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Comments

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  Edwin Schmidt January 3, 2011 at 5:05pm

  There is a lot of competion in two dimentional work and jewerlyat her shows.  Quite frankly, I think many artists that apply for her shows expect them all to be a Gold Coast or Port Clinton sales wise.  They aren't.  Most of the other shows are good and some sell well at them.  Much of the two dimensional work (in my opinion) is overpriced for the quality.  There are several very good artists in her shows.  There are also many wanabees that think they can raise their prices just because it is a an Amdur show.  Port Clinton (in my opinion) is an excellent example.  I have seen prices for pieces in the $10,000+ that are more adapt in a large corporate office.  These are wall size items.  If you don't have that particular customer there, they won't sell.  Not every home has the space to display an item of this size.  Thus the complaints.  Last year at Port Cinton, an artist just down from me had the most beautiful and intrictly(sp?) woven baskets I have ever seen.  She won best of category (most deserving) but didn't sell well.  Her prices were very high but well worth it because of the detail.  Again if you don't have just the right customer, you are out of luck.  Some work (in my opinion) is just plain off the wall.  Original quality work will sell at the shows regardless the price.   I have talked with several artists that won't absolutely do her shows.  They always give the excuse that they don't do well or were stuck  in a bad location.  I have yet to see a bad location in any of here shows that I have done.  I believe that too many artists have too high an expectation and when they don't get it, they makle excuses for what ever reason.

  I know this will generate spite and anger from these folks.  But I have been around for 36 years and have done hundreds of shows from the midwest to the east coast and Florida  and I can go to any show and and pick out the winners and losers in one walk around the show.  I have not been wrong very many times. It is one thing to streach the boundries of your medium.  It is totaly a different realm if you go into outer space.  You may be good but generally too far ahead of the buying public.

  Ed Schmidt

  Wooden Toys

   

  PS.  I know there are many artists that snub their nose at wooden toys and think it is not art.  Art is in the eye of the beholder and the customer and I do have the customers every show every year.     
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  Alice Hunt January 3, 2011 at 1:55pm

  What's with the new parallel discussion from people that do not like her shows?  Everyone here is happy, everyone there is not.
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  geri a. wegner January 3, 2011 at 1:32pm

  The quality of Amy's artists is consistently above average.  Even her vendor booths are better than at some other shows, atleast the freebies they give away are above average!!!!!
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  Alice Hunt January 2, 2011 at 11:14pm

  Thanks for the good comments.  I will consider her shows in the future.
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  Wendy Zumpano January 2, 2011 at 5:37pm

  I second everything that Edwin had to say.  I also did five Amdur shows last year.  I find that the $200 or more extra that I pay for Amy's show fees is always returned with good sales and quality.  The clientele is very good.  Her Promenade in Arlington Heights was especially excellent for me last year.  There is a level of professionalism and artist excellence that is often missing elsewhere.  I'm not sure where the negative comments come from.  I think she wants to see her artists succeed and she always has great suggestions.  I paid to have her review my booth last year and she had some very good ideas.  The Amdur deadline is in a few days. 
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  Alice Hunt January 1, 2011 at 1:27pm

  Thanks for sharing that.  I would like to do some good Chicago area shows but had heard negative comments about hers from a friend who was not happy with her shows.  It is good to hear better news.