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  sandhi schimmel gold August 2, 2010 at 10:47am

  The art world, like any creative "profession," runs from one end of the spectrum to the other. An artist can sell their own feces for millions of dollars on one end... crochet hats out of beer cans on the other.
  
  And, everything in -between. And a lot of judgement from one end to the other.
  
  Same thing with musicians - you have Lady Gaga, symphony members, studio musicians and street performers...from a to z - artists run the gamut...
  
  Realistically, I think to be successful at art festivals [fairs, tent shows...] you need to produce a product the people who attend art festivals want to buy. However, every show is different. Every audience is different, too. I spent a weekend staring at a stoner who made crap out of driftwood, and I've also had a booth next to amazing painters, jewelers, and sculptors.
  
  We're all in art shows to sell our work. The trick is, how much do we compromise ourselves as artists in order to produce the work that audience wants to buy. Is it about the art or about the money? If it's not about the money, I think art festivals might not be the right venue.
  
  I've taken myself off the carousel this year - seems like lots of people attend shows [they're free or close to it], will ooooh and ahhhh, but not buy so much.
  
  Maybe it's me, but at this point, I'm going for more gallery representation [even though I listed items on Imagekind], and thankfully have a husband with a job who can support us until things get better.
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  Connie Mettler July 30, 2010 at 5:03pm

  And here is the latest official info from Jackson Hole: http://planetjh.com/news/A_106407.aspx
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  Martha Giberson July 30, 2010 at 3:39pm

  Well now wouldn't that depend on whether the penis was challenging enough or controversial but certainly not pretty or beautiful "art" purchased at an art show. We all know you can't trust "art" you bought from an artist in a tent! Gawd forbid.
  
  martha
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  geri a. wegner July 30, 2010 at 3:11pm

  Alison, I have about 4 different answers to your question and each and every one of them would get me kicked off of this website.
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  Alison Thomas July 30, 2010 at 5:42am

  It appears that he only did two art shows. Probably didn't do well. I mean, who wants a drawing of someone's penis on their living room wall.
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  Pat Sorbini July 30, 2010 at 2:49am

  It is not a matter of disallowing his opinion. Lord knows I have a few of my own. But the point is that why participate in a venue for which he has such a low opinion? If art fairs are not the place for the type of art he appreciates/makes why is he setting up his tent? A tad disingenuous I say.
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  Connie Mettler July 29, 2010 at 9:07pm

  I've been watching "Work of Art" on Bravo (Wednesdays at 10 pm) -- and finding it very interesting to see what the artists create and then what the judges say about it. So far not much that could be sold at an art fair ;)
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  Willie McTell July 29, 2010 at 8:58pm

  to be real, however, his point that to be REAL art you have to challenge society or the culture in some way is a very recent idea. historically art was not thought of this way at all, and i have my doubts that such a notion will persist. already you can see the most expensive art is for big corporations or billionaires. it is "challenging" is a superficial way, but not not in any substantially threatening way.
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  Willie McTell July 29, 2010 at 8:44pm

  this is what he said that was so offensive.
  “Everything is safe and appeals to median taste because selling art is really the only reason to do an art fair.”
  is there anyone here who does art shows NOT to sell art?
  if so, please speak up.
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  Pat Sorbini July 29, 2010 at 3:17pm

  Why is he doing fairs? I'm sure the Louvre is calling.