We recently connected with Caroline Frost and have shared our conversation below.
Caroline, so great to be with you and I think a lot of folks are going to benefit from hearing your story and lessons and wisdom. Imposter Syndrome is something that we know how words to describe, but it’s something that has held people back forever and so we’re really interested to hear about your story and how you overcame imposter syndrome.
Imposter syndrome harvests its strength and yields to its weakness in its ubiquity. Everyone feels like an imposter most, if not all, of the time. In undergrad, I was required to write a thesis paper to complete an intensive research assignment as a graduation requirement. I elected to write my thesis as an extended catalog of the Texas State Galleries 2021 Alumni Show that I’d been tasked with curating as an intern. Since I’d selected the exhibiting artists, conceptualized their thematic relationships, and wrote a 20-page thesis defending my curatorial choices, I recall feeling like the show and its research were entirely self-contrived and lacked external evidence, resulting in a theoretical and intangible topic. After confiding in a professor that I was nervous about presenting my thesis to the symposium of all of my professors, she gently reminded me that despite their academic achievements, I was the expert on my topic. Her counsel reminded me that we’re all just people, and the endeavors that we pursue do not define us – unless we want them to.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I am the Assistant Director at Commerce Gallery in Lockhart, Texas – a charming town just 35 miles southeast of Austin. Commerce Gallery opened on Lockhart’s historic town square in March 2019, and I’ve worked here since April 2021. We program monthly group exhibitions featuring Texas-based and national painters, and our new show openings take place every ‘First Friday’ of the month from 5:00 – 8:00 pm. Our sister gallery, Get Lucky Gallery, is located just across the street and features ceramics, art objects, handmade home goods, and other lucky finds.
I’m also a regular contributor to Glasstire, a Houston-based publication that covers Texas visual art.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Tenacity, connectivity, and kindness. While I’m still young and accumulating professional knowledge and experience, I think the universe rewards those who are passionate about what they’re pursuing, and who walk that path with grace and compassion toward those they encounter along the way.
What do you do when you feel overwhelmed? Any advice or strategies?
When I feel overwhelmed, I try to reframe my perspective to recognize the privilege I possess in having the problems and stressors that I do. All things are relative, but practicing gratitude keeps me grounded. I also like to recognize the positives instead of dwelling on the negatives and deciphering productive stress from burnout. Never underestimate the power of sleep!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.thecommercegallery.com/ https://glasstire.com/author/caroline-frost/
- Instagram: dracula_cinderella
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/caroline-frost-a82664188/
Image Credits
All image credits can be attributed to Commerce Gallery
