When you got your art fair news email from ArtfairInsiders.com on Monday morning it was FULL of ads. Our apologies to you.
A recent frauding of my credit card meant the service we use, Feedblitz.com, to send these emails, had incorrect information in the billing and it did not go through. Which means it reverted to the "free" service which is full of ads, not the "ad-free" service we purchase.
Fixed now.
Connie, Tina & Meg
Last weekend, I believe me and many others (like Patti, Melanie, Geoff and others) heard a welcome sound, it was like a giant booming, cracking sound, it has been missing for several years, but I heard it big-time last weekend. You know what that sound was? It was the sound of people taking their credit cards out of their wallets--and buying art, bigtime.
This was my first time at this show, I usually do Mt. Dora. Well, I am glad I came. I think a whole lot of other artists are glad they came.
Mind you, I had serious reservations about this show. After all, isn't the Ft. Myers area the king of real estate meltdowns in America? Well, not exactly. The meltdown is over more on the Cape (think Cape Coral) than in Ft. Myers. Also, people with money are getting great deals on homes down here now, and they are decorating.
Here is the meat about this show. It is held along the river, all of it is on concrete, you need weights. Mostly everybody has room in the rear, and on the sides. Show has roughly 217 exhibitors. Staff is very helpful. Plenty of free water, a nice artist lounge, meals in the morning, even food after that. They have boothsitters. It is a pretty easy setup and teardown, I have seen lots worst. Demographics-wise, a lot of older people--but, they were buying. They even had prize money this year and AFI-er Jim Parker got a nice award.
We were under edgy weather all weekend but came out smelling like a rose, which was not the same for Sarasota and Mt. Dora, which were both north of us. Enthusiastic crowds came, free admission. And the y bought--all kinds of work. Traditional, edgy, vibrant colors. I saw more work go out of this show in packages than I have seen in my previous four for 2011--this includes New Years Naples, Bonita Springs, Cape Coral and Images. I think people are starting to loosen up and say,"What the heck! Let's buy some art now. I had a killer show just like a lot of others. Not everybody made big bucks, but they still pulled a paycheck. Let's hope this trend contin ues for the spring in Florida, and then the midwest.
The highlight of my show, maybe even of my career in art, was when Capt. Lou Garofalo showed up in his 25-foot,seven inch boat at close of show on Saturday. We then cruised home for five miles on the river. That is the way to travel to an art show, and I even have a pic to show for it.
