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     The Garage Sale Art Fair was held February 27th.  I really look forward to this show every year.  It is great fun catching up with people and the deals are crazy good.  Usually I am there as a shopper.  This year I went with Connie to sell some of Norm's art fair equipment and his art work.  I have not helped her do a show in about ten years.  It was always fun being on the artist's side of the fence and I missed that.  It was really nice talking to the artists as we set up.

     So, three of us loaded up a cargo van, and I happened to be the only person with two good hands, and headed for Kalamazoo.  The load in was super easy.  We were able to park right next to one of the many entrances into the Kalamazoo County Expo Center.  So, the walk from the van to our booth was fairly short.  There wasn't any extra space around the booths for storage.  This event is held indoors and space is at a premium.  That wasn't a problem though because the van was not far away.  We were able to go back and forth all day to get things. 

     The doors opened at 9:30 am on Saturday morning for customers.  The line was huge and stretched out for a long ways indoors.  People said it was huge outside, too.  When they let the crowds in the place was packed.  At about 12:30 I heard thy had already had 6,000 people come.  Shoppers want to get there early because the deals are so good.  By one o'clock I was already seeing a few booths had shut down and left because they had already sold out.  

     This show is produced Michael Kifer and Bonnie Blandford's Road Wife Productions LLC.  They do a great job.  They were always visible to take care of problems.  Even though Saturday is wild and crazy they were both in great moods and they stayed like that all day long.  On Friday night during set up they served cold bottled water and pizza.  Someone brought in the best brownies to share, too.  Then, on Saturday, to encourage shopper spending, they have a drawing.  About once an hour they draw a shopper's name and give them $20 in Garage Sale bucks to spend at the show.  About 2 pm Bonnie began making announcements from artists for further mark downs.  Poor Bonnie was getting these announcements fast and furiously.  She happily stayed on course and kept making announcements. 

      Artists occasionally posted funny signs to grab the customer's attention.  This sign was on Alison Fox's table.  Alison came with a tons of things.  I walked by her booth about 2 in the afternoon and she was down to a few pieces. 

     This show had about 150 artists.  The artists were housed in to adjoining rooms.  There was food available to purchase from the concession stand in the building.  The food was not the highlight of the day and people were not there to eat but to shop. 

      This artist with the pottery sells a lot of his inventory every year.  I have seen him before but this year he was determined to get rid of it all.  This was taken later in the day when most of his stuff was gone.

There are about 150 artists that get into this show.  Many artists apply hoping to get one of those spots.  I saw several AFI members there.  AFI member Joan Tweedell was not far from our booth.  I have read many of her show reviews over the years but hadn't met her.  She had some very pretty work with her.

My iPhone usually takes crisp photos but I think it was taking a hiatus the day I was at the show.  I had to sharpen these photos.  Sorry about the blur. 

This really is a great show to get rid of your no longer wanted stock.  I have seen some strange items for sale at this show, too.  Last year someone was selling a microwave.  Every year there are a few strange items.  It is worth a try and you never know who may want that item you brought.  This show is a great way to kick off the new art show season.  See you there next year.

This year is rapidly coming to an end.  Soon the 2012 shows will be over and artists will be conteplating new work for the 2013 season.  I was just wondering, what do you all do with the inventory you don't want to haul to your 2013 shows?  Do you have a small show in your home, do you store it away, do you give it away as gifts, do you use pieces for donation purposes?  I do know of 3 "garage sale" shows where artists can unload unwanted items.  I think they are great.  The shoppers appear to be going nuts for a few deals from their favorite artists. 

We have one of those "garage sale" shows right here in Kalamazoo, Michigan.  Bonnie Blanford puts on the "Garage Sale Art Fair" in Kalamazoo.  She has special deals announced every hour, food to keep shoppers from leaving for lunch, and hourly drawings.  Bonnie holds her show in February when there isn't much else to look forward to here in Michigan. 

I know Colin Murray has one in Waukesha, Wisconson.  Colin holds his event, "Artworks: Studio Clearance Sale", in January.  I imagine Wisacon has to be as bleak as Michigan is in the winter.  I think Colin once mentioned that everything sells out there, too.

There is also one in Columbus, Ohio.  It is called the "Art Studio Clearance Sale" and is also held in January. 

Have you done any of those shows?  Have you thought about applying?  What was your experience?  Will you do it again?

Let us know what you do with your unwanted inventory.  This may help others who just have no idea of what to do with the extra art work that for some reason just didn't seem to catch anyboy's eye this past year.