Posted by Amy Furgiuele on September 8, 2010 at 2:52pm
Several artists and I have been talking about the abundance of shows in the Chicago area, but we've also heard that many are "not like they use to be" and that others aren't exactly as they are advertised. So, then... what ARE some good shows in the Chicago-land area and do you consider them more art or craft based? We're all looking to start our application lists for next year and we'd love to hear from those of you with first hand knowledge... thanks!!
I am new to this, but I have been reading your comments for a while now and they are so very helpful!! Has anyone ever done the Festival of the Vine in Geneva? This year it's Sep. 10 & 11, they are still accepting applications, but before I send mine and the $175 booth fee, I'd like to know a bit about it!
Just wondering why we are talking about Chicago area shows and no one has mentioned my favorites: 57th Street in the Hyde Park neighborhood in June, Old Town Art Fair in the Old Town neighborhood the weekend after that one (always my favorite) and the Riverwalk Art Fair in Naperville in September run by the Art League.
Well, here's my 2 cents..... I've participated in shows all over the ChicagoLand area and the shows I find that are consistent are the smaller guild shows and those associated with a larger art or city organization. It seems the people coming, be it fewer than a large show, are there to buy and know the difference between art and crap. I do very well in most all areas. What I do notice is that patrons are getting tired of the same old stuff and anything that is new and sparks their attention is getting better sales. My art constantly changes due to the nature of my art, I do recycled metal sculpture and it changes with the metals I aquire so I have lots of repeat business because they came to see what new pieces I've come up with.
I don't know how sales are across the board but this has been my best year in 7 yrs, sales have almost doubled from last year. My best areas have been Atlanta suburbs,Knoxville, Chicago, Columbus and Dayton suburbs.
Hi,
I did the Geneva Art Fair, and this is run by Erin Melloy, she has wonderful shows. EM events, she has Geneva Art Fair, Art in your eye (Batavia), Lakeview East festival of the Arts, West End Art Festival (LaGrange), Riverside Arts Fair and Oswego´s Fine Art Fair. This are very nice shows, the jury do a good job. Hope it helps...you can follow through in case supply meets demand!! Good luck!
I did six of Amdurs shows this year. Barrington, East Side Millennium, Arlington Heights, Art at the Glen, Gold Coast and Port Clinton. Barrington was a first year show and has good potential. Millennium was rained out two of three days so sales were down from last year. It is located around several office buildings and the people came out and bought on
Friday. Last year the locals (Condos etc) came out and bought Sat and Sun. Rain kept them away this year. Arlington has been down for the past two years but sales did increase this year somewhat. Art at the Glen was good. Nearly doubled last years sales. Gold Coast despite all the problems was respectable. Will get bettter as more people realize the new location. Port Clinton was my best show in several years. Lot of two dimensional work and jewlery in all her shows. Have heard some good comments about Deerfield show (not an Amdur show) but don't know first hand. With Amdur shows, since there are so many you need to choose locations that aren't back to back in close proximity. That's why I do two downtown and vary the rest of the schedule. Wilmette Art Guild has their show this weekend. Have to be a guild member but that is $40 per year. Locals come out especially on Sunday as farmers market and soccer games compete for attention on Saturday. Won't get rich at the show but the return is worth the price. Especially if you live nearby.
Did Wells street threwe years ago. Terrible setup(6am Sat morning) goes till nine or ten pm. Can't tear down until after nine or ten pm. Lot of beer drinkers there but the locals really do come out and buy if the weather is good. Won't do it again because of set up times snd closing. That's been my experience.
I've heard from some artists that they do as well in some of the small, local suburban shows as they do in the big ones. While there are fewer crowds, there are fewer booths and it all evens out. Plus, you get some people who don't like to go to the big shows.
I know you don't want to hear it but Amy Amdur runs most of the shows in the northern suburbs of Chicago. I know that Gold Coast was a bust for you but there were a lot of factors involved. Amy's shows are well run, well advertised and well attended.
Shows that are run by local groups vary in quality. For consistent top quality, the June show in Highland Park run by the Suburban Fine Arts Center is the best. It is strictly a Fine Craft show but it is really a good show.
Lake Forest over Labor Day is improving yearly. It used to be a local show with way too many Lake Forest artists of dubious quality but they revamped the festival and have improved it tremendously (I have the empty wallet to prove it)
No matter what you read, the Skokie shows, Glenview, Wilmette, Libertyville, Northbrook, Deerfield and Vernon Hills shows are not of particularly high quality. The two Evanston shows are a mixed bag. Art in the Barn in Barrington is a mixed show also.
Amy has better than average quality at her shows. My favorite is The Glen in Glenview. It is large, well laid out with a lot of parking and has consistent quality. Arlington Heights is very similar. Glencoe, Skokie, Lincolnshire, and Barrington are all interchangeable. I haven't been to Last Call in Highwood.
Port Clinton is always rated one of the top shows in the country. As far as jewelry is concerned, here's a story. A very nice first time silver jeweler at the Glen asked Amy about getting into Port Clinton. She was told that PC is a high end show with mostly gem jewelry.
Sorry that this is limited to the area north of Chicago but those are the festivals I go to. Hope this helps a little.
Geri - I am a jewelry designer/fine craftsman but I create my own glass pieces and then combine them with sterling silver. So, I'm not a complete metalsmith but I'm not just a stringer either. I find that my work sells best when I am in a more art centered environment versus a show that is more "crafty". So, when looking at shows, I'd like to veer away from things like the "corn festival" or the "fall harvest fair" if I can help it... does that make sense?
Comments
Hello!
I am new to this, but I have been reading your comments for a while now and they are so very helpful!! Has anyone ever done the Festival of the Vine in Geneva? This year it's Sep. 10 & 11, they are still accepting applications, but before I send mine and the $175 booth fee, I'd like to know a bit about it!
Thanks!
Gaby
I don't know how sales are across the board but this has been my best year in 7 yrs, sales have almost doubled from last year. My best areas have been Atlanta suburbs,Knoxville, Chicago, Columbus and Dayton suburbs.
I did the Geneva Art Fair, and this is run by Erin Melloy, she has wonderful shows. EM events, she has Geneva Art Fair, Art in your eye (Batavia), Lakeview East festival of the Arts, West End Art Festival (LaGrange), Riverside Arts Fair and Oswego´s Fine Art Fair. This are very nice shows, the jury do a good job. Hope it helps...you can follow through in case supply meets demand!! Good luck!
Friday. Last year the locals (Condos etc) came out and bought Sat and Sun. Rain kept them away this year. Arlington has been down for the past two years but sales did increase this year somewhat. Art at the Glen was good. Nearly doubled last years sales. Gold Coast despite all the problems was respectable. Will get bettter as more people realize the new location. Port Clinton was my best show in several years. Lot of two dimensional work and jewlery in all her shows. Have heard some good comments about Deerfield show (not an Amdur show) but don't know first hand. With Amdur shows, since there are so many you need to choose locations that aren't back to back in close proximity. That's why I do two downtown and vary the rest of the schedule. Wilmette Art Guild has their show this weekend. Have to be a guild member but that is $40 per year. Locals come out especially on Sunday as farmers market and soccer games compete for attention on Saturday. Won't get rich at the show but the return is worth the price. Especially if you live nearby.
Did Wells street threwe years ago. Terrible setup(6am Sat morning) goes till nine or ten pm. Can't tear down until after nine or ten pm. Lot of beer drinkers there but the locals really do come out and buy if the weather is good. Won't do it again because of set up times snd closing. That's been my experience.
Does anyone agree with this? Disagree?
Shows that are run by local groups vary in quality. For consistent top quality, the June show in Highland Park run by the Suburban Fine Arts Center is the best. It is strictly a Fine Craft show but it is really a good show.
Lake Forest over Labor Day is improving yearly. It used to be a local show with way too many Lake Forest artists of dubious quality but they revamped the festival and have improved it tremendously (I have the empty wallet to prove it)
No matter what you read, the Skokie shows, Glenview, Wilmette, Libertyville, Northbrook, Deerfield and Vernon Hills shows are not of particularly high quality. The two Evanston shows are a mixed bag. Art in the Barn in Barrington is a mixed show also.
Amy has better than average quality at her shows. My favorite is The Glen in Glenview. It is large, well laid out with a lot of parking and has consistent quality. Arlington Heights is very similar. Glencoe, Skokie, Lincolnshire, and Barrington are all interchangeable. I haven't been to Last Call in Highwood.
Port Clinton is always rated one of the top shows in the country. As far as jewelry is concerned, here's a story. A very nice first time silver jeweler at the Glen asked Amy about getting into Port Clinton. She was told that PC is a high end show with mostly gem jewelry.
Sorry that this is limited to the area north of Chicago but those are the festivals I go to. Hope this helps a little.
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