Last year you either got soaked on Saturday or frozen out on Sunday. This year, the weather could not have been more gorgeous. It was as if Mother Nature was making up for last year.
The knock on this festival was that in the past several years, they had expanded too much and had sacrificed quality. Two years ago they said they were going to tighten up their jurying. It was noticeable last year but I thought it was really obvious this year. I've been going to this festival since we got here in 2003 so I saw it when it was good, as it declined and I am now seeing it improve. The layout was changed this year to get more booths off the grass and that was the only problem. The new layout was very confusing and I am still not sure that I saw everyone.
The 2D art was beautiful. That isn't an area I pay as much attention to as I am a pottery/glass person. I saw more gorgeous paintings than usual. The photography ranged from beautiful to whimsical. (whatever that particular photographer was smoking, I want some) The glass at this show was very good. There was a wide variety of styles and techniques. Pottery, as it has been for a lot of years, was lacking. In a total departure for me, I couldn't tell you much of anything about the jewelry.
Crowds were plentiful, didn't see a lot of packages but as Ray Mosteller told me, that isn't always an indication of buying as he was delivering a large piece that Saturday night.
There were several AFInsiders there so I will let them tell you about load in/out, amenities, and sales.
It was a wonderful start to the new year, I have the lighter wallet to prove it. I hope the artists have heavier pockets.
Comments
You can see the tents on the left side of the canal
Geri, how cool that you emailed the chairs to request a better layout! Even better for us "because you know those artists always whining about something." Thank you.
It is so great to hear good news coming out of Florida two weekends in a row. It isn't 2009 any more! I think it is a brand new year. I am thankful.
After hearing lots of reasons not to do Beaux Arts from the Insider and also not to do just "one" show in Florida and that Beaux Arts was a "usetobe" show, I am happy to say that as a newbe I took the chance and went to Miami and had a really good show. Mostly sold small works, my neighbor Phillip said "that I need to have a twenty dollar product because everyone, even in this economy, has twenty dollars."He is probably right because he made double what I made and we both sold mostly smalls but mine were pricier. I didn't see many big pieces going down the canal sidewalk where I was, but boy, blown glass is the new jewelry because those guys made bank! Overall everyone I was near seemed to leave happy but it was a big show and I didn't get to see much else of it. The organizers were so great though...being a first timer I had a hard time locating my booth when I got there and I had a terrible spot in the back forty, I didn't even look like I was connected to the show! I don't usually complain but after 14 hours of travel I was a bit discouraged and they were great and got me another, better spot, I sure didn't expect that~ And so I sat the Fair out by the banks of the canal listening to the call of the turquoise and yellow escaped parrots! I had a great time and if this is what Florida shows are like, next year I hope to do more....hey I could learn to love the Sunshine State!
(Especially after driving through the Atlanta ice blizzard on the way home..what a mess that was!!)
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