Blog

2022 ART MARKET OF ESTES PARK, CO, MAY 28-30,2022 (5/30 canceled)

PROMOTER: Art Center of Estes Park

FEES: Jury $35, Booth $355 on Zapplication

NUMBER OF BOOTHS: 100 +

MEDIUM: Leather (equine, canine, personal)

PRICE RANGE: $3-$9800

This was the 21st annual Art Market produced by the Art Center of Estes Park.  You can apply to the show on Zapp. The jury fee is $35 and standard booth fee is $355.  The application deadline is March 31.

GEOGRAPHY, CLIMATE, DEMPOGRAPHICS

Estes Park is the eastern gateway to Rocky Mountain National Park.  Access from Denver and I-25 is by US-34 through Big Thompson Canyon or US-36 up the St. Vrain River.  Check the weather and road reports (www.cotrip.org). Trail Ridge Road crosses the mountains in the National Park, and the resort areas of Granby, Grand Lake and Winter Park are on the west side.  This year, the road was opened then closed because of snow and ice then reopened. This is typical mountain weather.    

“Parks” in Colorado refer to broad intermountain valleys.  You have all probably heard of South Park.  There are also North Park, Middle Park, Allens Park etc.  Estes Park is one of these valleys at an elevation of 7,522’.  Mountain weather can be unpredictable, and this is true of Estes Park.  It was nice Friday in the 60-70’s during set up. Saturday was another nice day with only brief afternoon showers followed by sunshine. There were a couple strong gusts of wind in the afternoon. One sent a 2’copper disc sculpture rolling down an aisle. It also sent a couple artists home that night as the gust were real “wall shakers”. Sunday was overcast and chilly in the high 30’s. By afternoon it was raining off and on. The show management announced around 3:00 pm that Monday would be cancelled because of high wind forecast, and we could start taking down as rain/cold had sent most people elsewhere. It was a good call.

There are many summer homes around Estes Park and in the

foothills.  The area is a destination for metro Denver residents and both national and international tourists.  The crowed is definitely affluent middle class, many families with pre-teen kids, lots of dogs, and with a large percent from the Midwest judging from college sweatshirts.

SETUP AND TAKE DOWN

      One hundred booths are arranged around Bond Park, and in and along the City Hall parking area. All booths are on hard surfaces.  A few special considerations about doing this show are altitude sickness if you are a “flatlander” and presence of wildlife: elk, deer, bears and the smaller critters.  Cautionary information is in your information packet.

Zapp had messed up my email for over a month and I did not get the check in information. I showed up at 7:30 and got to start setting up. You check in, get your booth assignment, then unload in designated areas on the park perimeter. The procedure, which I like, is to park, unload your stuff, move your vehicle off site, then set up your booth.  There was none of this parking in front of your and your neighbors’ booths while you dink around unloading and setting up for several hours.  There was a designated trailer parking area with a shuttle back to the show.

Take Down is similar. You pay your taxes and get a loading permit. You take your booth down and then you are allowed to bring your vehicle to load your stuff.  This year was a little different with early take down Sunday afternoon, but it was still managed well. Booth sitters were available, and there are clean accessible rest rooms in the City Hall. Special thanks are due to Security Person Jane who was there after dark Sunday moving her vehicle around so artist could have headlights for takedown and loading.

SALES AND ANALYSIS

I have done the Estes Park Art Market for nine years.  It started out as a solid $2K sales show for me and in most years, sales were a little over $3K.  I went this year after a two-year COVID hiatus with anxiety over high gas prices and inflation. My minimum for returning to a show is $1K-$1.2K/day.  I met the target this year. It was a good 2-day show and I plan to return. I had good sales both days with sales ranging from $5 to $225 with $63.70 average.  Belts with silver and utility buckles were my biggest seller followed by antique style holsters for large revolvers.  A little of everything else sold including dog collars and leashes, checkbooks, credit card cases, and other holsters. Management wanted us to pay taxes promptly after closing was announced Sunday (guess they were cold and wet too). After I paid, there was a “feeding frenzy” for belts when people saw we were taking down and would not be there Monday.  Our margin for the show was 54.5%. This year’s numbers were lower with the loss of about $1K sales typical for Monday.

There were several new and younger artists this year.  Artists are predominantly from all over Colorado, but I counted 1-2 artists from each of NM, WY, SD, MO, IA, AZ, OK, WI AND TX. There may have been others who did not display their booth signs.  The mediums were heavy on wall art (photography and 2-D) and jewelry but with diversity. There were about 2-3 artists in mediums of leather, ceramics, fabrics, wood, metal, and mixed media. There was a definite upgrade in art this year.  This year there were about 8 no-show artists and only one reported a vehicle breakdown. I do not have much sympathy for artists complaining about lack of income when they spend $390 for show fees and then don’t show up. I have a following at this show with returning clients and it was great to see clients who needed more adjustment holes in their belts.

AMMENITIES ETC.

      The Art Center provided a very thorough pre-show information packet.  Besides the usual check in and set up information, there were tips about the weather, wildlife and adjusting to the high altitude. They also provided maps of the Estes Park region.  An artists’ reception was held Saturday night at the Art Center Gallery.  There was coffee and goodies every morning, and booth sitters were available.  Food vendors are present.  There was a silent auction of donated art, and a high percentage of artists donate work. There is overnight security.

MISCELLANEOUS

      Art shows in Colorado resort areas are mini vacations out of the studio for me. We have found it is less expensive to rent a modern cabin or condo in the area which in some cases are less expensive than motels. We eat in to save money.

      Estes Park has three major shows during the summer and fall. The Art Center Produces the Art Market Memorial Day Weekend, the Rotary produces the Estes Park Art and Craft Show Labor Day weekend In September, and the Fine Arts Guild of the Rockies produces the Arts and Crafts Festival in mid-September. There are other weekend events in the community.

JUST FOR ARTISTS

      I notice many artists “retiring” and selling their set ups. I am 78 and Jean is 74. She had a hip replacement during the COVID hiatus. It took us longer for set up and take down this year (11.5 and 10 hours respectively versus 8/4 hours) but analyses explained a lot of the extra time. We owe a great deal to our personal trainer Jay Graves at Fitness together for keeping us strong and flexible, and our yoga instructor Tana Pittman at Butterfly yoga where it is me and all the ladies. Good physical condition is necessary to do shows.

Photos: 1. Sunday morning before opening

2. Typical crowd
3. Piece I got for Jean by Dane Kassery but gave to her early

   for hard work

4. Our rented cabin
5. Old artist takin’ a break.

This review was posted on: artfairinsiders.com, and Facebooks pages Art Fair Lounge, Art Fair Review, Art Fair Reviews.