Fine Focus '06

My little piece entitled "Rice Bowl and Bird" has been accepted for Fine Focus '06. I am happy. It is a piece I am really very fond of and the show is one that I have great respect for.

This is the only thing I have entered this year. Last year I entered a lot of shows and was only accepted into one. That gets discouraging, even though reading other blogs and the QuiltArt list lets me know that it happens to everyone. Still, I always feel this little internal crisis when the rejection letter arrives. "Why do I even tryyyyy?" goes my internal wail. Externally I say, "well, you win a few, you lose a few..." and smile bravely. My artist friends and I commiserate. My friend, June Underwood, refers to her Quilt National entry fees as "charitable donations"--except this year she got in to Quilt National. Wow. I was thrilled for her and it wasn't even bittersweet, because I didn't even enter. (And because I really like June and I really liked her QN piece and she deserved it.)

Last year my entries for APNQ didn't get in. I had gotten into the prior one, so that was a tough rejection. It was made worse when I went to the show and saw what I felt were very unworthy pieces that had been accepted. (In fairness I have to say that there were also some amazing, good pieces too) But, there were two literally identical quilts made in the same class, from kits, by two different people that were in that show. And there were quilts made from commercial patterns entered as "art quilts" in that show. Humpf. Will I enter again? Yes, probably. Hope springs eternal...

So, why do we put ourselves through this? Besides the emotional cost, and the time involved, it is expensive to have slides made, pay entry fees, etc. Probably we do it because it feels so damn good when you get into a really good show. And Fine Focus is a really good show. And my piece can currently be seen on their web site--scroll to the bottom of the page.

Yes, I am very happy.