I am licking my wounds right now and avoiding my credit card statements after the last two shows where I didn't even make expenses.  Two shows which by all research should have been at least paycheck shows, and I'm all out of Xanax.  What is an artist to do?

Setauket, a little village of wonderful demographics right next door to my hometown on Long Island, sorely disappointed in many ways, especially with the nighttime booth robberies.  But I'll address that in another blogpost.  I did well as a rookie art show artist here in 2008, and expected (perhaps delusionally, in retrospect) a sort of prodigal-daughter-returns-home kind of show.  It was a dogwalk.  There are some shows that urge me to take up pet portraiture again, because THAT would have sold.  The shoes were here.  The weather was perfect.  The wallets stayed firmly out of sight.  And every breed in the AKC was here too.  I had some maddening nibbles from two interior designers, who of course  did not have their business cards on them, one said she had a client on the Gold Coast who"didn't want a landscape, but something beachy" and my giant conch "was perfect".  Now I know how guys feel with a case of blue balls. 

Well, ok, I thought, this whole trip so far has been one good show, one bad show.  Onto Montclair, NJ.  Let's go wrangle this monster RV over the Cross Bronx Expressway and the GW into the well-heeled Jersey suburbs.

Aaaack.

Did I say my prayers Friday night?  Did I neglect St. Luke, the patron saint of artists?  Should I have conducted a small animal sacrifice? Should I have bought far more cheap wine and cigarettes to numb the increasing panic as the hours ticked down to five o' clock Sunday?

Oy vey. (I can say this, I just back from Long Island and stuffed myself on good bagels and lox)

Howard and Rose did everything right.  They advertised prolifically, and are wonderful people to boot.  The show is in a great area.  The weather again cooperated.  But the dogwalkers ruled the day.  Munks described in a recent post the vacancy in peoples' eyes, the absence of hope.  My booth buddy neighbor said, "These people could walk off a cliff."  I was not the only artist who didn't make expenses.  I'm stymied, and more than a bit anxious.  And I don't like the cheap red wine I'm drinking.  I'm second guessing my decisions made earlier this year (completely sober, thank you) on where in New England to show my very New England beachy work.  If it's true that it takes three years for an audience at a particular show to accept that you are here for real as an artist, well then, I'm screwed, because I'm basically unemployable at anything else.

So how do YOU prop yourself up after falling face first?

I just returned from Grand Rapids where I installed my ArtPrize entry over the grand stairway at the Courtyard Marriott Hotel. Its called "Fukushima: The Bald-Headed Suiters and the Angry Slab." It is a digital painting made up of 44 20-inch square canvas panels and it measures about 7 feet high and 19 feet wide. It was inspired by the nuclear meltdown at Fukushima, Japan. Its about technology run amok.

I've been sweating bullets for the last couple weeks, worrying about getting it done, and worrying about how to hang it. Thanks to a couple of very handy maintenance guys at the Marriott, the picture looks great.

ArtPrize begins on Wednesday, September 21 and runs for two and a half weeks when the city of Grand Rapids turns into a giant art gallery, with over 1500 paintings, sculptures, installations, videos, films and what-not on exhibit at about 150 different locations around the city, all vying for over $450,000 in award money awarded by popular vote. Its an incredible event and worth seeing if you get a chance. When I was installing my piece at the Marriott, the hotel manager was still waiting for an artist from Beijing to arrive with his entry. There are artists from around the world exhibiting in Grand Rapids, Michigan!

Now I have to scramble to get ready for the Peoria Art Fair this week-end. Too bad my ArtPrize piece is booked in Grand Rapids. It would be great to show it in Peoria. Wouldn't fit in my 10x10 booth anyway...

Check out www.ArtPrize.org to see how you can participate in picking the winners. And stop by the Marriott. I'll be there Wednesday evening with my entry.

John Leben

Wanted to post a little about a one day show I did on this past Saturday. Prairie Day at Dardenne Prairie,MO.,a suburb of St.Louis.

This was my first time doing this show and thus, I didn't know what to expect. This was a juried show (although I think all entries were accepted) and the booth fee was very reasonable.This was an outdoor show and the tent was provided, which was a plus.

Of course the day started off with showers,which held the crowd down until afternoon. There was a large steady crowd after the rain stopped,until closing.(6PM)

I believe this was their third year for this festival and unfortunately the date conflicted with several other large events in the St.Louis area, including another art fair.

In my opinion,this was certainly geared toward families and children,more than anyone else,which is not all bad.

There were a lot of freebies and free events which helped draw the crowd,but there were certainly many more lookers than buyers. My neighboring booths were also seeing very slow, if any sales at all.

Most of my work is large and thus I think was probably priced out of reach for this type of event.

I did sell a few smalls and had lots of nice comments,but bottom line...it was a bust.

Being fairly new to the "Art Fair World", I thought it would be a good experience and it certainly helped getting my work viewed,but that was about it.

This is the 3rd year that I've done the Arts in the Heart of Augusta show.  It's located in Augusta, Georgia.  In the past this show has been a good show for me, but resulted in average sales.  This year several changes resulted in making this my best show ever both sales wise and every other way I can think of.  Previously this show has been held in both paved and unpaved parking areas, but this year they managed to talk the city of Augusta into holding the event on the main business street of the city (way to go!) and what a difference it made.  It's now located on a wide street with unloading right in front of your booth and parking right behind your booth every day. 

Previously there has been a part of the show that was sectioned off for buy/sell vendors, but this year they limited the vendors to artists and craftsmen and they did a great job in the jury process.  There was a wide range of arts/crafts and it was mostly of very high quality.  The folks that attended responded very positively.  I talked to a couple of vendors that had to call home to have additional things brought in.  I saw one double booth consolidate what they had left down to a single space.  I ran out of boxes at one point, but that didn't seem to matter, folks took things home in a bag happily. Every artist that I talked to was having a great show and that ranged from wooden toy makers to photographers.

I have to point out that the weather was amazing.  The temperatures were perfect and there was no rain and that contributed to bringing the crowds out, but that was just icing on the cake.  This show was  run perfectly.  I'd recommend this one to anyone! 

Suwanee day 2011 ( Suwanee Ga.) was the best year yet. This was my third year, and well worth it.

It a pain to get in & out, because you can not drive to your spot & unload. you have to be loaded onto these trailers being towed by these ATVs, and they take you to our spot. But they have tons of wonderful volunteers that make it go smoothly and quick. after the show you do the same procedure in reverse, except 150 artist are all trying to get out the same time. with a little patience you get out just fine. again they have tons of help. back to the show, it's on this huge park on the corner of two main streets. The festival is super well organized. Nice motor coaches bring customer from 3 off site parking. 

People come to shop, I think everyone around me did well. I have no idea how many people came buy, except it seemed non stop that people were in my booth.

Tonight I was reading a post by Kathleen Clausen on shoplifters.  Shoplifters hit her neighbor's booth and then proceeded to her booth.  The shoplifters were able to get some jewelry from both booths and who knows how many other booths before that.  Luckily, Kathleen and her neighbor were able to recover their artwork. 

Shoplifters don't take vacations or ask for permission before they strike.  It happenes when we least expect it.  Plus, we usually realize it long after the perpetrators are gone. 

So, what do you do to minimize thefts from your booth?  Have you had many thefts?  Have you caught anybody red handed?  Tell us how you combat this problem.  Your experiences may just help another artists to protect themselves and their hard work.  It is always good to be prepared.

Jacki B

Connie and I both received the following from the art director that I have been corresponding with regarding Mistura.  I am continuing to respect the continued request for anonymity but will say that I know that most people on this website would be happy to be accepted at this art festival.  I also feel confident that the information will be passed on to other festival directors.    I am sure that Mistura will continue to be wonderfully successful selling their very cool watches at the appropriate venues.

Would one of you mind posting that the "anonymous" show director has
emailed Juan Barreneche and Daniel Schemel with the allegations
against them - giving them a fair opportunity to explain themselves.
She is specifically asking about 4 people working for them that are
not listed on their application and what their roles are, how they
have time to make 85 hour watches while providing stock to over 15
stores and 3 online sites while attending many art festivals and
specialty shows and asking them to elaborate on how they create their
watchbands, which have been rumored to be purchased not handmade. She
has set a response deadline of tuesday at 5 pm central. If they are
unable to explain themselves sufficiently or fail to respond, she is
removing them from the show. She wants to thank everyone on this blog
for giving her enough clues to be able to approach them.

May 11-13, 2012
Greenville, South Carolina
West End Historic District
120 Artists
Deadline: October 6, 2011 - paper applications
October 20, 2011 - online applications (Zapplication deadline)

Greenville is located in the Blue Ridge Mountains in the northwest corner of South Carolina, halfway between Atlanta and Charlotte. It is one of those lucky U.S. cities impacted positively by high tech development where industries such as BMW, General Electric and Fluor are flourishing.

 What to expect:

• Since 2005 the Purchase Awards Program provided an average of an additional $17,500 in art sales
• An extensive advertising and publicity effort that publicizes the festival throughout the state and the Southeast region in print, radio, and television. The festival will also be marketed through direct mail, social media and advertisements in tourist publications
• $10,000 in prize money
• a well-educated audience who have good jobs
• great time of the year for pleasant Spring days

Now in its eighth year, the top-ranking Artisphere festival is an annual three-day event that gives arts patrons the opportunity to meet exhibiting artists while purchasing original works of art.  Recently ranked in Sunshine Artist Magazine's "200 Best Fine Art Shows" and a top-twenty event in Greg Lawler's Art Fair Sourcebook, Artisphere's mission is to showcase and promote the arts.   

Artisphere is a 501(c)(3) non- profit art organization.  Proceeds are used to produce the annual arts Festival and are also distributed back to local non-profit arts organizations as part of Artisphere's Volunteer Arts Partnership Program.

On the fence about applying? Visit their website for a good overview: www.Artisphere.us 

See artist review here: http://www.artfairinsiders.com/profiles/blogs/artispherea-little-jewel-of-a

For a prospectus and more info, contact Liz Rundorff Smith, Program Director/Artisphere, 864-271-9355, or liz@greenvillearts.com.    

Download the application:  www.artisphere.us

************************

Putting together your schedule for 2012? Don't miss this daily updated site:  www.CallsforArtists.com

My new Joelle's Dolls website and blog can be found at 

http://www.joellesdolls.com/

Just returned from a super show in Rochester Hills, MI… the weather was so-so and the buying crowds were out in small numbers…The Paint Creek Center for the Arts staff and crew really did their jobs… all of the artists around us seemed to do fair to middling well with one glass artist doing much better than "well". The painter next to them said that she was told they did $15,000 on Saturday and $15,000 on Sunday. Of course the painter is French and has trouble with zeros, so it may have been $1500. Actually, I bet it was closer to $150. Still, not a bad take. And the painter had a couple of big sales on Friday night.

The rain pretty much held off after the Thursday afternoon setup, and the Friday night open was downright steamy. A few folks made money Friday night (the aforementioned painter), but most just sat around whining and snivelling about the lack of sales. Saturday was good for me, Sunday not so many sales. I did a couple of deliveries on Monday, to people that had come to Arts, Beats and Eats and followed up with me at the show in Rochester. 

And to make matters worse, I won an award, which came with a big check, which is something you can expect if you show up five years in a row, and have great stuff, like I do. I was happy to stand up on the stage with the other winners (7 in all) and accept my kudos with grace and honor. They like me, really they do.

Even without the awards, I like this show. I'm local, which helps. No travel costs, no gas. Just show up, set up and sell. It's a pleasant venue, usually cooler weather, and a nice stroll through the trees in the Rochester Municipal Park. Booth fee is reasonable ($300), and they have great pie. But many artists say that the show has been slipping over the years, and a lot of buy/sell has crept in. There were three or four of those "alphabet" photographers. You know, assemble your name out of pictures of not-so-interesting architectural elements. More than one kids puzzle maker, too. Joy Taraweiscz is the original, she's been next to me for several years. There were some good jewelers: Trisko was there, as were Marc & Wendy Zoschke. Luciano was there, in his usual spot. And Dog Remien was there, too, texting me in full detail things I just didn't want to know. Dog's a good friend, though, so it was ok. We share.

This show has good potential. The locals do come out, they love it, they love the relaxed atmostphere, and they do buy. Occasionally. My average transaction was up this year, but number of customers lower. People with cash are still spending it. Occasionally. I think if some of the good national artists would come back to the show, they'd be pleasantly surprised. Besides, there's good pie. It's hard to build a show when the only folks that apply are local or buy/sell.

And I heard lots of whining and snivelling. Personally, I'm quite fond of snivelling, myself. I do it all the time to clear my nostrils. I do get a lot of snot up there, and snivelling helps to… Wait, what's that you say? Snuffling, not snivelling? Never mind… Did I mention that they have apples and pie for sale? This is really more of a vegetarian show, but they do have a nice pulled pork sandwich. But mostly apples. I guess that's why they call it Art & Apples. 

Welcome to the Cooper studio, where we've predetermined to talk again about the summer art fair. 

 Aaaah, sunny days, the green grass of the park scattered with cute little white tents, happy artists selling their fine art....

Oh wait.  How much of that line is fiction?  Imaginary?  Delusional? A sham?

I've spent quite a bit of research time lately on the topic of the "fine art fair".  Some of them have a heck of a history.

Every time I looked up one of the grandaddy art fairs, and was able to find their mission statement, they all seemed to have something in common.  Some examples for you to peruse:

---Wanting to create an event where local artists could showcase their work to the community, Womer established the first 57th Street Art Fair in 1948

---The Annual Edmonds Arts Festival began in 1957.  The mission then as now, was to celebrate and promote the arts with a lively and pleasurable presentation of local and national work.

---It all began one hot Chicago summer in the early 80's when four neighborhood artists (Bob Smeltzer, Joe Kotzman, Tony Cachapero and Rodney Patterson) decided to have an art fair--a picnic in the park.  Rodney suggested that it might be a good opportunity for local artists to show and share their work to each other and to their neighbors. 

Did you catch the commonality?  They are all working to showcase the art, to friends, neighbors, community.  To "celebrate and promote the arts".  So how did we get from that, to this:

---Art Fair has become both tired and tiresome.  It's held in the absolute hottest part of the summer.  The prices are ridiculous and most of the so-called art is schlock.  How many times can you mill through the crowds viewing the same old fare every year?

--Taken from a news article about parking garage revenue during the AnnArbor Art Fair, but certainly not a unique thought amongst art fair patrons.

What jumps out at you from that comment?   Maybe the SO-CALLED ART IS SCHLOCK?

Shortly before reading the comment, I read another--this one a discussion at ArtFairInsiders regarding (of course) lackluster art fair sales, and various artists comments about if they would be exhibiting at art fairs next year.  One artist said even with poor sales, she was not quitting.  She would "cobble together" something that would sell. 

What happened to celebrating the arts?  Showing our work to the community?  If the purpose of an art fair is to showcase our work to the community, shouldn't we be showing our best? 

(here comes the politically incorrect part)  Are you an artist, or not?  Are you being delusional in calling what you exhibit at an art fair ART? Ouch.  I suggest if you are cobbling something together that you think will sell, adding to the patron impression that the "so-called art is schlock", then maybe it's time to re-think your game plan. 

There's always a discussion out there somewhere about "what art is" and there are a bazillion different answers.  I suggest that "schlock" is not one of them.  I also suggest that if you are cobbling together something to coax a twenty dollar bill out of some art fair patron's pocket, that something is not art either.  The summer art fair is not dead, but it has been seriously injured.  Injured by artists who have put grabbing a buck, in front of creating their art.  Yes, we all have to make a living, but we'll do it best by keeping our priorities straight.  Art fairs were created to showcase and celebrate art, not schlock.

If you are an artist planning on exhibiting at an art fair next summer, I'm asking you to bring your art.  Bring your BEST art.

Later, Cooper

So, the Gypsy Train rolled into Indy for the Penrod Arts Fair 2011, looking for big sales and happy times.  We were so excited to be a participating artist of “Indiana’s Nicest Day”, the self-claimed tag for the one day show on the grounds of the Indianapolis Museum of Art.

Everything was as advertised.  350 artists, multiple music stages, wine stands, gourmet cooking (teaching) chefs, children’s area…heck, even Bud Light taps sprouting from walls of strategically parked trucks.  With the cost of admission at $17, a ‘buying crowd’ was practically guaranteed.

Sold some paintings early in the day and thought we are on our way.

Then the call came.  Frantic.  Desperate.

I don’t know who to call.  He broke his neck.  I don’t know what else to do, where to go… can you pray for us. Yes, of course. 

The  cell call came from a loving Mom (and dear friend of ours).   As we stood in the back of booth Yellow #75, she was floating in a speed-boat on a lake in Tennessee.  Water skiing fun gone terribly wrong.  Her 22-year old son in a freak tangle, had fallen.  Neck snapped.  Face down and unable to move, a Friend in the water rolled him over to save drowning.

The terror in her gut and the look on her son’s face tell Mom …he’s dead…but then she, Dad, Wife, & Friends go into action.

Get him to the rear deck.  Pull him onto my lap.  Call 911.  Put the wake board under his legs dangling off the back.  Flag down that passing boat.  Screaming, waving hands…Please Stop!

The boat pulls along side.  Just happens to be carrying a Nurse.  Her first time on the lake, ever.  She’d swam in it, but never boated.  Today, she boated.  And was cruising by a broken neck within minutes of occurrence.

Take charge.  Stabilize.  Hold neck.  Angel Nurse.

Finally back to the marina. EMS coming.  20 minutes seem like 20 years.

While they wait come the words that would double over the father.

“Dad, can you pray for me…”

EMS arrives.  Can’t do anything here. Call Life Flight from Vanderbilt Medical Center.  15 minutes later the chopper arrives.  Their son, one of the brightest lights and love of their life, just disappears into the western horizon, while they stand and watch.

We left Indy early Sunday and arrived at Vandy minutes before surgery prep.  Prayer chains had been activated all over the country, with resounding, fervent pleas for healing and restoration.

3:33 pm surgery begins.  Fused the 2nd and 3rd vertebrate with bone graft taken from his hip.  Halo head stabilizer screwed on.  Ventilator.  Intubator.  IV’s.  Stuff attached everywhere.

The prognosis comes an hour later…expect a full recovery, with about 15% restricted movement in his neck area.  Not out of woods, but looking good.  Universal Hallelujahs.

Later, one from the Doctor’s team announced…“this is the luckiest man in Nashville.”  

From that same trauma room on floor 10, at least 4 more people would die in the next 48 hours while ‘lucky man’ (translation blessed, for all of us) took baby steps toward immediate healing and a life-long testimony.  His triumph over a near-tragic death came on the same day a nation remembered the tragedy ten years ago on 9/11.

I witnessed a loving, faithful family pull together in amazing fashion.  Made possible by having a foundation.  A source of power and strength; a basis for operating in times such as this.

For the rest of us?  It is not if, but when, we will experience Valleys, hard, out-of-the-blue personal losses and challenges.  That’s life in this world.

Question is… what will lift you up from them?  How will you and your family persevere?

Good looks?  Your great job?  Number of Facebook friends?  Quantity of paintings sold?  Your bank account?  New SUV?

Try taking all of those to the Intensive Care Unit on floor 10.

This family put it all on the Lord’s shoulders.

And not just for a couple of horrible days and nights around a son’s broken neck.  It is a free choice and one they made long before this event.  With it they are promised peace, favor, blessing, mercy, grace, power, in ALL things; even if their son had passed on to heaven that day, it is the strong name of Jesus that would’ve carried the family on.  Thankfully, it is the same name that will now get them through long and painful days of rehab, fraught with discouragement, tears, and frustration.

This isn’t ‘a preach’…it IS to share what I saw work in action this weekend.  And it works like this in countless lives every day.  It is truth.

Some other time I may do an Artist’s review of the Penrod Art Festival…for now, this just mattered a whole lot more.

  I didn’t hear any complaints from the just over 200 artists about setup, not a peep.  The farmers market crew resembled longshoreman versus the artists setting up our dainty ornaments, and they surely set the economic tone early with people bustling about with bags full of produce and baked goods.  The beginning of Saturday was like any other first day, cold at first with allot of walk-aholics, but within my first hour I had a hard bite on a big piece--who returned early Sunday with the family and left with a modest purchase.  The security at the show was tight, and a welcomed sight during last weekend--the upgrade in security, thanks to the township and  Howard Allen Events. Alexandria seemed politely detached from the media-blown depression of our saddest 10 year anniversary--not disrespectful, simply unapologetic for enjoying their day.  Sunday may have seen fewer numbers than in the past, but the people who were there were all (mostly all) walking with one or more different vendor’s bags--which is AMAZING.  It’s one thing to report a great day for yourself, but when you see multiple patrons walking around with three different colored bags, with three different mediums, it makes you feel like you’re in the right place.  

Set up is always my least favorite thing, but the farmers market crew helped me through with their show of country strength and hearty laughter.  Howard, Debbie, H.A. crew, and the local authorities were a delight, neighbors of D.C. and surrounding boroughs came out to meet and peruse, and in closing, I suggest you splurge on the Hotel Monaco or the Westin (where my husband and I stayed) because they’re within walking distance, and a 5min drive respectively.  I heard people got $60-$70 rooms very close as well, for the economically inclined.  Also, with a standard sized van, you can park in a garage between King and Pitt streets for $2 a day!  Sweet :)

Good luck for the final days of the Summer Season.

LU

http://stiltwalker.com/blog/

Hey everybody, I just thought I would pass on some information that I found just in case it may affect any of you. 

On August 16, 2011 Sugarloaf received notice that the Connecticut Expo Center was being sold to a new owner.  The facility will close forever as an expo center as of September 22, 2011.  The center has canceled all show contracts after 9/22/11 forcing them to cancel their show in Hartford scheduled for November 11-13, 2011 as well as future events there.  Hopefully, if you were scheduled to show your work there in November you already know this unfortunate news.

I found this information when I was on the Sugarloaf website.  However, when visiting the Connecticut Expo Center's site, unless you notice the 22nd on their calendar, you might not realize they are closing.  Everything on the Expo Center website suggests it is business as usual.  They still have a list of upcoming events running down the left hand side of their website.   Website visitors possibly have no idea that the Center is closing soon.

Sugarloaf was starting to hear a few rumors that the Center was being sold.  So, they began looking for an alternative venue so that they would not have to cancel the November art show.  Any place large enough for the Sugarloaf Craft Festival was already booked.  Most of the places that were available were just not large enough, didn't have enough parking, or were in an unsuitable location for their Festival.

Sugarloaf is actively looking at other locations for future shows in Connecticut or southern New England.  So, hopefully, eventually the show will be picked up again.

I hope this wasn't a shock for anyone that was scheduled to do that show in November.

Jacki B

Here is an excellent article from WNDU.com in South Bend about the civic funding of events in St. Joe, MI. City residents were polled as to where they wanted their tax dollars to go, getting the nod:

Krasl Art Fair, the Blossomtime Parade and the 4th of July fireworks

Losing: Venetian Festival and Labor Day fireworks

Why am I writing about this here? This article explores the importance of the economic impact of festivals on the local populace, something that is of interest to all of us.

"About 63 percent of residents and businesses said Venetian did not have a positive impact on the community. 68 percent of residents and 73 percent of businesses said the city should no longer support it.

Several businesses in the past have complained Venetian's vendors often take business away or the congestion forces regulars to shop elsewhere.

"Certainly a part of that could be all of the vendors coming in here from all over Michigan and Indiana and usurping some of the customers that they normally would see," said Walsh.

After hearing the results, the commission voted to end providing free public services to Venetian, saving about $23,000."

Haven't we all heard these arguments about art fairs in different communities? Are we surprised that the Krasl Art Fair escaped the cuts? Hardly.

http://www.wndu.com/localnews/headlines/St_Joseph_cuts_contribution_for_Venetian_Festival_Labor_Day_fireworks_129700748.html

What do you think? As an artist don't you see both sides of this equation?

Saturday, February 27

• $15 application fee 
• Booth fees are $110-same as last year 
• Very few rules (no buy/sell)
• Share a booth if you'd like, but all parties must apply 
• Mark things down and move them out! 

This just landed in my mailbox and am glad to pass it on to you as a "public service."

CALLING ALL ARTISTS! The City of Lake Worth is hosting “A Day at the Beach” mural project where local artist will display their talent by painting murals along the north end of the sea wall of the Lake Worth Municipal Beach. Applications may be picked up at City Hall: 7 North Military Trail, Lake Worth, FL 33460 or downloaded from www.lakeworth.org. Applications and drawings must be submitted to Chief Tim Ehmke at the Lake Worth Pool: 50 South Ocean Blvd., Lake Worth, FL 33460. The application deadline is Monday, October 5th, 1:00 p.m.

More details here: 2011%20Press%20Release%20Packet.pdf