I applied early (before cold feet had enough time to develop) and waited. Then, while in Denmark, I got an email message that my application was "incomplete." This arrived after the application deadline, so I figured there was nothing I could do about it, no access to my photo files, etc. A few days later I got another message--apparently my application fee had not gone through--this was the "incomplete" part. Our gracious Danish hosts had international calling on their landline and encouraged me to call. The Director at QN was friendly and helpful (even though I reached her as she was trying to leave the office late on a Friday) , explained that I had misinterpreted something on the online form and therefore the payment had not processed. I fixed that over the phone, thanked her many times, and had my hopes restored.
Then I got the rejection email. Well, rats, as we say. And all my friends who applied have also received rejection notices--I'm in very good company. One artist even set up a salon des refuses on Facebook where we could show our work and commiserate. I have not yet seen the list of accepted artists. I have seen mention that there were 800 applications, while 81 works were accepted! This inspires some sympathy for the jurors, who had to sift through all those images to select a show.
I find I'm getting better at rejection. I'm not devastated--these are still good works, and I can enter them elsewhere. I will meet with my Thread Songs friends next week and we can talk about this and other shows. And I keep reminding myself that the joy is in the making, not in what comes after.
What comes after isn't bad, though. we have all three had works accepted for another important show in New York at the Schweinfurth Memorial Art Center. So "Turmeric & Wine" will be heading north in October to Quilts=Art=Quilts.
And I'm gathering work for a 5-day show at Strings Attached, a lovely yarn shop on Main Street in Dayton OH, opening October 20. If you're in the Dayton area, come on down for the reception, 6:30-8:00 p.m. I will be there with smiles.