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It's been a topsy turvy year, didn't get into 2 out of the 4 shows we normally start the year with, but had terrific sales at the 2 we got into, way above last year so we were doing okay.  May shows had one way up, one way down.  Our first June show was a horrible disappointment and then we went into our show this past weekend absolutely, 100% sure this was the last time we were EVER doing this street fair.  On the drive there to set up, as we were grumbling about being forced to fight heavy traffic on a Friday night to get there for our load in time, we were so happy to think that it was our last time for this event. 

LOL, we had the best show we've had in 5 years of doing that show including selling a couple of very unique "one of a kind" pieces.   2 out of our 3 best sales of the entire weekend came in the last hour of the show, once again proving that it's not over until it's over!!  We laughed about it on the way home, still thinking we are sticking to our resolution to never do this show again but it was nice to end it on a high note!! 

Then we had a friend ask us today, are you sure you're not doing that show again?? Just wondering how many others have had second thoughts after swearing off a particular show or event. 

Allentown Art Festival, Buffalo, NY  June 11 & 12. 450 exhibitors on downtown streets, 54th year.

We set up for the weekend on Friday night. Just the canopy and shelves because we knew we'd be there at 6am Saturday to grab one of the parking spots right behind our booth. It was our first outdoor show of the season and even though we were sure we had everything, we were missing the tie downs for the weights we attach to each leg of the rig. Since we live just blocks away, Russell was going to run home to get them, but our neighbor, a sweet faced man with a shaved head and newly sunburned cheeks offered an extra set he just happened to have. Really nice guy. He told us that he and another guy are partners in their pottery business but he was here alone because the other guy's wife, a paraplegic, was running a high temp and he had to stay behind in Albany to tend to her and their kids.

Next day we were all there early, setting up in the early morning dampness, catching up with friends, hunting down coffee. The usual. People started to make their way down the streets and it seemed like it would be an uneventful, fun day.

Then the committee came around. They come to each booth, check your ID, make sure the person who applied is the person in the booth and they punch a hole in your exhibitor permit to indicate you have passed inspection. They were very nice to me, we joked, I got punched, they left.

A few minutes later, I hear our neighbor talking on his cell phone, telling his partner that his only recourse was to pack it all up and there was nothing else he could do. Uh oh. Was he being tossed? The committee woman agreed to talk to the guy and she paced the street in front of his booth, listening, responding, shaking her head. There was nothing she could do. Rules were there for a reason.

It seems that the show only allows one name per app, even if you create as a team, and it was the absent partner's name that had been submitted. No excuses, no extenuating circumstances. Pack it up.

Since the roads were closed, our neighbor wrapped up the pieces slowly, taking his time, commiserating with his fellow exhibitors, sitting in his truck, wrapping some more. It was a sad and odd dance. I felt really bad for him because I knew what the situation was, and even though I usually applaud the tough rules of this show it felt like a bad decision.

Over the course of the afternoon, others weighed in and, surprisingly, few were sympathetic. That is probably because we are all, for the most part, protective of this rapidly vanishing art show world and have grudging respect for the show "gestapo" that keeps it clean.

I was chided for being naive, that the partner was probably at a show in Chicago or Pittsburgh. And that even if he wasn't, you had to bring the hammer down on this guy because the next guy could be a fraud. I pulled out my app and, sure enough, the first rule, in bold caps, was one person per app, applicant must be present.

Since I am always ready to whine about the quality of some of the work allowed in these fairs, I should be able to see the wisdom and determination behind these rules. It takes a lot to put together a show of good work. The potter wasn't the only one ousted that day. 15 "jewelers" were also kicked to the curb for offenses ranging from selling imports to making work from kits.

We know the reality, how tough it is to get into good shows. We know how many rules we need to follow.

And now I know what happens when you don't.

It was neat I had this weekend off after three shows in a row.  Actually, I lucked out this summer, I have one weekend off every month for the five months I am in Saugatuck.  Late October, I return home to Ybor City in Tampa.

This works out well, because I have some big shows ahead, which means I gotta grind out long hours in the studio producing work, which also means less time on the golf course.  There is always time for a Titos martini.

So Sunday morning Ellen and I were enjoying bagels and reading the paper.  I could hear a lot of commotion in our rear tree off the porch.  Let me explain.

We have two japanese Lilac trees that have grown to almost 30-feet now, right next to our screen porch.  A family of cardinals come here every year and produce a litter.  We also have robins nailing the worms.  We have orioles too, although Brooks Robinson no longer travels with them.  Anyways back to the cardinals.

I noticed mom and pop flitting in and out of the branches, so I took a closer look.

Ah hah!  Up on a bare branch about 15-feet off the ground was a newbie, fresh out of the nest.  he had all those furry little feathers and that big yellow beak.  He was stone-cold-silent sitting on the branch.  He was so small, just a little furry ball, you hardly could see anything on him that resembled a wing.

Well, we went back to bagels and Maureen Dowd, my favorite editorial columnist.  I checked on the bird.  He had moved outward to a branch on the edge of the tree.  Both mom and pop kept flitting around him, probably encouraging him.  Probably saying something like, "OK junior its time to "Bird Up' you either fly now or no more worms for you."

The little guy continued to huddle, and then ever so slowly, I watched him evolve. He shook a leg one way, then another the other way.  He moved his head, and then his whole body shook.

Then the magic happened. He took off that branch without losing a single inch in altitude.  He flapped those almost non-existent wings furiously.  We could have made a great creme bulee from the speed of his wings.  It was incredible.  He flew 30-feet across to a higher Norwegian Spruce branch and made a good landing.

Mom and pop were right there with him.  They were probably saying, "OK junior, you are the "Bird"--now we gotta tell you about Bill the Cat."

To watch this little creature, against all odds, make this giant leap of faith.  It was awesome.  It inspired me the whole day.  I even told Fulwiler about it over dinner later that night.

If those little guys can do it, then us guys in our shiny vans and caravan tents can do it.

Fly away, Jose!

Aloha, Nels.  I got Des Moines, Boston Mills and Krasl all in a row.  I am cranking, but I wanted to make time to share this extraordinary moment with you.

I recently have been accepted into the 48th Annual Sidewalk Arts Festival in Sioux Falls, SD.  Looking for any info on how sales were in the last couple years?  Is it worth the $225 booth fee  for a one day show?  Per day that seems high.

Thanks

Jedd

TIMES:  Friday, June 24 - 11 a.m. - 10 p.m.

       Saturday, June 25 - 10 a.m. - 10 p.m.

Fireworks at 10 p.m.

        Sunday, June 26 - 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.

WHERE: Western Gateway Park, Downtown Des Moines

• Juried Art Fair, 185 artists 
• Emerging Iowa Artists Program
• Jazz & Wine Pavilion 
• Performing Arts Stages & live music 
• Over 30 Interactive Arts Activities
• Interrobang Film Festival presented by Nationwide
• Des Moines Center's Interactive Sculpture Activity

    ArtFest Midwest 'The Other Art Show'

June 25-26

Iowa State Fairgrounds

Indoors at the air conditioned Varied Industries Bldg.

240 Artists  

Free admission
Affordable, Alternative Show 

Saturday: 10am - 6pm 

Sunday: 10am - 5pm

We have had the extreme pleasure of exhibiting with Howard and Janet Rose (Rosesquared) for 30 years. On May 14-15 this year, we did the 25th annual Fine Arts and Crafts at Verona Park, Verona NJ. Despite the iffy weather and the economic ups and downs, it was our best Verona show ever!

We do 30 shows a year on average and, hands down, they are the best promoters we work with. They are fair, vigilant and helpful under all circumstances. They actually DO promote their show the way they say they will and are always looking for new ways to make them a success for all their exhibitors. Never have we done a show with them that they didn't walk by many times during the show and always check in to see how we fared each time. (I am sure you have all done shows that were not well attended or a buying crowd and the promoters magically become invisible. If it rains, they are instantly sending the troops (their sons and friends) around with straw or mulch to distribute in trouble spots. Unusual that exhibitors don't have to beg for such a thing.

Anyway, this weekend was Brookdale Park and, as always, the crowds turned out and bought consistently. The mediums were well balanced and the food was actually tasty as an additional perk. We had a sunny weeknd for a change despite the torrential rain on Friday during setup.

Many thanks to the Roses for all their efforts and support. It takes artists to understand best how to be great promoters.

June 17-19 the Milwaukee Art Museum hosted the the Lakefront Art Festival on the museum grounds fronting Lake Michigan. It is a lovely venue and one of the top art fairs in the country attracting applications from artists coast to coast.

From Journal-Sentinel online, reported by Mary Louise Schumacher:

Nine artists and one artist team, including three artists from Wisconsin, won top awards at the Lakefront Festival of Arts on the grounds of the Milwaukee Art Museum this weekend.

Jurors chose them from among a field of 179 artists.

The winners included:

Jill Bedford of Dousman for photography.

Theodore Gall of Ojai, Calif., for sculpture.

Daiga Henson and Sarmite Svilis of East Windsor, N.J., for wearable fiber art.

Ning Lee of Livingston, N.J., for painting.

Joe Limpert of River Falls for glass.

George Raab of Millbrook, Ontario, for printmaking.

Julie Seymour of Hill Point for jewelry.

Klaus Spies of Asheville, N.C., for jewelry.

Justin Teilhet of Yellow Springs, Ohio, for ceramics.

Zhou Yu of Yardley, Pa., for painting.

The winning artists each receive $1,000 and a commemorative piece of art. They also are invited to return to the festival for three years without being juried in.

Michael Imes of Pewaukee won the sculpture garden award for his work in ceramics. It included a $500 prize.

Several artists also received honorable mentions. They include:

Gene Brown of Urbandale, Iowa, for mixed-media work.

John Charbonneau of Santa Fe, N.M., for digital work.

Peter Flanary of Mineral Point for sculpture.

Matthew Hatala of Danielsville, Ga., for wood.

William Kidd of Miramar, Fla., for ceramics.

Kelly Marshall of Minneapolis for fiber art.

Jennifer McCurdy of Vineyard Haven, Mass., for ceramics.

Thomas Meyers of Hancock, N.H., for pastel drawing.

Larry Oliverson of Sullivan for photography.

Elaine Unzicker of Ojai, Calif., for metal works.

Here are some photos: http://www.jsonline.com/entertainment/multimedia/photos/124138004.html?page=1

The jurors were:

Susan Aurinko,a Chicago artist (photography) who curates the Chicago Artists' Coalition Gallery.

Robert Barnum, an artist (murals, oils, watercolors and metal) and educator from Mecosta, Mich.

Stephanie Wiles, the John G.W. Cowles director of the Allen Memorial Art Museum in Oberlin, Ohio.

The Lakefront Festival of Arts is presented by the Friends of Art, a support group of the Milwaukee Art Museum. Proceeds benefit the museum's acquisitions fund. The event continues at the art museum, 700 N. Art Museum Drive, Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $14 at the gate or $8 for museum members with valid membership cards. Children under 16 are admitted free with a paying adult.

October 8 & 9

 
Portage is proud to offer a wonderful weekend venue of juried art showings, wine and cheese tasting, and music, all under one roof.  The Harvest Festival is open to art in all media.  Much as the city itself is a melting pot and crossroads, we wish our show to reflect that milieu. Portage is easily accessible from all areas of Michigan, Illinois, and Wisconsin.

The juried art portion of the festival will be held in air-conditioned comfort of the 9000 square foot Oakwood grand Hall at Woodland Park, and the wine and cheese tasting will be held up an easy flight of stairs in our elegant reception room, Sycamore Hall.  And when we need a break from all the activity, we offer the Magnolia Room, a cozy spot for refreshment and relaxation, with the gentle sounds of live music.

For our artists, we will be hosting an after-hours reception with appetizers and offering of libations and spirits, including the wine from our visiting vintners.  Local dignitaries will be invited to meet and mingle with our artisan guests.

Please put this event, the Portage Harvest Festival, October 8-9 at the top of your fall calendar.  Come, relax, and enjoy the talent, creativity and virtuosity of art as you've not experienced it before.

Important Dates:

• A secure building/police monitored alarm system
• Booth sitters
• Set up on Friday 10am-6pm or Sat. morning
• Advertised to entire northwest Indiana and region area
• Coffee & doughnuts Sat. and Sun. mornings
• After hours reception on Sat.
• Box lunches available for a nominal fee

http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/ct-ae-0619-kogan-20110619,0,3457192.story

Rick Kogan writes "slice of life" columns for the Chicago Tribune.

What size sign (banner) would you use for the front outside of a 10' x 10' canopy?

It will hang above the entrance.

Currently I'm looking at 8 x 2.5 feet. Wondering if I should go with 8 x 2 feet.

I started writing a blog about "Tells" - the way you determine how a customer's behavior will or won't lead to a sale - click on the link to read, and please add yours!

I hope you'll add your observations!

June 12, 2011

Glendale, Ohio (Cincinnati)

Booth Fee: $40.00

Jury Fee: It is a juried show, but they do not charge a jury fee.

This was my third year at the Trillium Art Fair and the third year for the fair itself. Glenwood Gardens is a beautiful park nestled back in a spot where you wouldn't expect it. It is home to many large shade trees, flower gardens and rotating exhibits – this time it is a sculptural exhibit: Big Bugs.

The show organizers do a nice job limiting the jewelry category and having a nice mix of other artists. This year there were painters, photographers, metal sculpture artists (with those cute copper garden fixtures!), handcrafted purses and of course jewelry artists, among others. It really is a nice show. There are always volunteers and park employees walking around throughout the day, distributing water and granola bars in the morning at set-up and then checking to see if anyone needs booth sitters for breaks. I usually take advantage of this because I do the majority of my shows solo, so that is a much appreciated perk!

I have been fortunate enough to have the same spot every year on the east side of the park and the shade trees in the middle really work to keep my booth fairly cool (even in last year's heat). This year, the temperature was a dreamy 80º and there was plenty of sunshine, which had lots of people out shopping. Generally I find that the majority of people shopping are actually spending too. The park is dog friendly, so there is an endless parade of furry friends all day, which I find fun. They also have a couple bands play throughout the day, which adds to the energy of the fair.

Loading and unloading can be a little tricky as you are not allowed to pull up into the exhibit space, which is grass, and there is a chain-link fence around the area. They do open large double gates at one end, so you can unload with the help of volunteers and carts. This year, artists parked down the hill away from the main parking lot and were shuttled back to the exhibit area.

Overall, this has been one of my best shows consistently for three years and I really hope to be in it again next June!

Leather Embroidery Blog, Out of the Embers Blogspot

November 4 & 5

· Overnight and Daytime security

· Complimentary breakfast

· $2,500 in merit awards

· Exclusive Hospitality Area

· Discounted Metro Arts Alliance Membership ($25)

· Booth sitters, and much more . . .

     Thursday, November 3rd, 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. -     

         Ticketed Opening Night Preview

     Friday, November 4th, 10:00 am-8:00 pm-Free Show

     Saturday, November 5th, 10:00 am-6:00 pm-Free Show

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

Looking for more shows for your 2011 season?
Visit www.CallsforArtists.com 

Every year I travel to Racine for this little festival held by Lake Michigan.  The quality of this show has held up far better than the local economy.  There is a nice selection of artists, wide variety of price points and a nice atmosphere.  Racine has farm country to the west, the lake to the east with a gorgeous lighthouse and is the home to many companies that actually got their starts in Racine (Insinkerator, Golden Books, Horlicks Malted Milk products, Case farm and construction equipment-Go Red,  and Johnson Wax).  A lot of the artwork reflects the area.

One of the best things about this show is I get to see AFI member Linda Anderson, her husband Neil and her wonderful photography.  Linda specializes in Tall Ships and you can see her passion for the subject in her work.  In addition to her shots of the ships at sea, she captures unusual shots from a different perspective than you would expect.  Linda is printing and then stretching her own canvas photographs.  I know there has been a lot of debate about these on this website but if you saw Linda's, the discussion would stop.  Her shots on canvas are like looking at HD pictures compared to the regular shots of her standard photos.  They are very impressive.  

Short story--last year I was lured into a booth at a festival in Lincolnshire, IL by the wonderful work of  digital artist Carol Pflughoeft.  Her work was matted in odd sizes.  I suggested that with framing as expensive as it has become, standard sizes of the art would be nice.  Her booth was across from Linda's in Racine and I thought I saw 16x20's in a bin in her booth.  I figured if she was nice enough to accommodate my interest in standard sizes, it was only right that I buy a couple.  We were talking about last year's conversation and art fairs in general and I mentioned that she should read AFI.  She said she did.  Then as I handed her a credit card, she looked at my name and said "Oh, your Geri!"    I am happily building a nice collection of AFI artwork.

Monument Square is an interesting show.  You never know if the person walking into your booth is a worker from a factory or the VP of Case Credit.   And as you are leaving town, you have to stop in at O&H Danish Bakery for the best chocolate donuts and outstanding Kringle.  

Last weekend my husband and I went to the Art & Wine Festival at the Ella Sharpe Museum of Art & History.  It was a nice small show set up on a winding pathway that wrapped around the grounds of the Museum.  There were 30 artists booths and there were several food and wine vendors.  There seemed to be plenty of volunteer help walking around helping where they could.  Two of the volunteers that I met were on the Museum's board.  The crowds seemed to grow as the day went on.  I ran into one exhibitor that was a member here.  I took his card without asking his name.  I thought it would be on his card and it wasn't.  They did have some music but it wasn't too loud or annoying, just enough to be pleasant to shop to.  This seemed to be a nice little show that attracted several southern Michigan artists.

The two photos I included are of the show.  The photo of "Porcelain and Paper" booth is one of our Art Fair Insiders Members.

 The Museun has an antique clock exhibit going on right now through June 19th.  This was a very extensive collection of antique clocks from all over Europe and the USA.  You still have time to catch this exhibit before it ends in a few days.

I discovered that the Ella Sharpe Museum will be having an Ansel Adams exhibit starting June 25 through to September 4th.  The cost of admission is only $8 per person.  

The following is a write up about the exhibit:

"Ansel Adams: Masterworks Landau Traveling Exhibitions from the Collection of the Turtle Bay Exploration

Park in Redding, California. This collection of 47 works is a selection Adams made late in his life to serve as a succinct representation of his life’s work.  He himself felt these photographs were his best. Called “The Museum Set,” it reveals the importance Adams placed on the elegance and splendor of natural environments." 

This is the only time this exhibit will be in Michigan and it is one that should not be missed.

I am going to try and load a few photos from the 2011 Art & Wine Festival.

Jacki B

To Connie M. and the artists who contribute to the blogs on Art Fair Insiders THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!

Last weekend I participated in my first art festival. The Granville Art Affair & Wine Festival which was a small local festival with about 100 artists set on the polo fields (yes polo) of Bryn Du in Granville Ohio. A Friday set up was a bonus and I was able to get my tent and furniture set up within the 3 hour time limit - yeah I know you veterans can do your booths in less time and with all your wares ready to sell but is was really hot and humid and my husband was on a golf outing so I was on my own and four bottles of water did not keep the dehydration cramps away.

The forecast called for heavy rains and high winds for both Friday night and Saturday afternoon so I decided not to hang my paintings until Saturday morning. This was due to the fact that I saw the results of the Columbus show and I was terrified my EzUp would be 2 counties away after reading the blogs about the failings of EzUp Tents. I did have my 8 tubes of 25 lbs of cement and doggie screw tie downs attached to the corners and I lowered the tent before I left.

Saturday I was the first person in the gate. The tent held up but the sides were flapping in the breeze and the zippers came unzipped during the night. I saw that some of the other tents had big clamps holding the sides to the poles. (Make a note of that to self.) The tent behind me was totally trashed from the wind during the night. It was raining and I forgot a rain coat - woman next door handed me a rain poncho, thank heavens because I am way to old for a wet T-shirt contest. (make a note bring a poncho)

I began carefully hanging my paintings and putting up the titles and prices next to the works. All the paintings were level, prints were set up, table with small works and rack cards for commissions and business cards with contact information were neatly displayed. Slathered on the sunscreen, wiped some sun block Burts Bees across my lips and jammed on a big brimmed hat. It was a half hour before the opening and I was ready!

I made a quick trip around the booths and then went back to my booth waiting for the crowds of eager customers. Several artists stopped by and made comments about my booth and some even took notes. Here is where the thank you’s come in - many commented that I must be an old pro at this and had an excellent, professional set up for selling and was prepared for all types of weather. When I told them this was my first show they were amazed. I told them that several months of reading Art Festival Insiders and Art Festival Calendar blogs had prepared me for my first show. Again THANK YOU!

BTW - I ONLY MADE ONE SALE - BUT IT WAS A LARGE PAINTING! Used my SQUARE and had a crowd saying what’s that. I also have been contacted a by a few people interested in a commission so it was a good show. Bonus was an actual polo match on the adjacent field and I had the end booth next to it. Guess what I will be painting for next year!

This will be the third year for this show, run by promoter, Lynette Wallace. It is scheduled for the weekend after Houston's Bayou Downtown. Since I have friends in Georgetown that I could probably stay with, I am considering this show. The layout looks nice, in downtown Georgetown. Did anyone do this show the first two years? I would be interested in your feedback. Lynette has extensive experience as a show director, so I would think that she would probably do a good job promoting and in making it an artist friendly show.

Thanks!