when NO turns out to mean YES to so much more

some months ago i pulled out all stops

and wrote a grant application

hoping for financial support for an exhibition project

that would allow me to take time out from my busy teaching schedule

so as to immerse myself in country

and undertake a substantial project.

as part of the process i was required to gather letters of support

and be able to give evidence of where the work would be shown.

it also involved rather a lot of photocopying [for which i am planting another tree as soon as it warms up a bit]

on Friday a letter arrived telling me i wasn't successful.

fair enough, this grant involves a single amount of money

that is handed out across all art forms [so applicants may be writers, musicians, artists, actors etc]

initially i was a little despondent

but then i realised that the Dogs Above had once again conspired for the best possible outcome.

let me explain.

to apply for the grant i had to write in clear and concise English exactly what i wanted to achieve.

i also had to approach galleries and museums with my proposal

and as a result the exhibition back country

is confirmed for

The Barossa Regional Gallery [SA] 2014

The University of the Sunshine Coast Gallery [QLD] 2014

Quarter Gallery at the Regis Center for Art, University of Minnesota [USA] 2014

The Manning Regional Gallery [NSW] 2015

The Tamworth Regional Gallery [NSW] 2015

which means it will be shown in three states of this wide brown land and in America [and there are five other museums still sitting on the fence]

so it was a truly splendid exercise in getting organised

and making plans

- exactly what i most needed to do [besides do my income tax]

best of all, i have a pile of lovely supporting letters

which have not only affirmed that what i am trying to do makes sense

but will also be very comforting reading if i ever make it to the Shady Glades Home for Retired Bears