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  Kathleen Neff September 25, 2010 at 8:20am

  Connie...I've not been to the Des Moines show-yet, but your mention of the back to back with Cherry Creek reminded me of how many times I've heard the same from other friends and artists.
  
  Any event that competes with and is well-reviewed by their peers ([promoters)should be considered successful. We, as artists, have our own criteria for 'success'...without us they would be nothing, right? but we should remember that shows (juried ones, at any rate) have to keep the venue fresh and interesting-- and in order to attract US must attract the people who attend; they must have those publishable perks to catch the attention of the sort of buyers WE want. If we were promoters what would be the PERFECT fair...PERFECT festival..? Probably one where EVERYONE is happy and that covers a big territory, doesn't it!
  
  Kathleen Neff
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  Connie Mettler September 24, 2010 at 7:10pm

  We applied to Des Moines every year after it was taken over by this group from the Art Center. Luckily we got in three or four times. It was a dream event from an artist's point of view -- everything in place with an excited group of people who loved the fair. Sales, amenities, the city...we loved it.
  
  We never made the trek to Sausalito, just couldn't justify the expense of driving there from Michigan. We did Cherry Creek many times - another fine event. Well run and very artist friendly. I loved being there with all the other fine work. A back to back Des Moines and Cherry Creek always got all our bills caught up and we would drive home very happy.
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  Lois Songer September 24, 2010 at 3:08pm

  Congrats to all involved on putting on an award winning event! There is a big difference between and "Art Fair" and a "Festival," and a huge amount of work to bring all the parts together.
  
  Lois Songer
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  R. C. Fulwiler September 23, 2010 at 7:07pm

  Thanks, Connie, now I know why I've never heard of them. As Norm's partner for so many years, what do you think of their rating? Did you ever do Sausalito, Cherry Creek, etc.?
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  Connie Mettler September 23, 2010 at 7:00pm

  You would have no reason to know about it, RC. It is for event organizers where they go to learn from the others how to run events, find sponsors, make connections to make expensive events work. It is the International Festival and Events Association -- and it covers things like the Kentucky Derby, Shanghai Art Fair, Indianapolis 500, Cotton Bowl, and lots internationally we have never heard of. So it is pretty interesting that when Des Moines (and Cherry Creek who won the bronze award) gets an award over some of these very famous ones. Here's a link, more about IFEA.
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  R. C. Fulwiler September 23, 2010 at 6:49pm

  IFEA, 'til now, never heard of them. Are all shows in country considered? Or, just member shows? I've seen that too many times.... Just another group with their collective heads up a very dark and parochial hole.
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  Willie McTell September 22, 2010 at 6:30pm

  even though i don't do it any more because it is so far away and also my sales have slowly slid the last few times there, i would still rate it the absolutely, without doubt-ably, indisputably, undeniably, unassailably the best show in iowa.
  (of course i have never done any other show in iowa so maybe i need a little more data on iowa shows)
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  phillip hall September 22, 2010 at 4:51pm

  I would like to nominate Nels for "Best showboy in the entire World".
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  Nels Johnson September 22, 2010 at 3:15pm

  I view this with a healthy dose of suspicion. Maybe "Best"--but I notice none of the awards given are for the substance of the art show, like quality of art, or more importantly, sales. This is a nice regional show--that is all it is, it hardly competes in the category of best art show. Again, it is all how you want to play the facts.