The Art World

I've been giving a lot of thought to the arts community and how challenging it can sometimes be to be welcomed in...especially being juried into arts groups.  I had a nice chat with another artist who had a similar experience to mine a number of years ago, being rejected by a jury on more than one occasion without any explanation.  Juries are interesting to me, as I really have no idea what they are looking for and I believe that if an artist is prolific and practicing their craft and, even more, their work is accepted into exhibits, they have sales, and may have studied in some form, then I don't understand why they are rejected.  I personally love a huge variety of styles of work and love an arts community that is inclusive.  There are times when everything I submit is accepted and I receive awards, and then others where everything is rejected.  It really is a conundrum.   And yet, I cannot imagine being anywhere else in my life because it is the process of creation, above all else, that motivates me.  It's the time spent in my studio that is more important to me than anything else.  Don't get me wrong, exhibiting and selling my work is a huge bonus, but creating it is definitely a necessity for me.  And, whether I am part of a juried group or not, the community of artists that I am privileged to know is the support I really need.