On the lookout for Fine Craft shows...

Hi all -

I found my way to this site not too long ago, and already I'm gaining some valuable insights. Thank you.

A little about me - I teach high school English and Theatre; I also teach college English at night. I began designing and sewing clothing for my daughter when I couldn't find anything appropriate for her to wear in the stores; as more and more requests came in from her friends and their moms, my business was born, and I've been at it for eight years now. Since I began, my line has extended to include matching clothing for girls and dolls. I love the excitement of designing something new as well as providing classic clothing for little girls. And I really love the energy of doing shows!

My challenge recently has become in finding those "middle" shows. Here's my problem: I'm not a fine artist - I'm an fine crafter/artisan - but my work has developed over the years to be more finely designed and of higher quality. I'm beginning to find that I'm growing into a new level of show, but I'm not finding those shows.

I've been invited to apply for fine art fairs, but when I check out the websites or attend the shows, I find nothing that "matches" my level of artistry. I don't tend to apply, as it seems I'll just be tossing jury fees hither and thither without any hope of being accepted. I have applied for a few and been rejected. When I've asked for feedback, I've received no response. (These are relatively small art fairs where I actually had had some one-on-one communication with the promoters before applying - no response of any sort after the rejection, of course.)

I've got several shows on my list that are great for me, and I'll continue to do them. However, I'm always looking for a way to better market my work (and yes, I do have pieces in shops...), but I'm really stuck with finding the right NEW shows to approach.

Any suggestions on finding quality "Fine Craft" shows?

Thanks,

Jan

With a niche like yours, your best bet is to assemble a list of shows, and go check them out for similar work being accepted. It’s just part of the research you need to do to find the right fit. People hate it when I say this, but it is cheaper to do that, than to incur all the expenses of a show, and to get there and not sell.

Under the category of wearable fiber I have seen everything from exhibitors who paint or appliqué on purchased blanks, to those who hand weave then construct their garments. My mother was a weaver, so I tend to notice details in the medium of fiber, even though it’s not mine. Somewhere in between are those like silk painters, some of whom farm out the sewing. Or those who buy fabric, then do all the designing, and all (or just some) of the sewing.

If you are doing all the construction, you have a lot of labor invested in your final product. You need to invest a comparable amount of labor in research as well, at least at the beginning. For shows outside your immediate travel area, call the organizers. DON’T say what you do specifically, but rather, ask leading questions. “My medium is fiber, what kind of fiber do you normally accept?” See what they say. If the answer is, “we have this wonderful artist, she paints the T shirts herself,” you know what questions to ask next.

Replies

Linnea Lahlum January 25, 2011 at 8:12pm

With a niche like yours, your best bet is to assemble a list of shows, and go check them out for similar work being accepted. It’s just part of the research you need to do to find the right fit. People hate it when I say this, but it is cheaper to do that, than to incur all the expenses of a show, and to get there and not sell.

Under the category of wearable fiber I have seen everything from exhibitors who paint or appliqué on purchased blanks, to those who hand weave then construct their garments. My mother was a weaver, so I tend to notice details in the medium of fiber, even though it’s not mine. Somewhere in between are those like silk painters, some of whom farm out the sewing. Or those who buy fabric, then do all the designing, and all (or just some) of the sewing.

If you are doing all the construction, you have a lot of labor invested in your final product. You need to invest a comparable amount of labor in research as well, at least at the beginning. For shows outside your immediate travel area, call the organizers. DON’T say what you do specifically, but rather, ask leading questions. “My medium is fiber, what kind of fiber do you normally accept?” See what they say. If the answer is, “we have this wonderful artist, she paints the T shirts herself,” you know what questions to ask next.
Lin Glore January 25, 2011 at 6:07pm

Welcome, Jan! As a middle crafter myself I do understand your problems. Where are you?
- Janet Romans > Lin Glore January 25, 2011 at 7:19pm
  
  I'm in Southeast Michigan - just a bit north of Ann Arbor. There are a lot of shows to choose from around here, but picking the right new one is rough. Have you been able to find a system for selecting new shows?

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