Backstreet Gallery, Florence OR

Dear Kathryn,
It has taken me awhile to process this whole ordeal with Backstreet Gallery. At first, I was just going to let it go, but the experience has caused me so much anxiety and grief that I feel I should make your group aware of the damage it has caused me so as to not put anyone else through the same.
I spoke to my friend and neighbor that accompanied me to the shop the day I was accused of being "extremely loud and rude" by two of your vendors. She was flabbergasted and said that in no way did I act that way. I did a great deal of self-reflection after my interview and could not come up with any reasonable explanation for their bad impression either. I remember being very happy, excited, and eager to have the other members like me and would have been on my best behavior. I know it was probably the same members that voted me out.
Regardless, the rejection of my self and my art has left me feeling defeated and a bit depressed. I will no longer be creating my art as the rejection has caused me to lose confidence in both it and myself. Your group has a lot of power and it is my hope that you all try to understand the harm that your decision making process can do to a person. I felt that the ladies I met at my interview were lovely and I looked so forward to working with them and developing new friendships. It is too bad that "the two" were able to weld their prejudices in such a hurtful way. I sincerely wish I had never applied. I pray your group considers my words so no one else has to go through this. I am not angry, only very sad.
Sincerely,
Lynn Taverna

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