Posted by Connie Mettler on September 29, 2009 at 1:00pm
September 24 and 25 I was in Peoria, IL, participating in the 12th Artist/Directors Conference sponsored by the
National Association of Independent Artists (NAIA). The conference had artists in attendance (
Don Ament,
Larry Berman, Ronna Katz, Patrick Dragon, Carla Fox, Cynthia Davis, Martha Giberson and many more). The highlight of the artist conference is always the
Mock Jury. Artists bring their images and they are projected for all to see, comment on and critique. This is always an amazing process that sheds light on many quirks and details that impede acceptance at the art fairs. The Directors section was two days long (artists only one day) and was attended by directors from the big shows and the small ones: Katrina Gallegos from
Coconut Grove and Stephen King from
Des Moines (two of the biggies) and Peggy Finnegan from
Colorscape Chenango and Michael Brown from the
Deer Path Art Festival (two of the smaller ones). I love these conferences because: 1. you get to spend time with people who share your passion for art fairs 2. you learn lots of good things to improve your art fair
3. you meet legendary art fair directors and get to talk to them 4. you get to share your best ideas and help other fairs 5. the presentations are affirming, e.g., "I did this for my art fair and you can do it for yours too" 6. there is always a great party
Joe Halbrucker from Sunshine Artist, Lisa Konikow from Arts, Beats & Eats, Teresa Saborsky, artist and Jennifer Lee, Executive Director of the Peoria Art Guild - please notice that everyone is dressed to match and they match the booth also! This year was no exception. --Most interesting presentations:
Eve Lerman from the U.S. Dept. of Commerce, "Battling Imports at Art Shows"
Holly Olinger(artist) - cool presentation on "Handmade in America", showing new ways to encourage younger artists and reinvigorating art fairs
Vic Gutman (Omaha Summer Art Festival)- amazing presentation on overcoming emergencies at art fairs
Kim Armstrong & Patty Gregory - nuts and bolts of a patron programs at the Peoria Arts Fair and the Belleville Fair on the Square
Carla Fox & Chris Porter - artists organizing art fairs
Holly Olinger & Connie Mettler - tech culture, social networking for art fairs
Sara Shambarger (Krasl Art Fair) & Sally Bright (artist)- Hosting artists in patron's homes
Kim Armstrong - using your budget wisely to put on a good event Two great parties:
Thursday night: Peoria Contemporary Art Center - site for a "Cash for Clunkers" party. Attendees dressed in favorite thrift shop attire. Chris Porter was stunning in a draped orange jersey gown from the '40's; Jeanne Seehaver (ArtFest Fort Myers) and I in tux jackets from the consignment store; Ardath Prendergast gowned in pastel separates from the Salvation Army, etc.
Friday night: Peoria Art Guild - we were guests at the Caribbean themed Peoria Art Festival Patron Preview Party ($75 tickets) where we met the sponsors and supporters of the Peoria Fine Art Fair. Seventy-five artists were in attendance and two pieces of their work was on display. Some sales were made, the food was great and the liquor flowed freely. Sorry, no tequila, but many friendly people. The place was packed. This Peoria art group knows how to do it well. I enjoyed meeting new people: Patty Gregory,
Art on the Square, Belleville, IL Carla Fox,
Art in the High Desert, Bend, OR Sandi Cottrell,
ArtWalk San Diego, CA Katie Beckett,
Bethesda Row Arts Festival, Bethesda, MD Patrick Flaherty,
Broad Ripple Art Fair, Indianapolis, IN Jay Snyder,
By Hand, Columbus, OH Mary-Sue Bartlett & Vaughn Griffith,
College Hill Arts Festival, Cedar Falls, IA Peggy Finnegan,
Colorscape Chenango Arts Festival, New Berlin, NY Tracy Pugh,
Crozet Arts & Crafts Festival, Crozet, VA Michael Brown,
Deer Path Art League Art Fair, Antioch, IL Corinn VanWyck,
East Lansing Art Festival, MI Chris Ritke,
Entry Thingy, San Geronimo, CA Patty Narozny & Elise Riches,
Hotworks, Milford, MI Lois Songer,
Key West Art Center, FL Kari Brantley,
Main St. Fort Worth Arts Festival, TX Vic Gutman,
Omaha Summer Arts Festival, NE Robert McFarland,
Renaissance Fine Arts Fair, Ridgeland, MS Kate Poss,
St. Louis Art Fair, MO Sharon Strubbe,
Summerfair, Cincinnati, OH Joe Halbrucker,
Sunshine Artist, Orlando, FL Holly Henson & Alice Moulton,
Winter Park Sidewalk Art Show, FL Barbara Heimsch,
Morning Glory Art Fair, Milwaukee, WI and reconnecting with old friends: Cynthia Davis, Ann Arbor, MI Lisa Konikow,
Arts, Beats & Eats, Pontiac, MI Donna Potts,
Brookside Art Annual, Kansas City, MO Rick Bryant,
Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts, State College, PA Stephen King,
Des Moines Arts Festival, IA Sara Shambarger,
Krasl Art Fair, St. Joseph, MI Kim Armstrong,
Peoria Fine Art Fair, IL Karla Prickett,
Smoky Hill River Festival Fine Art Show, Salina, KS Jeanne Seehaver,
ArtFest Fort Myers, Fort Myers, FL As you can see, a very nice cross-section of the nation's art fairs. I urge you join this fine organization if only for the purpose of encouraging this annual meeting of the nation's art directors for cross pollination of the best art fair ideas and for their encouragement of one another to continue to present the best art fairs possible. Kudos to artists
Sally Bright,
Holly Olinger,
Teresa Saborsky and volunteer
Ardath Prendergast. How four people can do such a fine job as this while earning their living as artists is beyond me. Congratulations to each of you and thank you for all you do to keep art fairs strong by allowing this networking of artists and art fair organizers. Thank you for bringing us together. Here's a message I received from Corinn Van Wyck, director of the East Lansing Art Fair: Hi Connie, We really enjoyed the conference and came back with so many useful ideas. From the time I started as the coordinator it has been very important to me that the artists have a good experience at our show. I think the NAIA really helps bridge the gap between show directors and artists, so I love it. It was nice to learn that so many show directors are artists too! I really thought the quality of art was fantastic at the Peoria show so we were recruiting!!! I liked their layout too, makes us want to spread the artists out in our layout and give them more space. I'm also going to work on that artist-only restroom idea! I want the artists who come to our show to feel like they were taken care of and treated well.
A tequila report is de rigeur, Michelle! Furthermore, there were a lot of leftover libations here.
Last year the conference was in Lancaster, PA. They always hold these conferences in conjunction with an art fair. It is great for directors to get an upclose look at others' events.
I am currently a member of CODA - and LOVE CODA. I have entertained joining NAIA, but haven't devoted enough time to look into it more. Several members of CODA are members of NAIA too as well as some other organizations - so after a while it gets overwhelming - who to join up with and all that jazz. I love CODA as it covers all aspects of the arts and get to see more of a persapective of art through the eyes of gallery owners, curators, show organizers (including gift shows), economic dev. organizations, colleges, guilds, and the list goes on. I have mentioned earlier I would have loved to gone to the conference, but both distance and shows were a major conflict. I am going to stay tuned for future conferences and plan in advance. I would love to meet more of you all and shoot the breeze. Who knows do a "collective" Tequila Report on the side???
Linda, Michelle and others,
Please consider joining the NAIA. It is a very worthwhile organization and they really need your support. Go to this page to read about Membership: http://naia-artists.org/join/index.htm
The Fall issue is at the printers and due to come out next week. They are mailed to NAIA members and the rest are distributed by hand at art festivals around the country. To ensure that you will receive a copy, please JOIN! There are lots of other benefits to joining, but the primary reason is to support the efforts of the NAIA toward improving our industry.
Post conference information will be posted on the NAIA web site (www.naia-artists.org), but if you join you will receive the information first as a member.
Sorry, haven't gotten my pic up yet on Art Fair Insiders.
Is there a link to go to for more information. I live too far away with shows going on, so I couldn't make it, but if there is any info I can brush myself up on that would be great. All the topics sounded amazing and worth the trip just to hear what was discussed. Last question, regarding the mock jury - what was the mistake most people make with their jury shots, in general, at the mock jury?
Here is a report from Corinn Van Wyck of the East Lansing, MI, Art Festival:
We really enjoyed the conference and came back with so many useful ideas. From the time I started as the coordinator it has been very important to me that the artists have a good experience at our show. I think the NAIA really helps bridge the gap between show directors and artists, so I love it. It was nice to learn that so many show directors are artists too! I really thought the quality of art was fantastic at the Peoria show so we were recruiting!!! I liked their layout too, makes us want to spread the artists out in our layout and give them more space. I'm also going to work on that artist-only restroom idea! I want the artists who come to our show to feel like they were taken care of and treated well.
Thanks Connie for attending and giving us the report. I think it quite beneficial to read the list of attendees - knowing that they are interested in improving and providing a great venue. I will refer to this list when applying for shows next year.
Comments
Last year the conference was in Lancaster, PA. They always hold these conferences in conjunction with an art fair. It is great for directors to get an upclose look at others' events.
Please consider joining the NAIA. It is a very worthwhile organization and they really need your support. Go to this page to read about Membership: http://naia-artists.org/join/index.htm
You can ready the Spring edition of the NAIA newspaper, The Independent Artist on this page:
http://naia-artists.org/resources/Newspaper/Issue5/Page1.htm
The Fall issue is at the printers and due to come out next week. They are mailed to NAIA members and the rest are distributed by hand at art festivals around the country. To ensure that you will receive a copy, please JOIN! There are lots of other benefits to joining, but the primary reason is to support the efforts of the NAIA toward improving our industry.
Post conference information will be posted on the NAIA web site (www.naia-artists.org), but if you join you will receive the information first as a member.
Sorry, haven't gotten my pic up yet on Art Fair Insiders.
We really enjoyed the conference and came back with so many useful ideas. From the time I started as the coordinator it has been very important to me that the artists have a good experience at our show. I think the NAIA really helps bridge the gap between show directors and artists, so I love it. It was nice to learn that so many show directors are artists too! I really thought the quality of art was fantastic at the Peoria show so we were recruiting!!! I liked their layout too, makes us want to spread the artists out in our layout and give them more space. I'm also going to work on that artist-only restroom idea! I want the artists who come to our show to feel like they were taken care of and treated well.