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This is the second time I've gotten into the 4 Bridges Festival, and I was again impressed with the quality of the show and happy with my sales during and after.

The show takes place in a roofed pavilion in a somewhat industrial area of Chattanooga. I have to say right off that I love the space so much that that is one of the reasons I was so glad to have been accepted. I really enjoy being in this space. The roof is maybe 50 feet high and the sides are open at the bottom with metal supports. Above, the space is glassed in. (I've The building itself, and the quality of the light remind me of railroad stations in France and Italy, and give a feeling of being both indoors and outdoors. Booth spaces along the edge have to deal with wind and weather, but have the best light. The top photo shows the space. You can see my booth with the large azalea painting (pink) in the lower photo.

You have to dolly in and out, but you're dollying on concrete, and parking is fairly close. I had to park at the farthest space, and it was maybe 80 yards to my space. 

Set-up is Friday, during the day, in advance of a Friday evening preview party that runs until 10. Booth fee includes electricity, and lights are vitally important for this party, and really help during the days, too.

The show is to benefit the Association for Visual Arts, and many Friday-night patrons have already bought "Bridge Bucks," meaning they have made a donation to AVA. Above and beyond the donation, those Bridge Bucks entitle the patrons to buy art. For instance, if patrons buy $515 in Bridge Bucks, $215 goes to AVA, and they can use $300 to buy art. If someone hands you a $200 Bridge Bucks coin, you hand it over at the end of the show, and, in a week or so, get a $200 check from AVA. 

That being said, there was not much buying Friday night, at least not in my area. A fair number of people came, there was good food and drink (more about this later), and patrons were interested and engaged. The night felt long; I think it could and should end at 9 instead of 10...

I had a happily good show, selling two medium-sized paintings and a couple small ones for nearly $5K. Though I have a few $125 paintings in my booth, no one even looked at them, gravitating instead to the big pieces. This year, I've made a commitment to myself to paint big, fill my booth with big pieces, and work up the patience and courage to focus on those big pieces. The Year of No Fear, as my friend Alison Thomas said. 

The AVA organization communicates well and treats the artists very well. It provides supper on Friday, and breakfast and lunch on Saturday and Sunday. The meals were good, though light on gluten-free items, meaning I was closed out of one meal entirely, so if you have a gluten allergy, bring a lunch (I bet you already do). Also, the food did run out, so if you're counting on AVA supplying meals, go early. Booth-sitters were plentiful, and the staff and volunteers were cheerful and available. 

Taxes are frighteningly high at 9.25 percent. You have 10 days to pay. The first year, I forgot until 12 days after the show, and received a certified letter from the TN tax people. 

If you are a fan of barbecue, make sure to go to Clyde's on Main Street while you're in Chattanooga. It is a funky, sweet place with excellent BBQ. It also offers an appetizer of candied bacon, which was so good it changed my life.