Rejection, a flawed premise.

What to say, when there is nothing left to say? When you’ve done all you can, your best.  The answer is simpler than what we make it out to be, we move forward. Rejection as it is viewed has a flawed premise, for often it is redirection and not the negative connotation placed upon it.  As an artist, I have applied to several grants, many exhibits and events. I have not been successful at securing a spot in any of my attempts.  This  may seem as a failure but many of the greats failed numerous times before they reached the pinnacle of their creative careers.

You can not fail when you try, but you most certainly fail when you choose not to try at all. I learned plenty through the course of these trials, new ways of creating, new methods, different views and I have learned much about my personal resilience when applied to the right avenue, self development. I’ve learned to keep moving forward and to continue carving out my own creative path. I have remained true to my own creative style and form of expression, even when it has received criticism and judgment. Our styles, our forms of expression,  regardless of the form will not be for everyone. For the love of art is in the eye of the beholder, and as long as you love your free expression and it is a representation of your truest self then that is ultimately  what matters most. 

I recently applied to Nuit Blanche 2024, and regretfully the solo exhibit, titled Unclaimed Baggage, was not considered for this event. It brought me to this thought, that just because our thoughts, views and creativity do not match the desired overall criteria, it  does not invalidate the process of which said thoughts and views were formed.  I am sharing this as a way of being transparent, because failure or failed attempts are not something to be ashamed of. We are a  walking trial and error, and in the course of our process we evolve and with the right frame of mind, we become better,  a Masterpiece. We should never stop trying, we should never stop learning and we should never fail ourselves by believing that external rejections are a true reflection of our ability to achieve greatness.