A Good Kick Up My Cocky Arse

There is a ‘62 Group’ exhibition coming soon to Farnham. Being a member of said group, I took it for granted that I would be in it. I confidently sashayed to the framer with ‘Jake and Dinos Chapman Have An Idea’ (yes, another prod at the male dominated artworld) the minute I’d cast off. My usual stance is to wait until confirmation before committing to the expense of a frame.

I was rejected.

Seven positives.

1. I got a good kick up my cocky arse. Always good.

2. I was forced (old work wasn’t submittable) to focus. This is the only piece of work I’ve completed in three years. What about last year's Faces? (I hear you cry). Not quite finished yet. 2023’s Faces, then? Not even started. What about that piece in the Royal Academy Summer Show? Made in 2022.

3. I enjoyed the making. The ‘small work’ stipulation proved to be perfectly manageable. I spent Christmas and New Year stitching Ernie Wise’s legs, and enjoyed every minute.

4. I have a new piece of work, framed (not paid for or collected yet, mind) and ready to sell. Well, as soon as I’ve documented the sources.

5. Another artist, hopefully a previous rejectee, has been given a platform. The gallery is small. There is not enough space for everyone. The curators can’t please us all. It can’t always be my turn.

6. I no longer need to take time from my day jobs (I don’t get paid holidays) to deliver, collect work, and pay for train fares to deepest Surrey.

7. It has made me consider, not for the first time, photography. The importance of good photographs was frequently repeated in the instructions. I ignored the advice, blindly doing what I always do, taking snaps with my not-particularly-modern phone.

Joy in the Detail: Small Work from the 62 Group

7th May - 6th September, 2025.

Tuesday - Friday, 10am - 5pm. Saturday, 10am - 4pm.

Crafts Study Centre, Falkner Road, Farnham, Surrey GU9 7DS.

Free.

Don't Feel Bad, Joe

I have been applying to be part of the Royal Academy Summer Show, on and off, for 30 years. I have never been accepted, and this year was no different.

Last year, I was on a telly programme, presented by Joe Lycett, which documented the highs and lows of a group of artists who were hoping to be chosen. Joe referred to me as Queen of the Rejected, in a nice way. I had entered RA Bastard Shites, a piece about being rejected from said exhibition. I was asked to cover the title.

The process starts in February, when you pay the fee (now £38), fill in the online application form and upload your photos. The first round results arrive by email towards the end of March. If you are successful the RA judges give your work ‘careful consideration’ upon its delivery to the Academy at the beginning of May. Results of the second round are announced later that month, at which point you will either collect your work or leave it for the exhibition. There’s still a chance you could rejected, they always take more than they need.

Today is Varnishing Day. So called because the likes of Turner would varnish work after it was on the wall. It’s full of pomp and ritual. The artists go to a church service at St. James’s, then stop traffic on Piccadilly as they march to the RA, where they finally see their work on display. Some complain that it is too high or low. BFF* Joe had his sculpture, Chris, accepted one year. It was displayed on the floor, in the corner, butted up against the skirting board.

Joe got accepted, for a second time, this year. Although he is prolific on social media, he just announced it a few hours ago. He has known for a while.

This is what I’m thinking. Joe is a nice person. He feels a bit bad that he got accepted on account of all the people who got rejected. I don’t want anyone to feel bad on my account. I see it in other artists, too. They get accepted, but don’t like to say so, for fear of making the rejectees sad. It makes me feel way sadder than getting rejected ever could.**

Artists, please share your good news. The majority of us are happy for you. Screw the others. They need to work on themselves.

And on that note, I have two RA rejected artworks available as limited edition prints. This year’s rejection Exile Textile 3, and last year’s rejection RA Bastard Shites.

Alison

*To whom it may concern - I know Joe Lycett isn’t really my friend, but thanks for telling me repeatedly.

**Of course I could be over-thinking the whole thing and JL gave it no thought at all.

Photo by Phil Shelly for Klein Imaging.