I hate to even ask...
I'm a newbie. I'm still evolving as an artist (like everyone). I recently applied and was accepted into a pretty large juried show. Problem is, I hate the work I was accepted for and I do not have enough inventory to fill the booth. Since the application, I've changed my painting style. There are a few similarities but there's enough of a difference that I don't feel comfortable just bringing the new stuff to the show. Has anyone had this experience? And how did you approach the promoters about bringing new work?
and yes, I know I probably shouldn't have applied in the first place :)
Replies
You can call the show and discuss it with the director, not an assistant. You need to speak to the "yes" person in the organization. But I will say that many artists will just show up with the new work and take a chance on no one finding out. After all it's not like it's a different medium.
In the past, I've split my booth between styles when my photography went in a new direction. I was once confronted by a judge at a high end show who commented that I would never win an award with two styles in my booth. I responded by saying I couldn't show the new unproven work if I didn't have the old work to sell to be able to pay bills. She ended up giving me an award anyway.
There are a few shows that allow a percentage of a new different style work in your booth. A good compromise is to keep a small percentage of the older style on one wall and do the other two walls with your new work.
When Connie was director of AB&E, I applied with new unproven work. On Sunday morning she came over and told me that I fulfilled the requirements and I could put up my older more saleable work for the last day. Now there's a (now former) director who understands that we have to sell.
Larry Berman
http://BermanGraphics.com
412-401-8100