ArtFairCalendar.com and ArtFairInsiders.com wish to pay our respects to an important member of the art fair community, Greg Lawler, photographer and the creator of the Art Fair SourceBook.
My husband, photographer Norm Darwish, and I started in the art fair business in 1978. Shortly thereafter we met Greg Lawler, another one of the photographers. We did many shows together. In those days artists had two ways of finding "the good shows". Sunshine Artist magazine had an extensive list of shows around the country, but the best way to find them was asking another exhibitor ... networking was the solution.
There was great consternation when Sunshine Artist started publishing their "200 Best." We said to each other, "this is really bad, now everyone will know where the good shows are." Then ZAPPlication came along ... oh, no! now even more artists will know where the good ones are! More competition in an already competitive business.
In stepped Greg, becoming the creator, editor and publisher of Art Fair SourceBook. He put together a business to survey all the shows and publish show reviews. How in the world he did that before the Internet and email really got rolling is a wonder. It makes me weary to think about it. He actually published books and then spent years traveling to art fairs, in and out of thousands of art fair tents, hand selling those wonderful guides to artists.
Luckily the Internet came along and he was able to move his business online ... and the cost of printing the books went down, but did that slow him down? Of course not, he continued to help artists earn a living and created the first online discussion for artists. It was a lifesaver before Facebook came around.
Now though after the Covid disruption to small businesses everywhere, soaring new software costs and the loss of his longtime research assistant and customer support partner, Barbara Jean Yankee he will be retiring.
His love song to the art festival life:
- I’m grateful to the more than 20,000 artists who supported the AFSB with their subscriptions over the past 32 years.
- I’m proud to have helped artists map out successful art fair strategies and schedules.
- I cherish the countless artist friends I’ve made over the years, the 500 art fairs I schlepped through, the exercise I got doing so, and the 2 million miles I’ve flown to bring the SourceBook to you these past 32 years.
- I’m thankful to have supported a family of five and put three kids through college, thanks to the AFSB’s success.
- I’m a bit sad to leave the art fair world behind after more than 35 years as both an exhibiting artist and editor/publisher of the SourceBook.
I'm quoting Greg here because his words echo those of us who have retired from one of the best jobs in America, bringing our creative work to all the people who flock to meet us (yes, you are part of the attraction), and enabling us to live free and challenging lives.
Many thanks to Greg for all he has done to help us earn a living, his kindnesses through the years. I hope to see you on the road again.
The Sourcebook will continue to be available until the end of 2025, so hurry over there for the info while it is still there.
Learn more here: https://artfairsourcebook.com/ where you will find the details.
While we're at it ... what are your memories?
Comments
Gary was a great guy. I miss him and all the other people we spent time with. I'm sure this happened to you also, but photographers (not in our business) would spend time in our booth and often say, "I envy you, your freedom and the opportunity to create work that is of interest to you, not following someone else's agenda," including David Turnley who was a well known journalist.
I never used it but Gary San Pietro used to get it every year. He only applied to the best shows in the country. He would stay at my house on the way home from Old Town, Lakefront or Cherry Creek. The point of doing art shows was having a life style that was fun. Especially when we were making money. Seeing friends each week became our social life. Chris Maher taught me early on to always help your fellow artists. Chris and I first met doing a mall show at Christmas on long island in the 1970's.
Larry Berman
https://BermanGraphics.com
https://LarryBerman.com
412-401-8100
I enjoyed working with Chris Maher. He was on the board of the Michigan Guild when I was the director. He taught me so much about computers! Back then, I had the membership on 2 computers. A-L on one, M-Z on the other and I sat between the two computers! Chris networked all the computers together. It was my responsibility to fill out the forms to be included in Sourcebook back when it was still free for shows to be included. Oh those forms! I never met Greg, but I do have a lot of respect for him.
Before the sourcebook there was a high end publication called the Harris Rhoads report that listed the best shows in the country.
larry Berman
Larryberman.com
Oh, right, Larry. I had forgotten about that one. Did you ever use it? We did not.
I know you had your hands full, doing the art fairs, and also promoting your services to artists for jury images. Then you even had that period of time when you and Chris Maher were building websites also.
The innovation and the complexity of Greg's persevering over the years did, of course, keep his bills paid, but like you and your help to artists with their jury images The intimate knowledge of how this business works, couldn't have been done by anyone else. Lots of Care and attention was tailored by personal experience and understanding the needs of the clients.
I enjoyed the marketing, designing the websites, hosting the podcasts and the early days of monitoring Artfairinsiders.com.
I truly admire the diligence of both you and Greg. No one's getting rich here, but that wasn't the point. Was it?