New Leather Artist from Montana - Hello - Forum

I am glad to have found this site. I am new to the Art Fair world and hope to discover which shows would be the best for my kind of work, and to develop a strategy around where I choose to exhibit. I have only been to two large shows. The first one was the Western Design Conference in Jackson, Wyoming last September, the second was in Great Falls, MT at the Western Living and Design Show last month. I have built my art on traditional leather carving techniques and developed my style over 30 years. I've noticed that most Art Fairs do not have a category for Leather, so I sometimes wonder how I would apply. I make leather jewelry, (sometimes adding Montana sapphires that I like to mine), personal accessories like belts and handbags, and home interior pieces such as table runners, mirrors and frames. My website is http://montanaleatherdesigns.com I am still in the process of adding more product to my site as well as a shopping cart.

I don't see any reviews on this site for Art Festivals and Fairs in Montana? I know, there are few of us here (barely a million people in the 4th largest state), but a lot of artists live here.

I am looking for an artist's canopy for outside shows. I have applied to several shows this summer that are outdoors. If anyone has a used one to sell, or recommendations other than EZ-Up, please let me know, plus I will search the forums.

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Hi Olive,

Welcome to the forum. We're currently located in Western WA, with a show circuit that includes WA/OR/ID/CA. We've applied for Sweet Pea this year in Bozeman, I think you've missed the application deadline for that show, I've heard great things about it so you might check it out for next year.

How far are you willing to travel? We know a couple of artists out of Montana, usually see them at our shows in Eastern WA and Idaho. They've mentioned the 2 Jackson Hole shows and said they are both usually pretty good. They also do the summer shows in Coeur d'Alene (Art on the Green) and the Sandpoint ID Arts and Craft festivals. We've done both of the Idaho shows the last few years and combined they make a good road trip for us. I think there's also a big festival in Spearfish SD that they travel to. Unfortunately, living in Montana seems to translate to a LOT of traveling. Also several good shows in Utah that they travel to when accepted and the one in Sun Valley ID.

Other festivals in Montana that are on my list to consider include the Whitefish art festival that is around th 4th of July weekend, there's a festival we've looked at in Missoula called "Under the Big Sky", I think it may be the only one I've mentioned that the app deadline for this year hasn't passed.

Replies

Richard L. Sherer April 12, 2013 at 1:15pm

I don't belong to the jewelry group so will post this here. Two major suppliers in the southwest are Rio Grande in Albuquerque. NM and Indian Jewelery Supply in Gallup, NM. They also buy back scrap. The former has a lot of classes at the Tucson Gem & Minersl show and a huge catalog of stones and findings in gold and silver. I've done business withe them for over 30 years and have not been disappointed. I took a hydraulic die forming class in Tucson in the early 90s and got my press and accessories from them when Bonneydoon was still making the stuff. Lots of applications for me other than Jewelery.
Ruth Finkenbiner April 10, 2013 at 11:52am

Hi Olive,

Welcome to the forum. We're currently located in Western WA, with a show circuit that includes WA/OR/ID/CA. We've applied for Sweet Pea this year in Bozeman, I think you've missed the application deadline for that show, I've heard great things about it so you might check it out for next year.

How far are you willing to travel? We know a couple of artists out of Montana, usually see them at our shows in Eastern WA and Idaho. They've mentioned the 2 Jackson Hole shows and said they are both usually pretty good. They also do the summer shows in Coeur d'Alene (Art on the Green) and the Sandpoint ID Arts and Craft festivals. We've done both of the Idaho shows the last few years and combined they make a good road trip for us. I think there's also a big festival in Spearfish SD that they travel to. Unfortunately, living in Montana seems to translate to a LOT of traveling. Also several good shows in Utah that they travel to when accepted and the one in Sun Valley ID.

Other festivals in Montana that are on my list to consider include the Whitefish art festival that is around th 4th of July weekend, there's a festival we've looked at in Missoula called "Under the Big Sky", I think it may be the only one I've mentioned that the app deadline for this year hasn't passed.
- Olive Parker > Ruth Finkenbiner April 12, 2013 at 11:09am
  
  Thank you for the Welcome Ruth! I live south of Missoula about 3.5 hours from Spokane. I have applied to Whitefish, Big Fork and Kalispell - all are in western Montana and about 3 hours away. I think this year I will keep it fairly local and get my feet under me. The Bozeman and Coeur d'Alene show are the same weekend as the Big Fork show. What shows do you go to in Eastern Washington? I think the "Under the Big Sky" show is coming up soon and is in Missoula. They do another show Thanksgiving Weekend in Missoula too. I will look into the Sun Valley one.
Pat Falk April 10, 2013 at 12:40am

Hi Olive, Sounds like you and Richard have alot in common being in the same medium. Are your earrings made from feathers? Feather earrings have become very popular in the last couple years.
- Olive Parker > Pat Falk April 10, 2013 at 9:29am
  
  Hi Pat,
  
  Yes, it is nice to know another leather artist is doing art fairs. My feather earrings are made from leather. They are carved, shaped and shaved (aka skived) to a "feather edge" with scalpels. I also do leaves and other shapes. The feathers are removable from the stud so the earrings can be worn two ways.
  - Jonna Barr > Olive Parker April 10, 2013 at 10:48am
    
    Hi Olive! Welcome to AFI! I just looked at your website. Very pretty, very different work! I'm in Texas, so can't help with show suggestions...:( but wanted to comment on your work. Best of luck to you!
    - Olive Parker > Jonna Barr April 12, 2013 at 11:05am
      
      Thank you Jonna! Some day, when I am able to take longer road trips, I'd like to do a show in the Fort Worth area, or shows in Texas that have a western flair. Right now, I have to still look after the animals, and figure out how to get help to keep the ranch going while I"m on the road.
Richard L. Sherer April 8, 2013 at 8:03pm

Hi Olive, I am leather also and my website is www.sherersaddlesinc.com. If a show does not have a leather category, we are usually in fiber, and possible further categorized as fiber-wearable art (belts). Another option is mixed media for silver mounted stuff. Never hurts to ask a show ahead of applying for their opinion on category. Where in Montana are you? I did a lot of geologic work between Helena and Butte in the 80s. Also ran around the Big and Little Belts, Bitterroots, Sweet Grass Hills, Gravelly Range and Elkhorns. Looking for gold, niobium and other oddball metals. Miss the fly fishing.
- Olive Parker > Richard L. Sherer April 8, 2013 at 8:47pm
  
  Hi Richard,
  
  Great website and very nice work too! How do you know how many belts, chaps, etc to take to a show? You have a lot of inventory in your booth photo, and I know that took a lot of hours to build up. I am in Stevensville in the Bitterroot Valley, and close to the Bitterroot river. I really enjoy sapphire mining over in Philipsburg, and am going to head over to Helena to do some mining at the El Dorado mine on the Missouri River. Have you ever heard of turquoise being found in Montana? I came across someone at an art show who showed me some turquoise he said he found here, but I asked the state Geologist about it, and he said he didn't know of any.
  - Richard L. Sherer > Olive Parker April 8, 2013 at 9:05pm
    
    Sapphires yes, turquoise no. What's at the El Dorado, sapphires? There was an old mine north of Butte that had really nice chalcopyrite xls even after every geologist picking over the dump LOL. I have about 900 plain and carved belts in stock and reserve inventories when it is fully built up. I tracked sizes sold for several years to get to what to take and stock. I'm working on a "Belts" CD but have other stuff to do now. I take one pair of chaps or chinks to a show, something fancy and expensive. My inventory for shows includes belts and personal leather goods, horse tack, dog tack, and gun leathers. I'm expecting the gun leathers to be big in CO this summer based on gun sales. I worked on the Darby fluorite deposit sampling it for scandium. Did you meet saddlemaker Pete Gorrell when he was in Darby? He is back in CO now. Dont remember Stevensville, but had to go through it to get to Darby. It has to be bigger than Franktown LOL. Take a look at www. coloradosaddlemakers.org.

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