"The kid is doing better than us, and, it is his first show here."
Anita Bauldorf, wife of painter, Steven
"Art shows are a lot like "Hotel California", you can check in, anytime, but you can never leave."
Photographer, Nels Johnson
Well, that probably, and succinctly, describes this year's Artigras held at Abacoa Town Center just south of Jupiter.
At least year's ago we got to ogle Lonnie Anderson on the arms of Burt Reynolds. She is now gone, he is pretty infirm, and the show is death-spiraling into just another fricking art show in Florida.
With the booth fee,gas,hotels,food,etc. most of us have $1K tied up in expenses before you make a dime. If you can't turn better than $3K here, it is not worth coming to.
Oh, I guess for you northern artists, you can write it off as a Florida weekend vacation--beats shoveling snow.
We had great weather til about 1pm on Monday (it is a three day show, same time as the Grove). Monday's at this show, if you make $300 you are doing good. So the rain did not cost us much.
But, Saturday and Sunday,the crowds were moderate, mostly uninterested in art. Some people killed them, but not most.
I know one photographer, who used to do mostly do B/W and now went color on canvas,went home with a nearly empty cAmper, they cleaned him out.
For the most part, sales were sluggishly,slow. No flurries (what's a flurry, anymore). Very few be-backs. Mostly low end numbers were sold.
For photos it was the "P's", palms, piers and Pelicans.
Florals and seascapes prevailed. Ad nauseum,ad nauseam. Forget about art outside the box--it does not reside here.
A lot of us did really good here last year and this year we did half.
So far this year, sales have been pretty static. I have been slugging it out for the last eight years barely keeping my head above water. Getting pretty tired of it. I keep hoping it will turn around.
About the two quotes at the top of the blog.
First, the Bauldorf's son was doing his first Artigras. He has done other shows. He is a young talented painter, just like his dad.
They did not have a kick-ass show, and junior was kicking their ass in sales--but it was still low figures.
As for me, I have always been an Eagles fan.
At my age, he'll, what else am I gonna do? Hustle old farts on the golf course. Not. Be a greeter at Walmart--double not. Do real estate--get real!
I guess you all are stuck with me.
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Comments
I wonder what can be done so that the wonderful artists who do these shows do not feel like they are "just keeping their heads above water" (to steal your quote)? It seems to me the show organizers should not be getting rich on the backs of the REAL talent. I wonder if we could organize a campaign for lower booth rates or something. OR we all could plan on bringing bawdie "ladies of the evenings" decor for the booths to make a statement?
I read it! As usual, another interesting and introspective review, Nels...but what about the restaurants? What did you eat and where? I love reading about your food experiences too. Thanks for this critique and for rescuing Connie from Home Depot drone-dom.
Nels, just checking in on this -- I'm about to send out my Friday email and in the "feed" where I retrieve them this post is not showing up. Any chance you set it so only you (and I who can see everything) can see it? Please check the settings on it ...
Me, I'll never forget one night at dusk driving west on Sepulveda in LA with an amazing haze in the air listening to Hotel California. Magic.
Hustling on the golf course? Not for me. My alternative choice has always been to work at Home Depot, but then you came along and rescued me from that with your piquant writings. Thank you.