“Someone else’s vision will never be as good as your own vision of yourself.”
— Georgia O’Keeffe
Even the most successful artists face rejection. Please remember that you are human and that those you may aspire towards as having “made it” as “makers, artists and creators of all disciplines” face similar feelings regardless of their career status. Perennially, we still crave wanting to be accepted and noticed for our authentic different selves. Ivan Barnett has been on both sides of the equation.
Dealing with Rejection
In 2015, Barnett started approaching the world-renowned Santa Fe Opera in his role as a gallery director to become a creative collaborator. Ivan Barnett knew that if he could get his foot in the door, eventually, he could change the entire course of the gallery’s trajectory. It took almost 12 months to finally get a meeting with the director at the time, who had never heard of the gallery. The rest is history. One thing led to another, and Barnett was able to gain the trust and confidence of the opera. He went on to stage and develop eight-yearly consecutive jewelry events using art jewelry and global opera stars.
Helpful Advice
Resilience, professionalism, and persistence are key when dealing with rejection. Here is some useful advice. Always accept a rejection from a gallery or arts organization politely and professionally, and do not become defensive about a decision. Don’t be afraid to ask for objective feedback if they are willing to do so. This can help you down the road to what the gallery liked or did not. Do not forget to thank them for reviewing your materials. Do not do this with a text. Respond with an e-mail or handwritten note. Finally, keep getting those hugs from your intimate circle. They matter. And thank your loved circle for being there for you.
