Fact Gathering and
Perspective (2 of 7)
I had been to the 2017 show, but this time I was looking at it from a different perspective. Instead of going to check out some quilts, I was going as someone who had invested themselves in the show, even if I hadn't been accepted. There were no hard feelings, no resentment, just the goal of looking objectively and an interest in learning more.
Let me say up front they made the right call. I couldn’t see where my two quilts would have fit in either. After my submissions, I have no doubt the entry numbers continued to increase, up to the deadline. The work came from across the country and around the world. It represented a wide variety of approaches to quilting. As I thought about the shear number of quilts, the magnitude of the task of reviewing all those entries hit me. You gotta really love quilts to want to look at so many.
I began to see parallels with other activities that require us to put our work or lives up for consideration against other deserving folks. I was not unfamiliar with this process, I had entered art shows in my distant past. I don’t know why I hadn't made the connection before- even quilt shows are put together with a vision in mind. Wandering through the rows of quilts, I began to see the qualities that the jurors were emphasizing in their choices. I couldn't help but be struck by the realization that quilting has clearly developed into a vibrant, respected art form, appreciated by more than the quilters themselves.
(You can check out quilts from past shows, and the awards for Road to California Showcase winners at http://www.road2ca.com/contest-winners.html)
So I discovered a new found respect for all the work that goes in to putting any show together.
Hey! That’s a good take away from all this, right?.
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