I am new to the art fair world, having done a few juried shows last year and applying to more this year, in the Jewelry category. My work is some what eclectic, as I started out as a beader and gradually morphed from beadweaving to working mostly in metals, including silver, copper and upcycled brass, often embellished with cabochons, most of which I cut myself, or other gemstones. I have done a lot of pieces utilizing metals and beading, such as peyote bracelets with hand fabricated sterling or brass box clasps, or metal pendants, often with cabochons, some with chains of either strung beads ( this is the ONLY stringing I do) or bead weaving such as tubular right angle weave or bead crochet.
Recently I visited a HAE show locally where all of the jewelry booths displayed only one style/ type of jewelry. They were either all silver with cabs, or wire knitting with beads, or aluminum tchotchkes and jewelry, or all wire wrapped bracelets. One woman had a booth where every piece featured roses made of a metal mesh.
Is this typical of most art shows or is it unique to the Howard Allen Shows?
Is it better to display only one style of jewelry in which every piece shares some signature feature? The shows which I have participated in I juried in with a mixture of styles and I did quite well in terms of sales. But I have found that that I have also been rejected or wait listed at other shows.
I'd like to hear the opinions of the more experienced folks on this issue.
Replies
What Larry said. What you saw at the Howard Alan show is typical of the better shows. One of the reasons these jewelers have so specialized is to get themselves into the shows. If you can't get into the show you can't sell any jewelry. There is so much competition for jewelry spaces that an artist's work evolves into something that is definitive of them and their strengths. When 100 jewelers apply for 20-25 spaces in a show your work has to stand out from the crowd. By having your own style you can do that. Once you get into a show you don't need to be quite as narrow in your body of work, but it needs to reflect what your jury images looked like.
This summer I attended a show in a small community and was passing by a jewelry booth that had all kinds of different styles and materials (which to my mind implies amateur, undifferentiated beginner or hobbyist) and saw this person had an award. So I did stop and looked at the individual pieces which were indeed quite nice. I spoke with the jeweler. She is well known in her community, perhaps known by the jurors - not sure about that. But here is the other part, she is a medical doctor and this is what she does for her own pleasure. Loves to make jewelry and loves making different kinds and trying new materials.
What do you think you want to do?
I have wanted to concentrate on metals, but I found that what most customers seem to gravitate to are my beaded stuff, especially the ones utilizing tiny 15-0 beads...the things that are incredibly labor intensive. I sold 3 peyote bracelets woven in 15-0 charlottes in the first 15 minutes of my last show!. They also seem to gravitate toward earrings in just about any style.
I have been struggling quite a bit with how to develop a "brand" but so far the closest thing to a unique "style" I have come up with are the metalic pieces with bead-woven chains, especially those made of brass up-cycled from old trays. But it seems to me that these would appeal to a rather limited clientele. On my website Earthlytreasuresbydk.com, you can see much of the scope of my work, and I would welcome suggestions on perhaps a direction to focus on.
Ah, now I see. Went to your site and saw the variety of the work you are doing. My best advice is to figure out which style you like the best, which do you want to develop further. Focusing on one media or figuring out how to incorporate many different techniques into one piece that pleases you should work the best. What do you really want to do? Do it all? find a particular style? The fact is, if you want to get into better and better shows you must focus on one style, that, of course, can be constantly evolving. Do it for love, don't do it for money though. "They" say that is how you get ahead, and in the long run I do agree.
Personally I love the peyote work and love intricate feminine work, but that is just me.
It's not necessary for the smaller shows that are easier to get into but gives you a better chance at the more competitive shows.
Larry Berman