What can you tell me about Kentuck?

Connie Mettler October 22, 2012 at 3:22pm

Okay, my online sleuthing brought up this info for this year's show, plus photos: http://www.al.com/entertainment/index.ssf/2012/10/kentuck_festival_...

As I look at the images of the work, this is definitely not a "mainstream" art fair, but pretty funky, and I'd guess, in general, that the exhibitors don't have the same financial goals as I'm used to seeing at these other events.

Bruce Meyer > Connie Mettler October 22, 2012 at 5:14pm

I think you would be surprised at the volume, both in numbers of work and the $$$ many of the "funky" artists command for their work. This was often a $5K+ show for us and we did not sell as much by half as many, many of the folk artists.

One of my favorite remembrances was an exhibitor who showed up in a battered and bruised of pick-up with a lot of good work. He pounded some stakes in the ground and leaned his work against them and proceeded to kick ass selling. Our grandfathered spaces were near and he did it again and again until he showed up with a pretty new Lincoln; and proceeded to pound some stake in the ground and lean his work against them.

My kids did this show since they were toddlers and have fond memories of the variety and fun it was. I have not been on the road since 2005, so times may have changed, but I would drive there for the experience. Sharon and I have talked of returning to some old haunts and this is often first on the list.
Suzanne Ens > Connie Mettler October 22, 2012 at 4:44pm

Well, I tried to view the link from my computer and it froze up so I am back on the iPad and haven't seen the article. But I feel it's safe to say that many of the artists who sell at Kentuck indeed have the same financial goals, in fact many of the artists who do this show, most of them, do the "regular" or mainstream shows too. My other half as I said did this show, he does contemporary tree landscapes. My friends pat and Suzanne Juneau are longtime exhibitors, very hard working people who do as many shows as we do (maybe you saw them this year at Krasl which we recommended to them. Or Ann Arbor), also my friends pat mccaffery and Larry Campbell, and the wyricks. And Joan Rasmussen. Anyway, yes we do need to sell and pay our bills lol! But there is another group of specially invited artists who do this show, they are there by invitation, they do not jury in. Our best and best known folk and visionary artists are invited to this show, alas too many of them gone already. I am thinking that smaller group is who you are probably referrng to. Ok, will see if my computer has rebooted yet to see what pics I have.....

Bruce Meyer October 21, 2012 at 9:00pm

I did this show first in about 85. And nearly every year after that until I had to quit doing shows. Always one of our best Moneymaker. Very consistent. Easy to do. Being grandfathered in for over a decade added to this consistency.
It is not in B'ham, but in Northport. The headline of the article mentions 400 atists The body of the article mentions 265 boots, so reading only the headlines is often misleading. I do not think Kentuck Part holds that that many. Many inexpensive motels in Northport but if the Tide is at home hard to come by. I spent more than one year camping in the van behind the booth. Great artist party on Friday.
The art - When Georgine Clark started this show her vision was to focus on the diversity the art show artists display; especially if you ignore the idea that white tents are needed, and that families can work together to make some unique work. Some local work, some contemporary but most folk art.
I probably purchased as much art at this show as anywhere else over the 20 years of doing art fairs. it evolved over the years, but still seemed to retain its uniqueness. I would not attach a label to it other than fun.

Connie Mettler > Bruce Meyer October 21, 2012 at 9:38pm

Thanks for this input, Bruce. Sounds like this is not another cookie cutter show, maybe not even white tents! I'd also be interested in their rules, especially the fact that some of the exhibitors are families. There is room for that. Do you think it is worth a drive just to visit for me? I'm very curious. Bet you still have that art and they are some of your favorite pieces.
- Suzanne Ens > Connie Mettler October 21, 2012 at 10:56pm
  
  Connie u should definitely try to go at least once. I'll try to post pics for 2011 tomorrow as I was busy making today. Bruce is right, I went with Ron last year just to get pieces from people whose work I loved but whom I had not seen at other shows, Michael Banks, Miz Thang, O.L. Williams, and more. Also we have so many friends who do it every year. And I met a new friend there when I picked out a small painting, I had really liked her work and my first choice I had to leave there because I had already spent more than I should but was in the 'life is short' frame of mind lol. Well I ran into her again in tupelo last spring and she had that painting for me, said it was one of the only ones she had not sold. It was a "heal" painting, and she said she had been bringing it to all her shows in case she saw me again. She made a gift of it at Gumtree show. That is the kind of people at this carnival art show. Promise pics mañana

Suzanne Ens October 20, 2012 at 11:11pm

This year's show is stated to have 250 artists. This includes reinvited artists, as well as artists who are invited specially by the committee. The booth fee is $250 and the crowd size is 12,000. Application fee after the early bird discount expires is a whopping $50, ouch.

Suzanne Ens October 20, 2012 at 11:05pm

I went last year finally after also hearing about it for many years. I did not get in myself (which turned out to be a blessing because found out about my cancer and had a surgery just before the show!) but my other half did. We were excited because a lot of our friends have been doing this show for years and we would finally be there, as well as meeting a lot of folk and visionary artists I admire. I don't think there were near that many artists there, or even 350. I would guess more like 150 so am wondering about the info you read. i will go look at the info in zapp to check on this and report back if it is stated there. The show circles through the park which is very shady and not all that big. There has been an admission fee the last few years and some of the grandfathered and grandmothered artists tell me it has hurt the crowd attendance somewhat. Sales were lackluster for Ron, but an artist friend said she was thrilled with her sales. However her total was probably comparable to my mate's, so it is a subjective thing of course. His total was around 2600. I must say though that once an artist has juried in three consecutive times they no longer have to jury in, making very few openings for new artists. Also the party was nice. For my money, I prefer Tupelo, MS Gumtree Festival for crowds and sales, along with that folksy southern flavor. I will upload some of the pics I took at last year's Kentuck show when I get back on the computer. There are a lot of true "art carnies"!

Connie Mettler > Suzanne Ens October 21, 2012 at 1:35pm

This is, to me, one of those legendary shows, like no other with lots of off the wall, hippie, outsider, peace freaky work. Right? I remember doing a show in Atlanta years back with Ardath Prendergast downtown and she had a section of art cars and outsider artists. It was wonderful and so much fun to meet the people and see these other expressions of art. That is always what I imagined Kentuck to be like.

New phrase for me, "grandmothering", love it!

I'd love to see photos.

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What can you tell me about Kentuck?

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