Suffering from art festival withdrawal, I was able to feed my habit by going to the Las Olas Art Festival, a Howard Alan show in Ft. Lauderdale.We got there a little later than usual (10:20!!!!!) and I was amazed at the size of the crowd. It was in the low 60's but the sun was out and the sky couldn't have been bluer. When it is too cold for the beach, apparently everyone decides to go to art festivals.HA shows are a mixed bag of quality. This one was a case of a rising tide lifting all boats. Even the "not so good" looked better. There were a lot of artists that I have never seen before, a lot of favorites that I have and quite a few that are at all of HA's shows. This was a top 5 HA show.Price points were all over the place, including in some booths where everyone could walk happily away with a something.I did see people carrying bags so I wasn't the only one buying. I hope this is a harbinger of things to come in Florida for 2010.(we brought our new dog to the show, ironic since all I did was complain about dogs at shows last year, and she had a great time. It helps to bring a spouse to handle the dog so your looking and buying is not impeded by your four-legged friend. )
Well Mother Nature is going to wreak havoc on this weekend's Beaux Arts afterall. Sunday is the good day with a high of 56 but atleast it won't be rainy and in the 40's like Saturday. I am still tempted to go Saturday because there will be less crowds and moving around will be easier.
Connie, those pictures are probably from the afternoon. It was really crowded when we left and that was around 12:30.
More "Good News" NY Times reported today Retailers See Holiday Sales Rebound From Grim 2008 Even luxury chains, the stores hit hardest by the downturn in 2008, bounced back with higher sales: up 9.9 percent at Saks, up 7.4 percent at Nordstrom, and up 4.9 percent in the specialty retail segment of Neiman Marcus, which includes Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman stores.
Perhaps this improvement in spending will spread to us this year after all.
So right Geri - cheering would have been a better word as that is what I would do if I experienced a great turnaround! Wonder who does his writing? Have a great time at Beaux.... remember to fill us in - Happy Shopping!
This weekend's Beaux Arts Festival at the University of Miami should let us know if things are indeed turning around in South Florida. The weather will be cold and clear, like last weekend. Biggest difference--this won't necessarily be a tourist crowd. Coral Gables and the surrounding cities are residential communities, not towns with tons of snowbirds like Boca. We don't notice any difference in traffic or crowds when it is winter.
Beaux Arts lost its way a couple of years ago but they supposedly are tightening up the judging and not expanding the number of booths each year as they had been. Both artists and patrons were complaining about the lower quality of the show and letters were written to the Miami Herald. Last year the quality had definitely improved. I have my fingers crossed for this year.,
Thanks for the update Geri! We miss you up here. Loved your recently posted pictures of your purchases. Good to have you as a member.
Below is what H Alan had to say about Las Olas in a recent newsletter. Such good news from Florida - makes me wish I had not pulled out of my January shows there. Of course, the last two years have been a tad tough and no forecasting can be done just by one show.... but, it's great to hear of progressive improvement. Hope it spreads throughout the states ;-)
TIMES ARE CHANGING!
This past weekend, the Las Olas Art Fair in Ft. Lauderdale drew a record breaking crowd. The Artists lammented... "that it was like the good old days and that they could now see a light at the end of the tunnel!"
So, Get in gear, prepare to sell, and market yourself to the fullest. Make sure your work and display are fresh and keeping up with the times. Get ready for a brand new year and a brand new decade with all that you can do!
Be prepared to move Forward.
Art Shows still work!
What a pleasure it is to hear from the art collector! Las Olas is a show we've done for years in the past, (was not at this show). Always a wonderful show! 2010 is going to be a great year! Looking forward to Marco Island-one day show on Jan. 16, 2010. drakelamps.com
Happy New Year to all.
Comments
Connie, those pictures are probably from the afternoon. It was really crowded when we left and that was around 12:30.
Even luxury chains, the stores hit hardest by the downturn in 2008, bounced back with higher sales: up 9.9 percent at Saks, up 7.4 percent at Nordstrom, and up 4.9 percent in the specialty retail segment of Neiman Marcus, which includes Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman stores.
Perhaps this improvement in spending will spread to us this year after all.
Beaux Arts lost its way a couple of years ago but they supposedly are tightening up the judging and not expanding the number of booths each year as they had been. Both artists and patrons were complaining about the lower quality of the show and letters were written to the Miami Herald. Last year the quality had definitely improved. I have my fingers crossed for this year.,
Below is what H Alan had to say about Las Olas in a recent newsletter. Such good news from Florida - makes me wish I had not pulled out of my January shows there. Of course, the last two years have been a tad tough and no forecasting can be done just by one show.... but, it's great to hear of progressive improvement. Hope it spreads throughout the states ;-)
TIMES ARE CHANGING!
This past weekend, the Las Olas Art Fair in Ft. Lauderdale drew a record breaking crowd. The Artists lammented... "that it was like the good old days and that they could now see a light at the end of the tunnel!"
So, Get in gear, prepare to sell, and market yourself to the fullest. Make sure your work and display are fresh and keeping up with the times. Get ready for a brand new year and a brand new decade with all that you can do!
Be prepared to move Forward.
Art Shows still work!
Let's hope it is a harbinger for the season to come.
Happy New Year to all.
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