Hi. Does anyone have experience in doing the Albuquerque Old Town Arts Fest? It's coming up on July 9-10 and has a fairly expensive booth fee so I'm wondering if it's worth it. I'm a painter so am specifically interested in experience from other painters.
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Just second hand info on this show. I have a friend in albuquerque who does shows and he said that the old town section of town is very dead and he hadn't even heard of the show. So i would hesitate if i were you unless you live near and could do it on the cheap. Someone else might have a brighter point of view.
Thanks. Is your friend an artist? The booth fee is somewhere between 300-400 I believe so I sure don't want to waste that money but Albuquerque has been known for its arts community so I was hopeful. I will be traveling through there on those dates so it wouldn't be too inconvenient. It's a Howard Alan event - does anyone know what their shows are like?
phillip hall > Diane FairfieldFebruary 7, 2011 at 2:47pm
My friend is an artist of many years. you could do a search for howard allan on this website.
I've done art shows in ABQ for many years, so I wouldn't recommend this show unless you are definitely in the area, you have SouthWestern oriented artwork, whether 2D or 3D, and you don't mind doing a show in an area that is a predominantly tourist driven market. The locals don't really go to the Old Town area much because it does cater to tourists, especially those looking for low priced crafts.
The better shows in ABQ are the Rio Grande Arts Festivals that take place in Nov., Mar. and Oct. (during the balloon festival).
However, if you do the show, the best - and cheapest lodging would be just a few miles west of Old Town, on Coors Rd. It's a Motel 6 - new, updated, inexpensive (across the street from an older, tired Motel 6). I stayed there on the way to a show in the Phoenix area last month and I was impressed by the contemporary decor and the cleanliness, unlike so many other Motel 6's.
Do not stay in motels on Central Ave, which runs all the way thru ABQ. Some are OK, but it's a fairly high crime area with some very sleazy characters hanging around.
Diane Fairfield > MICHAEL ALAN STIPEKFebruary 8, 2011 at 12:09pm
Michael - Thanks so much for your advice even though it's not what I wanted to hear! I'll check out the other shows you suggest. The motel info is also really helpful.
And Phillip, thanks for your advice as well. I will check out Howard Alan events as you suggest.
I am new to this whole idea of traveling to art fairs so feel a little like I'm strumbling around in the dark! We have to go to Green Bay, WI to install a sculpture of my husband's for their July 4 celebration and I had been hoping to find an art show to do along the route to save travel money.
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I've done art shows in ABQ for many years, so I wouldn't recommend this show unless you are definitely in the area, you have SouthWestern oriented artwork, whether 2D or 3D, and you don't mind doing a show in an area that is a predominantly tourist driven market. The locals don't really go to the Old Town area much because it does cater to tourists, especially those looking for low priced crafts.
The better shows in ABQ are the Rio Grande Arts Festivals that take place in Nov., Mar. and Oct. (during the balloon festival).
However, if you do the show, the best - and cheapest lodging would be just a few miles west of Old Town, on Coors Rd. It's a Motel 6 - new, updated, inexpensive (across the street from an older, tired Motel 6). I stayed there on the way to a show in the Phoenix area last month and I was impressed by the contemporary decor and the cleanliness, unlike so many other Motel 6's.
Do not stay in motels on Central Ave, which runs all the way thru ABQ. Some are OK, but it's a fairly high crime area with some very sleazy characters hanging around.
Michael - Thanks so much for your advice even though it's not what I wanted to hear! I'll check out the other shows you suggest. The motel info is also really helpful.
And Phillip, thanks for your advice as well. I will check out Howard Alan events as you suggest.
I am new to this whole idea of traveling to art fairs so feel a little like I'm strumbling around in the dark! We have to go to Green Bay, WI to install a sculpture of my husband's for their July 4 celebration and I had been hoping to find an art show to do along the route to save travel money.