duh, Meissner. On the flip side, I had to phone a gallery yesterday, because upon re-reading said fine print, I discovered there were no show dates listed, just the opening reception. Duh, Show.

Did I mention that callouses only develop in response to irritation?
 
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6. Respect the jurors by offering beautiful, professional photos sized appropriately (as per fine print, which will specify different dimensions for each exhibition submittal ... naturally). Also, don't refer to your work as "mixed media" when specifics are so much more revealing and exciting . Also, poof read, I mean, proof read. You have to stand out from 100's or 1000's of submissions, so don't screw up your chances in the first round of jurying because of a silly mistake. No pressure.

7. Photocopy your entry form and staple to the hard copy of the prospectus. In 2 months, when acceptance/rejection letters are finally sent it's likely that you will have forgotten not only what you submitted, but what you said about it, who you are, and where you live.

8. Save all your rejection letters to prove to the IRS that you aren't just sitting on your rear. 

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9. Do your best to just really get right in there, focus and do the hard work. Like somebody said, "Under commit and over perform." 

Somebody also said that thing about "A job worth doing."

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Somebody also pointed out that only disgusting people let cats sit on their table. Except that we don't eat at our table. Because I never cook anymore.

If any of this advice is appealing, or makes you feel far superior, you might want to check out the alarmingly popular post "How to box & ship a quilt (like a Swede)" or a myriad of other posts in the "How to" category of this blog. I mean, why bumble along when someone else (me) has clearly done that part for you?


19 Comments
Carol Patten
7/30/2015 12:38:53 am

Oh my goodness, you are funny and INFORMATIVE. I've been thinking about breaking out of entering only through my local 'guild'. I had forgotten my creative writing days and query letters routine...similar to your 'system'. BTW Re: Cat on the table, kitchen counters etc. I always made a great show when a visitor appeared of shooing the cat off the counter. Telling the cat he/she knows better. Meanwhile the cat thinks you're crazy because you feed him/her on the counter to keep the dogs out of the cat food. Visitor none the wiser and disinfectant spray hidden neatly beneath the sink.

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Amy Meissner link
7/30/2015 06:05:21 am

Woman, I like your style.
I, too, have some experience with disinfecting counters and schlepping manuscripts (the tragedy of the latter was if one got accepted, but you forgot which version you sent ... drat).
And yes, you should break out of your local guild ... always a great place to gain a foothold and some confidence, but it could certainly feel limiting after a while. I don't know, though, there is something really nice about rolling up to the local gallery/museum with your artwork in the car and not having to worry about hefty shipping and insurance costs....
Thank you so much for commenting here and I hope you'll return to the blog!
XO
Amy

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Geri deGruy link
7/30/2015 02:57:26 am

Very funny. And good advice. Also love the cat on the table.

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Amy Meissner link
7/30/2015 06:08:44 am

Geri,
I, too, love the cat on the table, who is more recently referred to as Seismic Cat, since she fearfully detected our last earthquake (6.3-ish) for a full 30 minutes before it hit.
Alaska is very exciting.
XO
Amy

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Roxanne Lasky link
7/30/2015 05:49:16 am

Hi Amy,
I just pulled the pile (in date order and stapled to other important information about the show) from the corner of my desk and the first thing that jumped out is a note I made about "membership" required - one of the criteria for submitting to a particular show. Do you have an opinion on this? Do you have a limit on entry fee? This can be an expensive risk. I know…somebody said… and thanks for the other tips!

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Amy Meissner link
7/30/2015 06:19:30 am

Hi Roxanne,
I should have probably gone into fees and memberships in the post, but it's such a loaded topic. I totally get that jurors have a fee and some of the costs also go to producing a lovely catalog, but it sure adds up quickly! I guess I weigh the math part and the perks associated with membership. If it's a "members pay $30, non-members $35" and the venue is on the opposite side of the country so I know I won't ever visit the place to enjoy my free admission benefits, I plunk down the $5. But, if there are other membership perks like a link to my site from theirs and access to other shows throughout the year, then I just bite the bullet and call the membership a "professional expense." I'm wary of entry fees that are less than $20 and more than $50. I'm also wary of galleries that don't insure my work while it's under their roof. I think I have some other red flags, but they aren't coming to me at the moment.
And what was it somebody said? "Risk is a 4-letter word"?
XO
Amy

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Lindy Smith
7/30/2015 10:25:07 am

Amy, love your writing style and great sense of humour.

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Amy Meissner link
7/30/2015 01:11:05 pm

Lindy,
Thank you for reading and taking the time to comment! I only sometimes have a great sense of humor. Most of the time I'm just really tired and crabby and nobody likes the food I cook.
XO
Amy

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Laurie Russman
7/30/2015 01:07:21 pm

Love #3 ;)....and your cat, too.

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Amy Meissner link
7/30/2015 01:15:24 pm

Laurie,
#3 hits a note with me too. I have to say, it does get less stressful. I think the first time I applied for a show through CaFE online I was such a wreck by the time I hit "send" I'm still surprised my neurotic energy didn't blow up the whole damned computer.
Thanks for reading and commenting!
XO
Amy

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Judy Jones link
8/3/2015 12:05:14 am

Thanks, Amy for this delightful rendition on exactly the way it is! Getting ready to send out an application today. Have "sat " on all the statements and photos over the weekend after reviewing multiple times. Will read it over at least two MORE times before I click send! I don't know whether waiting to send is procrastination, fear, good sense, or all the above.

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Amy Meissner link
8/3/2015 12:15:43 am

Judy,
This is exactly my process as well. I hate doing things at the last minute and would rather "sit" on drafts until I'm completely sick of looking at them. It's almost my signal that it's time to push them out the door. Best of luck to you and thanks for reading and commenting here. I hope you'll return to read more!
XO
Amy

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Leslie Marsh link
8/3/2015 06:11:55 pm

oh gosh, what a delight your blog is! I followed a thread over from Pinterest this morning, and just spent an hour scanning through your year of posts. What a wonderful voice and incredibly compelling work.

This post is timely as I am also sending out applications. Spent an hour going through the process two days before the deadline recently, after months of procrastinating. Then reworked my statement ONLINE, submitting without saving. Such a bad idea. I guess I need to learn these lessons.

Anyway, I will be back. Thanks for sharing.

Your newest fan

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Amy Meissner link
8/3/2015 10:49:41 pm

Hi Leslie,
Getting to read your kind note at 5:30 am is an excellent start to my day -- thank you for taking time to comment and also to let me know how you found my blog. This is immensely helpful and makes me think I should ask readers for feedback more often. On that note, wouldn't it be great to get feedback from these shows (I know it's impossible...but a scoring sheet would be nice) so we could all learn what we're doing wrong, IF we're doing anything wrong? If the reasoning is a technical mistake, we can learn and move on. If the reason hinges on something thematic or subjective or a space issue, etc., that might be helpful too, but not knowing anything is such a bummer. I get the process, and I understand that anything other than a form rejection letter is out of the question, but anyway....
Happy day and good luck to you, you maverick online statement submitter.
XO
Amy

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Pamela link
9/3/2015 09:26:00 pm

I love your website and your blog stories are wonderful. I have 4 kids 11,9,7 and 3 months. My table is similar to yours, but the kids eat around my stuff...we are military and move...alot...I finally have a body of work to submit to different places. Just recently I was selected as the first fiber artist to be in the Carmel fine arts yearly calendar-this is leading to some other amazing opportunities. I am taking off and you will too. One break is all you need just like I have received. Wishing you well--and you are very organized:)

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Amy Meissner link
9/5/2015 06:47:47 am

Pamela,
4 kids! And moving lots! Living in Alaska, I have gained and lost many military friends. Thank goodness for Facebook or they would have disappeared entirely. I am super thrilled for you and your accomplishments. You go, Mama. What a gift to your children -- to see the value of hard creative work. They won't remember eating around your projects in a bad way, they'll remember you making it all work despite the distractions.
Thank you for taking the time to show up here and comment too! I hope you'll return--
XO
Amy

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Helen Walsh link
10/13/2015 02:13:24 pm

I came to your site via pinterest (beautiful work) and this post has given me a much needed slap (in a good 'get a grip woman' sort of way!) I've been doing the whole applying for things, complete with traumas as outlined in your post, but had reached the 'what's the point?' stage. Having read your post I've realised that it's just one of the joys of being an artist and I should really just get on with it. Thanks!

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Amy Meissner link
10/13/2015 07:09:08 pm

Helen,
I'm so glad you found this post (there is a part 2, in which I share some of the highlights of my efforts and don't dwell too much on the agonies of defeat: www.amymeissner.com/blog/the-serious-business-of-showing-part-2), and thank you for telling me where you saw the link -- this is really helpful for my early-morning-why-am-I-expending-all-this-effort-to-link-to-posts drama while I'm on the stationary bike with my laptop propped up on a rubber shelf liner. Really. It's good to know. I'm sorry you'd gotten to the "what's the point" stage ... I was there very recently, like, this afternoon, and while I don't personally feel like it's a joy (I'm assuming you were being sarcastic), it's definitely part of the artistic process and it, like the work, is a skill to be learned. There is a craft to putting your work out in the world and I'm increasingly seeing it as a part of the job I'm getting better at, and am willing to learn more about. Each small victory builds on the one before.
I wish you many victories,
XO
Amy

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Helen Walsh link
10/13/2015 11:46:58 pm

Wise words Amy, thank you! Good luck!


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    Amy Meissner, textile artist. Photo credit Brian Adams, 2013. www.amymeissner.com

    Amy Meissner

    Artist in Anchorage, Alaska, sometimes blogging about the collision of history, family & art, with the understanding that none exists without the other.

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