A few weeks ago I did the Art Denver Show in the Colorado Convention Center that was put on by the Cherry Creek Organization. We are all familiar with the summer Cherry Creek Show and know how popular it is and how difficult it is to get into.
When accepted to the Art Denver Show I was excited to get in and looked forward to my wife and I driving to Denver.
Well, the show just happened to be the same weekend as the massive cold front and snowstorm that hit this part of the country. We drove the last 200 miles in a windy mess of snow...and for a southern Louisiana Cajun this ain't the weather I ever see.
Never driven in snow before and it was nasty.
The show...
The Art Denver show was well organized and the load in was supposed to be on Friday and you had to let the union people carry all your stuff from the loading dock to your booth space. However, some of us who opted to come a day early and set up on Thursday were allowed to drive directly to our booth on the Convention floor. Carol and I decided to do this because it would also give us an additional day to do some sightseeing around town.
The unload was easy and took only about 20 minutes or so. I moved my van outside and parked it about a block away. You have to pay to park anytime you are there...day or night...even on the streets. $15 a pop.
I went back to set up and it went quickly...didn't need my tent since it was inside.
We couldn't go much of anywhere because it was too cold and snowing...somewhere around 10 below zero. I have never been so cold in all my life...!
Friday during the day we tried to walk around a bit but when the frostbite started to set in we decided to go to a movie...saw Interstellar with Matthew Mcconnehey and thawed out before heading to the Preview Party at the Convention Center.
Not many people showed up...don't know why...maybe it was the weather..
Saturday and Sunday were pretty much the same...no crowds and no sales for us. Most of the artists were just sitting around hoping the crowds were on their way...
There was a lot of great art there. Since the crowds were so sparse most artists were able to walk around and meet the other artists. My wife and I took turns strolling around. There was also a fashion show with a lot of attractive skinny young ladies walking funny.
The Cherry Creek people put on a well organized show but obviously could not control the weather and the lack of people there.
No one from the show ever stopped by and introduced themselves ...Most of the other artists I spoke to said the same thing.. I know Art Denver was a first time event in the Convention Center and they could have at least said hello to make us feel welcome.
Load out was easy because the convention center decided to change their rules and let the artists drive to their booth to load out instead of the previous plan to have the union staff cart it to the loading dock. We were packed up and loaded the van in about 93 minutes.
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Hi, Greg - I'm not sure we met or not at the show - we do the sculptured snow globes.
Here's my bottom line: I would do it again if I have the chance. It was a first year show and some things went well, (such as load in/load out), and some things weren't optimal. I don't think anyone could have foreseen record-breaking cold weather. It was miserable outdoors!
Although the union had the right to operate carts, we received immediate attention when we needed it, and the cost was pre-paid for by the show. (I've been at shows in other states where the unions are handing out invoices every time they plug in an extension cord, this was not like that.)
I had not experienced a fashion show combined with arts festival before, so close I could see most of it without leaving my booth. I got to meet some designers who I admire (including Mondo Guerro and Sam Donovan from Project Runway). Justin LeBlanc was another designer I recognized, but he was busy with a group, so I didn't rush up and introduce myself. A few of the textile/fabric artists participated in one fashion show, with their painted silk kimonos/wraps, and textured scarves getting equal attention on the runway, which was fun. (My apologies for not describing the fiber art correctly - I'm sure I mangled it.)
It would be great to see some way of encouraging more interaction between the fashion, the sponsor/vendors (such as magazines and interior designers) and the fine artists. I'm pondering that, and if I get any brilliant ideas, will share with the CC folks. The designers had their own row of booths and one could get close up and touch the clothing, see how it was made, talk to the designers. That was really neat - I wonder if they scattered the fashion designers among the fine artists if that would have encouraged the fashion folks to wander more?
I know some artists did not sell as much as we did and we are fortunate -- we also have a local following, so that helps. Crowds were light, but we did find quality in those who ventured out. Even decent weather will bring more people out, and when the show is advertised next year, they will be able to build on name recognition more. (coming back to edit: this was one of the last events of Denver Arts Week - I wonder if it got a little lost in all the events going on at once? Just a thought ... )
By the way, if you do not have a high profile vehicle, you can park right in the Convention Center structure, and I think the daily rate was eithe $10 or $12 daily. Not sure Sprinter Vans would work in there (I really don't know), but our regular SUV did fine.
Hello Camryn, I did speak to you at the show and remember seeing your snow globes. They reminded me of the weather outside when you shook them...I am sure glad to hear you did so well selling them.
I'm not sure who made the decisions about being able to drive on to the convention floor for load-out but I do know everyone was happy about it since it was considerably colder at the loading dock.
The fashion show was a different addition to an Art Show and seemed to go over well...but as a person not being very fashion conscious I didn't watch much of it as my wife did. I t would be interesting to see the opinions of most artists regarding combining it with an art show. This was a completely different venue and not the typical Art Festival since it was also combined with a lot of other home furnishings that were not hand made by artists.
I tried parking in the Convention Center but my van was too tall and I had to back out...but I still was close enough in the outside lot and the few extra dollars was a minor expense.
I've been at art fairs/craft shows/art festivals where there were fashion shows. Usually they are the fiber artists who are taking part in the show -- a chance to show off their goods. I know they do this at the One of a Kind Show in Chicago (this upcoming weekend) and have seen it at Winterfair in Columbus, OH, and at the Buyer's Market in Philly. Are you saying that the fashion show was just that, a show? and it wasn't related to the work that was in the booths?
Wasn't part of the show room vignettes that were designed with the work of the participating artists? I've also seen this at shows. It is so cool (and so disappointing when my work doesn't get chosen for display) as it puts the work in perspective for the buyers. Not everyone is as visually gifted as we are, and the chance to see it in another setting is helpful for selling it.
Connie, you asked:
"Are you saying that the fashion show was just that, a show? and it wasn't related to the work that was in the booths?"
Yes, I believe TWO fine artists showed in one of several fashion shows, but the primary shows were professional and fairly well-known fashion designers, as opposed to fine artists who make wearable art.
The big fashion show Friday night - VIP tickets and all - was attended by people very interested in fashion, but not so much wandering the artist booths.
The show room vingettes may have had art from participating artists in the show, but from the conversations I heard, it appeared the interior designers had used other artwork. I can't say for sure. Yes, it would have been super-cool to have participating artists in the vingettes and a card or something identifying the artists and directing viewers to their booths. But I don't think that is what happened.
Investigate the Kimball Park City Show of August 2014. They apparently (I should say "apparely") hosted a fashion show patron party (like $250 a couple, or more) in Stein Erikson Lodge the night before opening the outdoor fair, and I don't think the fashions had anything to do with the outdoor festival. It was all a gimmick to raise funds for Kimball.
Greg, sorry you had to scram out of Pensacola and fight that storm, and I'm glad we didn't have to do that. We took our time getting back to Wyoming, but still had some weather issues along the way. We got home Tuesday, Nov. 18.
Camryn, I tried connecting with you in another thread here on AFI one time, but you didn't return to it, or whatever. I think we used to see you at MileHiCon, and maybe at the World Horror Con in Denver (2000?), and the premier Opus (we were Artist GoH), if you went to those. My wife is A.B. Word, if that name rings a bell.
Oh! Barrie Lynn Bryant - sorry I didn't see a post or comment meant for me. I wish there was a notification thingie here to let someone know. Sometimes I come to Art Fair Insiders a few days in a row, then I get in the studio or on a trip and go missing. When I come back, I don't think to look up threads where I've posted.
I did do Mile Hi Con's art show once, and often put a piece or two on display at the AnomolyCon art show (steampunk), because I have a soft spot for that group. It was one of the first shows I ever did, since I was pretty much terrified of showing artwork in public. I thought they might be kind to me (they were.)
I really love looking at the artwork at sci-fi cons where the artists are passionate about their subjects. Fun stuff.
Barrie....hope Pensacola was a good show for you and it was good meeting you there. The Denver weather was a bitch for us southerners...but I imagine you get adapted to it in Wyoming...
Yeah, Greg. It was fun meeting you and seeing your woodwork, too. Cool that you lined the inside of some boxes with alligator--real Louisiana style! GGAF was a very good show for us and a perfect finale to our fall tour (sold a major painting and won a mid-level award). So I'm really glad we got rejected from Art Denver. I don't think I'll give them a second go, either. We never even consider the summer event since we don't like 92 degree f and higher temps shows, or shows with really high booth fees without also having significant awards. We did run into that temperature problem a bit at our first event of the tour in Maitland, FL, but it was also our best selling event, so no complaints there since we survived the heat and humidity! Sunday at that show was ideal, but Friday night and Saturday were way too hot and humid. No one gets used to sub-zero temps after being in a warm climate. I'm doing fine now, but we met that sub-zero stuff in Nebraska on our way home and it was awful. We waited out the storms and stayed a few extra days in some of our favorite hotels along the way, and got home safely November 18.
There were a lot of fantastic art related booths that had no relation to the fashion part of the show...woodworking, ceramics, paintings, metalwork, sculptures, found objects art, snow globes, glasswork, wood spoons, leather, etc and more... The variety was diverse and interesting... but the crowds were just not there. Mother nature at her worst brought those bad weather days...it didn't get above freezing the entire time we were there and the snow was dangerous to drive in. The local people I spoke with said it is never like this in November and I strongly believe this was the problem keeping many away
I read hard copy of Denver Post daily and did not see anything promoting this show. Union help - same at hotel convention centers i Las Vegas and Reno.
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