Sue Beach on thu 1 apr 04
Some of you may remember my post a month or so ago about having the doldrums.
There were lots of good suggestions for getting me going again, but you want to
know what really did it??? A dose of rejection and the accompanying pain/anger.
For several years I studied in a small group with an excellent potter/teacher.
Besides the teacher & me, there was one other consistent student and a couple of
occassional students. I thought we were buddies, classmates, claymates...
Whenever I had a clay opportunity, I let them know and invited them along. We
shared spaces, kilns, glaze recipes.... as well as dinners and bottles of wine.
So a couple of weeks before NCECA, I opened the local paper to read about a
bunch of clay related events here in town that I had known nothing about. Also
left out was the co-op gallery that I am a member of. But included was a local
gallery owner who is also a member of the co-op and she was putting on a special
show that included my teacher, the other student(also a member of the co-op) &
one of the occassional students. I was really hurt. More because the students
& my teacher didn't bother to tell me about it than because I was excluded, but
the exclusion hurt, too.
Then I got mad. And once I got mad, I got back to work in the pottery. I'll
show them! Later, the other student e-mailed me about going to NCECA with me.
I told her Ron & I already had plans but hoped she had a good time. I don't
know if she went or not, but I wasn't about to share the experience with her.
Petty probably, but I am still hurt.
But at least I'm making pots again.
Sue Beach
Quoting claybair :
..... snip....
>
> I got wait listed again for a show yesterday.
> It's a well known show in my area. Now a person who
> makes cookie cutter forms, uses commercial bisque
> and only paints primary colors on these cartoon-like pieces
> got in last year and prolly this year too. Go figure.
>
> Now I will always work on what I can do to improve
> my work/display but am I crushed.... naaaa it's unproductive
> and not worth it. It a matter of degrees I guess because
> I am annoyed....... but that inspires me to do better..... snip....
>
> Best regards,
>
> Gayle Bair
> Bainbridge Island, WA
> http://claybair.com
Antoinette Badenhorst on fri 2 apr 04
Most people work just for themselves and what they can get for
themselves out of an event, situation or whatever. That is part of
human's very selfish nature. My husband always says "there is no such
thing as a free lunch" Sometimes I remember that but mostly not. I
seldom confront people when they hurt me, but then, why one should let
others mistakes become your handicaps. If one can use situations like
the one you've experienced and change the threat into an opportunity,
you will gain from it in the end. Rejection from shows galleries, shops,
whatever is also things that should force the artist forward. (Like you
are doing now)
I've experienced in my years in clay that potters live in a very harsh
world. (Probably counts for any profession out there) Often times it is
not just between the walls of ones studio that one have to struggle
through a practical problem, but if we get out of the studio, then there
are people out there that will use you(or your work) or reject or
criticize or befriend you in all different ways. Mostly it has nothing
to do with you, but everything to do with them. ".....no such thing as
a free lunch!"
Those are the things that make us strong and make our work purer. Those
are also the things that make us winners or loosers.
Keep on doing your thing and don't waist your energy on others mistakes.
Take care.
Antoinette Badenhorst
105 Westwood Circle
Saltillo MS
38866
662 869 1651
www.clayandcanvas.com
-----Original Message-----
From: Clayart [mailto:CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG] On Behalf Of Sue Beach
Sent: Thursday, April 01, 2004 3:47 PM
To: CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
Subject: using rejection as a tool
Some of you may remember my post a month or so ago about having the
doldrums.
There were lots of good suggestions for getting me going again, but you
want to
know what really did it??? A dose of rejection and the accompanying
pain/anger.
For several years I studied in a small group with an excellent
potter/teacher.
Besides the teacher & me, there was one other consistent student and a
couple of
occassional students. I thought we were buddies, classmates,
claymates...
Whenever I had a clay opportunity, I let them know and invited them
along. We
shared spaces, kilns, glaze recipes.... as well as dinners and bottles
of wine.
So a couple of weeks before NCECA, I opened the local paper to read
about a
bunch of clay related events here in town that I had known nothing
about. Also
left out was the co-op gallery that I am a member of. But included was
a local
gallery owner who is also a member of the co-op and she was putting on a
special
show that included my teacher, the other student(also a member of the
co-op) &
one of the occassional students. I was really hurt. More because the
students
& my teacher didn't bother to tell me about it than because I was
excluded, but
the exclusion hurt, too.
Then I got mad. And once I got mad, I got back to work in the pottery.
I'll
show them! Later, the other student e-mailed me about going to NCECA
with me.
I told her Ron & I already had plans but hoped she had a good time. I
don't
know if she went or not, but I wasn't about to share the experience with
her.
Petty probably, but I am still hurt.
But at least I'm making pots again.
Sue Beach
Quoting claybair :
..... snip....
>
> I got wait listed again for a show yesterday.
> It's a well known show in my area. Now a person who
> makes cookie cutter forms, uses commercial bisque
> and only paints primary colors on these cartoon-like pieces
> got in last year and prolly this year too. Go figure.
>
> Now I will always work on what I can do to improve
> my work/display but am I crushed.... naaaa it's unproductive
> and not worth it. It a matter of degrees I guess because
> I am annoyed....... but that inspires me to do better..... snip....
>
> Best regards,
>
> Gayle Bair
> Bainbridge Island, WA
> http://claybair.com
________________________________________________________________________
______
Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at
melpots@pclink.com.
| |
|
