Community Art Fair next to 57th St. Art Fair, Chicago, IL
I need to think hard about this show. This was one of my first art fairs that ever did. I remember dolling in from 51th St down to the show. I did not have any idea what I was doing. I think about all those things and black and white work (mostly people). Just happy to make some money of my work and the booth fee was 120. So even with three bad shows in a row I may still do the show again next year.
The show does not make any promotion. They gonna start a Facebook page this year. All promotions are done by the 57th St people. So we depend on them. There no clear cut where one show start or end if you visit the show for the first time. The show is set up on small park on 57th and Kenwood which is the next street from 57th Art Fair. The hours are 10 to 6 Saturday and Sunday. Once you are in you are in. The demand for spot is very high. The people that run the show are very nice and they do what they can but we all getting old.
The set up is very simple you need to early and dolly into the park. Do not go by the time they tell you get there early. The early the better, in my case 6 am. There no electric, bathroom are the same as 57th Art Fair (school in the middle of the fest), no breakfast, no, no, no and the booth fee now is 325.00.
The weather had been nice in Chicago for the past month but people did not show up at the show for the third year in a row. The crowds are way down. This crowd are just looking and do not buy art period. It could that this show lost his luster. We use to get people from Indiana and near states. You get some ex students of the University of Chicago coming in for the reunion but very few buy art. At this point we only getting local people that just tired of us. Most items are way under 100.00 and very few big sales. The big buyers are very few for all us. Some people blame Amy Amdur for the show the goes against this one in downtown Chicago. Other people blame the economy. Not what rason the only thing that matter is how much you take in. A lot of artist told me that is was just very bad. Even the staff of the show was talking how bad the show was this year for most the artists. Same you can said about the 57th Art Fair.
My advice if you are not local or do not have a strong emai or mailing list dont do this show for a while. The area has been affect very strongly the economy but the University is developing a lot and is neighborhood of our current President (Mr. Obama).
Comments
Janet, those reviews for OT were for 2011 not 2012.
Janet, I may have confused them, Right now I'm too tired to figure out where my info was coming from - I am getting my house ready my daughter's graduation party. I will take another look at Old Town when I start sorting out my apps for next year. Thanks for keeping me on track.
Janet
there always will artist that make a lot money. Lets said of 200 artist 5 did over 15,000, 10 did 10,000, 80 did around 4000 the rest barely made expenses or did reach expenses. Do you consider that a great show?
If high jeweler sales 10,000 it may not have a lot profit. It is hard to tell from comments and sales.
To me a great show is where most of artists walk happy or sastify with the show and hope to do it again.
Amy- I just went back and read the reviews on AFI for Old Town. Did you? 3 artist did over $10,000. and another "would rather not say"! AND they have all been there many, many years. I repeat OT is not anything like Wells Street.
Janet is right. If last year was any indication, there is no comparison. The only question now is if OT is going to continue with loud music and food demonstrations (sounds like I am writing about Coconut Grove) or return to its strength--great art.
Amy- Do not confuse Old Town with Wells! There is no comparison between the two! Apply to OT and if you are blessed and get in, do it! This show is in a residential neighborhood, not on a street of bars and restaurants. It is all high end, beautiful work and it gets those artists because people come to OT to buy art, not to drink. I sell high end craft that I display on pedestals. I would not even think of doing Wells St., but happily did OT many, many times. It is actually the only show in Chicago I do anymore since Port Clinton's booth fee went thru the roof. And I too did 57th Street "in the day". Not anymore.
I am about to apply to 57th for next year. I also plan to 2 others shows. if I get in i will skip the community. I agree with you the quality does not compare. I can also may ask to be move to corner where both show kind meet.
I have been at 57th the last two years... very good shows for me. My booth was about 1/2 block from the dividing line between 57th and Community both times and the show was packed. Many people carrying bags and bigger art. 57th is on the street and Community is in a park with narrower walkways which make it hard to see into each booth if there is any crowd - I checked it out last year to see if I wanted to consider it for this year, . This year I was too busy to check it out.
Oscar, your work is lovely (just checked out your site), but I saw a strong delineation between the two shows last year which is why I didn't consider trying to switch. There is some great art in Community, but a lot more low end stuff that would never make it into 57th. I'm curious if you would have had a better show there, and if my notes are correct the fee was only $275.
57th had more amenities, artist breakfast etc. On the down side they were late in their notifications each of the last two years. Being on the street you can drive up, and it fairly well organized. My only real complaint is that you can't set up on Friday so I am wiped out before the show starts on Saturday.
Connie- I have never applied to Old Town (or Wells) based on the many comments on this board that label them as very difficult with too many drunk "patrons". As a glass fuser the last thing I need is a drunk 25 year old stumbling through my tent. Based on recent comments and artists who are saying they won't go back, that patron may have had a point. As far as artists raising their prices for any show, I can see why you didn't get into that argument.
I am beginning to think that all shows are down and the people who are doing well have a)great work that people fall in love with b)really good prices, or c)pure luck that the right person with the money to spend likes your work.
A friend at 57th street, who has been there for several years sold about half of her inventory and had her best show ever. Another friend had a pretty good show.
At Old Town, I know of two artists who both had really good shows. One a repeat of last year and the other, an affirmation that his work can sell in Chicago.
I don't think there is a rhyme or reason for what is going on when you hear such different stories from people.
The part is killing me is the lack promotions for the shows. I wonder is the promoter are doing any promotion for the shows.
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