Focus on the Positive
The last few months I have been really trying to focus on the positive things in life instead of the negative. I came to the realization that spending time and energy on negative is a good way to invite more negative and that I was spending way too much time talking about and thinking about yuck. Focusing on the positive and things I’d like to be seems like a better way to reach my goals.
Things don’t always go well and sometimes they are just downright horrible and I acknowledge the need to recognize, experience and learn from these situations. I’m just looking to not dwell on them anymore.
On the art side of things my goal for the year of securing some solo shows after 2008 is not going so well. I got yet another reject letter in the mail today from a small art center. While I haven’t sent as many proposals as I had hoped I’m doing my best to not let this discourage me. I have 2 solos in 2008 that I set up last year and I know good things will happen if I keep working.
I’m using this experience to rethink my plan for my art career. As I get rejection letters from small unknown art centers I’ve been thinking about how this step in my overall process really fits into my final goal. While I’m not yet ready to abandon this plan I am thinking my approach needs revamped and I need to really understand if this is a direction I want to go. More and more I have been thinking that finding gallery representation might be a better use of my time.
I’ll continue out as planned for the year but next year I might refocus my energy somewhere else.
I have found that while I’m bummed when a rejection letter arrives it doesn’t bother me for very long. Sure, it’s not fun to get rejected, but focusing on the negatives seems so counter productive. Maybe I’m disconnected from reality but I don’t feel these rejects in any way is an indication of the quality and value of my work. Maybe it’s all the good things that also have been happening that allows me to just keep moving forward.
Yesterday I got a call from the Arvada Center for Arts and Humanities. I will be part of a holiday art market at the center this december and they’ve decided to include an image of one of my pieces on the invitation.
When they called to ask me what to put down for the medium I knew I didn’t want to say fiber/quilt as I normally do and since I’ve not yet settled on what to call my work now that I’ve decided that the word quilt has to go I ask it be marked mixed media/textiles . I need to come to a decision on this as I have plans to restructure my website and all my marketing materials once I pick a term I like.
I believe that finally stepping out of the quilt world and completely embracing the art world will help to really propel my art career forward. The first step is the terminology. Anyone have any suggestions?
The above picture was taken at Ghost Ranch in 2000. It’s not necessarily related to this post but I wanted something a bit more interesting to look at after the pokemon card the other day.
Posted by Lisa in: Being an Artist
I like both Mixed Media (which I know is overused, but I still like it) and Fiber, so what about Mixed Media/Fiber?
I have also been known to focus on what’s not going well. It doesn’t seem to help anything, and I’m trying to focus on what is going well and what the possibilities are. I’m also looking to spend more time with people who do the same. It may mean letting go of acquaintances and friends who aren’t helpful. Ouch.
Well Brenda you hit that one pretty close to the bullseye. The last few months it became pretty clear to me that a very good friend of mine was a problem for me. This person tended to look on the negative side of things and I found it very easy to just fall into that trap right along with them. For a while I thought I could gently prod this person into viewing life with a more upbeat outlook but it’s not realistic to think we have the power to change anyone. My friend and I have parted ways, and while I miss this person in my life as they had many fine qualities, I need to focus on the positive and the future. Surrounding oneself with others with a similar mindset is important.
And absolutely – ouch.
I’m not so keen on the word fiber myself – not sure why – but I suspect I won’t be going that route. Who knows but right now I’d sure love to find something that sounds more mainstream art and less like a wannabe type of art.
I was thinking something like Contemporary Textile Art.
Maybe Abstract Contemporary Textiles (which maybe sounds more like dry goods than art).
If possible I’d like to avoid the word “art” in the description of the item – so a noun like painting or quilt that describes what I’m making with out using the word art but still sounds like an art object. Textiles isn’t working.
How about “stuff”. “yeah – I make stuff”
Lisa,
Sometimes we just need to show where ever we can—it’s not a reflection on you, or your work. Just keep going….it will happen. Have you ever tried contacting 13 Moons Gallery in Santa Fe? (It’s on Canyon Rd) It started out as a quilt gallery–now they do other fiber arts as well.
Christine
I like “fiber art” or “mixed-media fiber art”. It’s hard to take out the word “quilt” and not use “art”. What about “textile artist”?
By the way, I have enjoyed your blog for a long time and have learned a lot. Thank you!
Hi Lisa,
As a curator at a small art center I can tell you not to take these rejections personally. All art centers have different missions and choose exhibitions accordingly. 2008 is, in most cases, already booked up (2009 might even be) so artists need to think far in advance when approaching art centers and museums.
Also, it is important to select exhibitions that are relevant to the community. This is important for many reasons which I won’t go into here.
My unsolicited advice would be to get to know your local art centers (or centers that are already familiar with your work) and work out from there.
I love the photograph….fits perfect with thinking and allowing.
Isn’t mixed media more than one medium? I personally like fiber art, or fiber assemblage, your work actually is an assemblage, no? Fiber. It is very satisfying to say and think about.
The whole negative positive thing is so much more. It just is. The things that thwart us can be positive if we chose to think of them as a push towards a different mark.
Do you like the term constructed textile? I have always thought of pieced work like that of yourself and Nancy Crow as constructs because of the way it is made, and that it is the construction rather than the stitching which matters more. It is so difficult when portmanteau terms come to distort their own application by too wide a use.
Ach, I have placed a moratorium on doing shows as well. It’s been a while since I did my last solo show and I was getting a little worried. But I sat down to think about it, and realized that while fun and ego-stoking, the cost/benefit of a show is not so good. So often they generate little sales, little interest, and after months of work just end up being one little line item on my resume. So I’m pushing other, hopefully more profitable marketing efforts. I do miss the wine and cheese….
Lisa~
I like the words assemblage from Paula and constructs from Olga because they relate to art historical terms. Fiber would be a description of what you are making your constructs from….Alyson made a great point once about learning how to frame what we do within the larger picture of art history. At first it was difficult for me to think in terms of comparing, so I began to think in terms of continuing a conversation and it became a lot easier for me to see which artists impacted my thinking.
Lisa, I was the one who suggested entering your work in the Denver Modernism show. Your pieces have a very clean, spare look that would appeal (IMHO) to those who have mid-century modern and contemporary homes. In particular, your Structures #79, with it’s striking colorway, has a very modern vibe. If you are unfamiliar with these architectural and decorating styles, some magazines to look through are Atomic Ranch, Dwell, Metropolitan Home and Modernism.
As a way to judge the appeal of your pieces to this market, perhaps you could ask one or two of the Modern/Retro resale stores in the Denver area if you could display a few of your small pieces in their stores. Here is a website with a bit more information about Modernism in Denver: http://www.milehimodern.com/modernHistory.php
Just a thought…
Lisa: you should talk to Priscilla Bianchi, a quilter who in the beginning was pretty naive and after she had completed a body of work, took photos and sent them out to tons of museums [even the textile museum in DC] and places asking for a show and got many positive responses. I’m sure she got some rejections too, but the point is that she just put it all out there and got exposure and good response. I think it takes some guts and naivete helps too sometimes to just let yourself be vulnerable and hope for the best. I think that artists as a group have such tender egos and need to let go of that. Rejection is just the other side of acceptance and seeing one’s cup as half full is a better way of viewing the world. Just go for it and let go. Good luck.
I use Mixed Media Textile Art myself. Fiber encompasses too many other types, i.e. basketry, weaving, etc. I lose the “art” part, when someone asks, saying that I work in Mixed Media and Textiles.
How about Contemporary Constructions, with a sub-title of Abstract Textile Art?
I’m a mixed-media book artist — talk about having to explain myself!! Too many people have no idea what book artistry is — but it does lend itself to conversations as I try to enlighten people about book art. I do think of mixed-media as using several different mediums. I love ‘textile artist’ — you ARE an artist so don’t be afraid to call yourself one. Have you ever appeared or submitted any of your work to “Quilting Arts”? It would be a perfect venue for your work. I know how hard it is to send those feelers out into the world. When we make a piece it becomes so personal — hard to get a rejection on something reveals our heart. But you must keep on trying because nothing will come about at all if you don’t. Your work is beautiful.
last thought:
contemporary fiber art
I agree with Paula about “mixed media”; it takes my mind a different direction. I also like “textile assemblage” though some may think it has too much of a maufacturing bent. Could you get away with “textile collages”? I’m not even sure you need “contemporary” in there. Personally, I prefer something vaguer like “textile creations”.
As for separating yourself from the “wet blankets” in your life, the past year I’ve been trying to focus more on the positive (a la Jack Canfield, et al) and the pervading theme they always come back to is: “What you pay attention to grows.” So I try to focus on that one painting that really worked, that fabulous hike, my 4-legged children, etc.
Keep smiling!
I enter mostly all media shows. On the entry forms where it lists what types of art will be considered, the word “fiber” is used. I’ve never seen the word “textiles” on a form. I’ve tried different descriptions of what I do and have settled on fiber artist. Personally, I don’t like the word quilt in the title. Alyson says that we quilters are too hung up on not using the word quilt, but if I say that I am an art quilter to anyone, I get the grandma response.
Thanks for this reminder to focus on the positive! I get plenty of rejection letters, and you’re right, it hurts for a second, but you move on. One artist I really admire, who’s now famous and sells everything she paints, showed me her stack of rejection letters. She kept them all as a reminder.