[Frameworks] Sour grapes do make good wine.

[Walter Ungerer]

Dear Frameworkers,

I¹ve been reading with interest the ³sour grades² thread initiated by
Dominic about his festival rejection with a curt WITHOUTABOX notice. As a
media artist I share the frustration and pain he  and others that responded
feel. On reflection I can identify two issues. Number one is rejection. It
affects us and our work. It is something we must all come to accept, and
process in our own way. Even festival organizers recognize the pain that can
be felt by artists. I have received rejection notices indicating they¹ve had
large numbers of submissions, and accepted a limited number of entries due
to various time/space constraints. Supposedly these letters ease the pain;
as  do my unsubstantiated thoughts of shabby juror selections, and
inappropriate festival decision-making.  In a positive sense this experience
becomes part of the substance of our creations. It forms our strength, and
the strength of our work.

But what is the real situation? It is that we artists are groveling for non
existent rewards. What do we receive if we are accepted into a festival? No
money, or very little. For a few there is the notoriety on which to build a
portfolio and the possibility of a college teaching job. Well , this is
something, but for most it is the hope of more acceptances associated with
illusions of what else might happen.

Issue two (which I believe is more significant): Lack of opportunities for
artists to exhibit their work. I don¹t mean once, or a few times. I mean
regularly. It¹s rare, but a few chosen artists are  given the opportunity
for shows on a wide scale. They become the famous artists. Their creative
energy is seen as financial potential by marketing investors working in the
realm of the art world. For the vast majority of artists this never happens.
For this vast majority there is the thought and fear, as time goes by, they
are second rate artists, and second class citizens. Not so. This thought is
not acceptable to me. It returns to the issue of rejection, but in a deeper
sense: loss of self-confidence, loss of integration with the culture.

I would like the US Government to support the arts. Instigate and arrange
for ongoing media screening programs at schools and universities with
viewing facilities. Get a commitment from the schools to offer their
facilities in return for grants that would include funding for
co-ordinators/facilitators/personnel to operate on a weekly schedule. Create
a national network. A national network would establish touring artists¹
programs. Regional facilities would showcase artists of the region.  Besides
the schools and universities, arts organizations could be included. (I¹m
whistling Dixie). If we artists were consistently employed the rejection
issue would be vastly diminished.

We are artists, or we are on the road to becoming artists. For me that
implies integrity, and honesty. Without that what is the work? For me it
means to cherish the work day doing what I love. There cannot be anything
better. So, though material and financial wealth may not come my way, though
fame and notoriety my not come my way; there can be nothing better than what
I have.

Walter Ungerer
Winemaker
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