Do I have more growing to do?

Hmmm... This is what I got as a response to an app to a pretty high end show.
I am not sure what to do.
Do I react?
I want to see what was chosen, for sure.
I felt like it was a reach... 
but I WAS STILL HOPING FOR ACCEPTANCE.
Admittedly, I have a lot going on right now (outside of the work) and I do believe there is a reason for everything and yet... I STILL WANTED TO GET IN.
It would require booth development and outlay of funds and a lot of work and hours and physical exhaustion...
But I STILL WANTED TO BE ACCEPTED.
I do still feel that I have room to develop my surfaces and  feel like I am still vacillating between
not wanting to create work that is overly refined and "Perfectionist" and still allowing the detail of the carving not to get lost in too much texture... 
SO...I can't help but wonder if I was really ready to apply 
or
wonder if I should consider changing my direction.... 
AND YET....
I feel like I am still HEADING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION....
BUT if you can't wait for all of the lights to turn green to leave your house,
HOW DO YOU KNOW WHEN YOU ARE REALLY READY TO APPLY FOR A SHOW?
If I don't try, I will never know...
BUT  I am missing the CRITIQUE PART... 
Was it the actual work that got me declined?
Was it not high enough in terms of quality/craftsmanship?
Was it inexperience on my statement of shows I have been in?
Was the work not cohesive enough?
WHAT IS THE PROBLEM?
Would you guys consider giving me your thoughts?



 : Sorry, your application has been declined.

Dear JUDI TAVILL,

Thank you very much for giving our 2012 jury panel the opportunity to review your application for the ___________Craft Show. I am sure you understand how difficult the task is to select from so many fine applicants and especially to have to turn down excellent artists in an effort to create a balanced show.

Regrettably, they have not selected your work to be included in this year’s show. We greatly appreciate your interest in the < _____________ Show and hope that you will apply again.  Each year we invite a different mix of jurors, and their perspective and emphasis will be different from those of their predecessors’.

Sincerely,

____________ Director, ___________

Category: Ceramics
Artist: JUDI TAVILL

Artist Statement:

The human body, nature, and the world around me are inspiring to me. I am not interested in replicating but, rather, reinterpreting this in my work. My textile background ultimately informs the work as well. The process of creation and the manner in which I choose to work stimulates me creatively, allowing for investigation and exploration. I use several different natural clay colors and throw the form on the potter's wheel, then I proceed to alter and carve interchangeably. It is the synergy created during this hand-to-clay contact that is both meditative and energizing to my soul. The residual markings found in all of my forms, affirms the reality of how the human spirit remains part of the vessel’s creation. I am emphasizing the vessel as a sculptural vehicle but many pieces function. The location the piece comes to reside in will ultimately determine its scale and presence. These forms find harmony in environments from modern to rustic. This completes the creative process for me.
MANDATORY: Booth Description or Booth Image
Pipe and drape in clean,neutral fabric. Various table/shelving/pedestal style configurations with clean organic, modern approach.1 black & white(antiqued) enlarged image hanging with artist name. Overhead lighting track style and possible floor covering.
2011 SHOWS PARTICIPATED IN (Other than Crafts America Shows)
No retail/wholesale craft shows in 2011. The KC Clay Guild's Juried Tea Bowl National Show Kansas City, MO 2011

OF COURSE, in the middle of typing this, I get a phone call from a gentleman in Ontario who seeked me out to buy THREE of my vases as a surprise for a ceremony renewing the vows of his marriage after FORTY  years... and on MY ANNIVERSARY, no less...SO whatever I am told, I realize I can handle it... as all opinions and critiques are subjective, I presume! 

Tonight and tomorrow!!!

Not the best photos BUT....
You can see my work in the Gilbert's house and the Verma's house
on the Rumson Kitchen Tour tomorrow(see margin) and/or...


TONIGHT and tomorrow at Salt Creek Grill at my "vendor table!
4-8 pm tonight, 9:30am-3pm tomorrow.
Tonight there is 1/2 price wine!!!



PLUS...I am debuting my new jewelry!!!

A Little Taste of What Has Been Going On in the Studio

My Purple Hair...

Candy Dishes?

GO BIG or GO HOME!

Big Bowl Form

Nothing Like Waiting 'Til The Last Minute...

I am submitting these photos for the next 500 Teapots by Lark Books.
The deadline is tomorrow.
So I am submitting tomorrow.
The problem is, my printer is not cooperating.
It does not get it.
I need to PRINT OUT what is on the disc...
It says it right there in the instructions.
The printer EVIDENTLY does not LIKE instructions...
SO...Tomorrow(because I need one more thing to do tomorrow),
I will find a Kinkos type to print the images on the disc.
THEN, I will ship it off...of course... it is ENTIRELY possible
that the images won't be selected for the book.
In that case, I do wish I could receive constructed criticism
as to WHY???
But, ALAS, rejection does not come with explanations for these things...
SO... come January when they notify the applicants, If I am rejected,
I will ask for YOUR criticism. For now, I would like to sleep.

The Actual Press

Got back from vacation and I received my copy in the mail...
I know, "big deal", but just wanted to share...
Do you see it?

A little bit of PRESS...

I don't think this is what the cover looks like(I am waiting for mine in the mail)...
But, the lovely writer doing a piece on "art pottery' for
Cottages and Bungalows' May 2012 issue, asked me
if it would be alright to use my piece:















Well... of course I said yes...
That piece SOLD to a lovely lady in Denmark before the issue came out!
But THIS ONE is available... in MY ETSY SHOP!



















So feel free to CLICK away!!!

A taste of what came out of the kiln!

Still for sale!

Do you see the girls on the right?
Just a heads up! They ship!!!

Are you in a buying mood???

Terra Incognito's show is up!!!
ON LINE! AND YOU CAN MAKE PURCHASES!!!!
HERE under Coffee, Tea, or...?
Sunds Like a plan!
Check out how it looks:















Do you see my two cups????

Catching Up.

Well...
We are back from Whistler... Just adults...
No Kids... CRAZY... No sleep because we took a red eye and
I am in that exhausted buzz place right now waiting to CRASH.
It was a good break from the intensity of Pam leaving us...
Here are some of the snow board photos...
P.S. I am still with my husband of 18 years even though
I ended up having to wiggle down a cliff of sorts at one point!











































Additionally, the 8 Fluid Oz. Cup Show has uploaded all of the images...
My cup has sold but it is nice to see the whole show!

I also had 2 cups accepted into The Coffee, Tea, Or ...? Show
at Terra Incognito Studios in Illinois.
My cup even made the poster:



















Sadly, the correct spelling of my name,however,
did NOT get into the show... But... you can't have EVERYTHING!

I can't wait to get back into my studio but of course...
ther is laundry and errands and did I mention LAUNDRY??

Press

Press in the Two River Times today...
A local newspaper....
Cute article about 3 local female artists...
and on their website HERE:

My Dear Friend Pam

It has been a long strange trip since my dear friend was diagnosed with A.L.S.
a few months over 5 years ago...
I have posted about her several times ...
HERE you will connect to all of them...



















Many of you read about her years ago and commented...
I used to tell her... For a WHILE now, all she was able to do is move her eye slightly to
respond yes or no...
She had a will to live I believe and she held out for a very long time...
Tonight around 6pm...she passed on....
I say passed on because I believe her soul, her energy needed freedom from the
prison her body had become.
I mean it... this is what I believe.
This is what I told my sons...
My 11 year old was very visibly upset and very angry that this horrible illness and
end of life had happened to such a good person...
He told me he would get rid of all the pottery collected
and my pottery if it had happened as it would be too hard for him...
I told him.."No!"...Don't you see.?..
My energy and spirit is in each piece and the pieces from these
other artists hold some of their energy and ours from us choosing
to have them around us..."
I feel that we are all part of a bigger energy and God holds our energy....
(I could expound upon this concept but long story short:
I feel organized religion and explanations
in English or Hebrew basically describe -with a humanizing effect -what I am saying...
Therefore it all works for me.)
I believe Pam's energy will continue to be with us and is with me now...
palpable,even....I miss her too...
I have missed her for a long time.... I am sad. I am solemn. I love her.
I know she loves me too... she told me... I told her.
Remember to do that...it goes a long way...
Perhaps it goes beyond.

Keeping the ball rolling....

A few more pieces I have uploaded to Etsy!

Baby, It's all White....

This Etsy treasury has 2 of my pieces in it as well as multiples of my buddies' Whitney Smith and Jennifer Wolfe! So... CLICK AWAY... maybe we can hit the front page and sell a few pieces....
Worth a shot.... I am done with that porcelain for a while any way...





















Yes, so the porcelain is a lovely white COLOR but frankly...
I rip and stab at the clay too much to mess with the porcelain... too many cracks and fissures...
SO... I am going to work between 2 yellower white clays: Standard 213(my oldie) and Little Loafers
which I can get down in Balmer at Clayworks Supply and see if I have a favorite...
I would love a white clay with the texture of Standard 225...I am not totally against a little groggy earthiness....
PLUS... for some work, I think I will use Tucker's Paper clay and see if I enjoy it....

♥

Happy ♥ Day!

Finally.

Finally took a few photos and posted work from my studio shelves to my ETSY SHOP.

A Couple More

A little back on track! Been doing morning yoga using the online website YOGAGLO... kind of love it... check it out!

More of What's Happening in the Studio

My studio is all cleaned up to switch to my TAN STONEWARE THAT I DO LOVE to work with...











































PLEASE note that the white(porcelain) bisqued ware that cracked in the firing...
Grrr...
An issue of drying too quickly or maybe the porcelain is not the WHITE(or right) clay for me!

I need a "DO OVER"...

I declare today the last day of the past year of my life.
I just feel totally behind the 8 ball.
I am moving forward and happy with stuff but I am not in any real groove...
At least it isn't a groove I am happy with...
I want to get on track...
Get in my exercise....consistently...
Meditate...Yoga....Eat healthy(for the most part).
Get rid of the anxiety that builds...
Get to the store ahead of time so that I am not panicked about making dinner at 5:45.
When I live a more organized life, admittedly, I feel less anxious.
Therefore, I am more relaxed.
So, as LUCKY as I am to have a life that allows for
flexibility... I need some structure. I just do.
I am always learning and this is what I have now learned.
Therefore... I need a "DO-OVER".
I am taking it now.
Tomorrow is the FIRST DAY OF THE NEXT YEAR OF
THE REST OF MY LIFE.... Care to join me?