I've been so busy the past few weeks I hadn't gotten to share this yet. Last month, my photograph "Sanctuary" was accepted into the latest exhibition at Manifest Gallery in downtown Cincinnati!
This one has been a long time coming. In October 2014, I set a goal to get a piece into this gallery space. I researched them online, liked what they were about and the high quality of work they displayed. It was a "step up" from some of the other places I've shown, and a bit more intimidating. I took a deep breath, and submitted my work, and got declined. I submitted again, and got declined again. Over the course of the past year and a half, I have entered nearly every show of theirs that my photo work was a fit for, and been declined from all of them - until now.
When I submitted for this of regional Ohio artists, I told myself "this is the last time I am submitting. If I don't get in this time, I will start putting those submission funds towards other places". And this is the time I got accepted. It was a great reminder to me that every "no" is just one step closer to a "yes", and you just gotta keep on trying. Jurors are always different and you never know what they will like, and it doesn't necessarily reflect on the quality of your work at all.
I am VERY proud to be considered amongst the artists for this show, and to have such a personal piece of my work displayed by such a reputable gallery and creative hub. This, for me, is a milestone moment.
Mike, Shelby and I will be driving down tomorrow for the opening. Shelby has already picked out two dress options to wear lol. I am thrilled that Shelby will get to be a part of this. Most of the time, she probably doesn't have a real good idea of what I actually DO with all these pictures I take! Definitely happy to expose her to some things I never really had the chance to experience at her age. :)