Why Haven't You Rejected Me?

Dear Local Art Gallery –

I know running a small business is hard. Not because I have firsthand experience – but I understand that there's more to "living the dream"  than the fun of owning your own art space. There are business and admin considerations that no doubt make it feel more like work than you'd probably like. But still, you've got a good thing going. You're an institution in this city. You're the first place people suggest when I tell them I'm working towards making art my full-time career. And you're always putting out open calls for artists for themed exhibits. I applied to one last month.

So why haven't you rejected me?

I diligently filled out the google form. I made sure to get it in before the deadline. I checked my inbox frequently in the days after applications closed to see whether I'd received a yea or nay. I watched as the dates on the calendar crept closer to the first of three workshops, at least one of which participants were required to attend. And yet. Your email address has yet to grace my push notifications.

Why haven't you rejected me yet?

The day of workshop one passes, and I am resigned to my fate.

That's a little dramatic – I wasn't so emotionally invested as to feel a deep wound over the lack of inclusion in the exhibit. I threw my hat in the ring with a "what the hell" attitude, in a "let's see what happens" headspace. If it's a no, that's cool! Truly.

So why haven't you rejected me yet?

The days move on. Time stops for no artist. I finish up my time at a local art studio, where I won two free months of studio space, and (almost) forget how I was ignored. I mention to my friend, who's a regular at your space, and participating in the exhibit in question, that I was rejected by proxy. Ghosted. My application in the ether. We laugh, bewildered, and go on with our lives. I think about my unrequited application sometimes, and sigh.

But what's this?

A push notification with your gallery's title in the sender line.

Could it be? Weeks later? Was there some mistake - ?

"We regret to inform you that your application was not selected for the showcase."

I double check my calendar to make sure I have the date right. I double check your social media – again, to make sure I have the date right. The exhibit that I have just been rejected for, which would require the creation of a brand new piece… is in two weeks.

Did you think I didn't know by now?

Why did you wait so long to reject me?

 

Yours (or not),

A spurned artist

 

Dear Local Art Gallery –

Can I be a bit more frank?

I meant what I said earlier: I would have been fine receiving a “no.” It’s the nature of the industry. Between my theater background, and now attempting to make my way as a visual artist, I’ve had to make friends with rejection. I’m okay with it. What I am less okay with is not being given the courtesy of said rejection.

I know life happens. I know times are crazy. We're human. I get it.

We are also all professionals (or aspiring professionals). And all our time is valuable.

Receiving no response, and then a response that was so delayed it was laughable, was far worse than any "no" I have received. Applying to open calls as an artist is to make oneself vulnerable. We want to be accepted. We want to feel seen and know that our art is valued. In the face of that, being told "no" is always going to be a little tough. But when it appears that our application, our act of vulnerability, is not even worthy of being acknowledged…

I implore you, if you are going to continue to open your doors and your gallery space to artists, to consider the impact this lack of acknowledgement might have.

I don't think there was any malicious intent – mistakes happen. But they are also not without impact.

I wouldn't place myself in such a position as to tell you how to run your business, nor even to offer a solution to this (isolated?) instance. But I thought it was important enough to get down in words.

I thought it was important enough to acknowledge.