Blog

Well, I didn't get in again, juried out for the 25th time in a row (got in 1984-86 and then never again, who did I piss off there?).

So, I have been waiting very patiently to hear a real definitive report of the show.  We got sort of one from Barbara, God Bless Her.  She won an award and told us a few things--she's a newbie, so she is off the hook for not telling more.

But gee, there was Barry Bernstein there after hanging out in the gulf coast beaches and Ybor.  No report from him.

Mr. Jim Parker was there--no report.  Gee, are you all spending your big bucks very quietly?

And, there there were a lot more AFI-ers there too.  But not a peep.  Did the committee get to you guys and whisper into your ears,"Not von vord about zeesh show or it is cotchees for you guys, remember what happened to that Johnson guy, oh and that Vaughn fellow too."

So, is somebody going to step up to the plate, or am I going to have to make up an imaginary blog about the show.  Believe me I could do it, but it would be so much more fun to read about real exploits.  Come on guys, and girls, start earning your red dots.

Connie, I want one to put on my golf bag.

Aloha,Nels

PS.  My wife Ellen, to paraphrase her, "Is utterly flabbergasted, that there are no Winter Park posts."  The Ybor chickens have gone on strike, they say they are staying in the grapefruit tree until there is a post.  Come on guys, SAVE THE YBOR CHICKS.

I did  the Red Blank Show 2 years ago. I thought I did my homework.

If you want to do a junky flea market, not make any money then these shows are for you.  It's 99 percent buy sell.

Through the ages the "red dot" has had special significance in art circles. In an art gallery a red dot next to the title of a piece of art means that art has been sold.

Back in the olden days of art fairs when slides were the preferred medium for submitting work for jurying, artists placed a red dot in the upper right hand corner of each slide so the person loading the slide carousels would position the image properly for projection to the jury. This procedure was standardized by the NAIA.

AFI members have been requesting a badge of some sort for a while now. Recently AFI member Peggy Furlin suggested that wedistribute Red Dots to members as a way to identify themselves to each other as they traveled the roads. So here you have it: the Red Dot bumper sticker.

We will be giving them away to members who post comments on our websites, who show generosity to others in the forum and to those who share in our community. But in case you can't wait to win one they are available at cost, $3 for one or $5 for two.

I'm looking forward to seeing spots as I travel!

Learn more: http://www.artfairinsiders.com/page/red-dot

Finally they have arrived in my office and the first ones are going out in today's mail.

Send us your photos with your red dots and we'll upload them to the Red Dot page.

and joined by Tina TurnerI had a great time this past weekend at the Stuart, FL Artsfest, plenty of strolling entertainment, good music, very tasty food and very good crowds. I have mixed feelings about a show that charges admission but for this show it works, people wait all year and come from all the surrounding areas to attend. They come for the entertainment, the libations and to buy art.

Setup is the day before on a very wide street with room for everyone and their vehicles, 14 foot spaces on the curb with plenty of back storage. Breakdown is just as easy, one of the volunteers actually helped me at breakdown with my tent and loading into my van then started helping my neighbor. Breakfast was provided both days and booth sitters were around all weekend providing relief. The volunteers could not have been more organized and helpful. The quality of the art was very good, if not a bit heavy on jewelry (as most shows are). Decent award money and judges that actually looked at your work.

My sales for both days were the same (very good) but I noticed decorative art was selling very well on Sunday, I saw lots of big paintings and sculpture walking by. This is a good stand alone show or an even better pairing show, you won't pay off your mortgage but you could earn a pretty decent paycheck. If I could make one suggestion I think they should lower the jury fee $40 is a bit much.

OK, so im new at selling paintings and I don't know where to start. Im 21, attend Penn State and love to draw and paint. The problem is that I dont know who to talk to or where to go to put my paintings on the market. Can anyone tell me how to showcase my artwork, put them in art shows and fairs, and sell them in a timely fashion?

Thank You,

Michael Crawford

March 25-27
40th Annual Bayou City Art Festival
Memorial Park
300 Artists
10 am to 6 pm all days
Admission: $12; free to children 12 and under

The 40th Annual Capital One Bank Bayou City Art Festival Memorial Park is a fine, juried art festival that transforms the 1.1 - mile trail of the park into a one-of-a-kind outdoor gallery. Over 40 years, the Bayou City Art Festivals have raised more than $2.6 million for nonprofit organizations.  Some of the 2011 partners are: Art League Houston, Bering Omega Community Services, City ArtWorks, and the Downtown YMCA.

Ranked as one of the "Top 10 Festivals" in the country by AmericanStyle Magazine for two consecutive years, was ranked #12 of the "Best 200" art festivals by Sunshine Artist, and "Best Festival in Houston" by the Houston Press.

Highlights:
    •    Fine juried art by 300 artists representing 18 media formats  
    •    Art of Food - When was the last time you raved
         about festival food?
    •    Gourmet catering company Melange brings you
         10 Art of Food stations
    •    Passport to Wine -  Our fourth annual Epicurean
          Adventure & Wine Bar continues to feature an
          outstanding array of wines
    •    an interactive children's Gexa Energy Creative
          Zone  
    •    First Look Friday: Friday is all about the visual
          art and buyers' first chance to choose what they
          want. Includes an elite art meet and greet, First
          Look Friday Happy Hour.
    •    Entertainment: Houston Arts Alliance brings together an array of multicultural performances
          representing the diversity and vitality of the city's amazing performing arts

Producer:    Art Colony Association is a 501c(3) organization, Kim Stoilis, Executive Director

Info/Schedule: Visit www.bayoucityartfestival.com or call (713) 521-0133   

Many Art Fair Insiders will be there, including: Michael Wommack (PA), Dolan Geiman (IL), Kathrine Allen-Coleman (GA), Ginny Herzog (MN), Bruce Holwerda (AL), Anne London, Marina Terauds (MI), Patricia and Jon Hecker (IN) and Daryl Thetford (TN). We wish them safe travels and excellent sales.

Please, if we missed adding you to this list let us know: info@artfaircalendar.com

Due to popular demand, this post from last week has been re-edited with new photographs added.

This was the scene in Madison on Saturday March 12. An estimated 85,000 to 100,000 protesters gathered to express their opinion of Governor Walkers budget bill.

The crowd filled the streets from one curb to the other, marching shoulder to shoulder in a counter clockwise movement around the capitol. Most carried signs to support their positions.

A speakers podium was set up on the capitol steps looking down State Street. The crowds were packed in tight, trying to get a good view of the stage.

There was interesting street theater everywhere as individuals expressed their views.

Mock Funeral

Hula Girl

Fat Cat

There was a large presence by the national labor unions.

Although white artist tents were missing from the square this day, I did find one sorry looking Easy Up minus its roof.

The End

This is the second year we have done this show. It is a nice group from the Art Center that run this show in March. The indoor event is in a barn that is set up well for an art show. Although it can be cool inside the building. Every booth has electric included ... and it is needed as the lighting in the building is dim. Lunch is also included. Loading and parking is easy. There is access into the building on all sides, making it easy to get to your booth. There are about 100 spaces in the show.

It did seem that attendance may have been down a little from what I remember last year, but our sales were up 24% from last year. There is a nice mix of artists.

Its a nice show to have early in the year.

Solutions: A Working Conference

May 19 & 20, Indianapolis, Indiana

In conjunction with the Broad Ripple Art Fair

In the past year we have been a part of many conversations concerning what are perceived as serious issues in our industry. While we were planning this conference, we began by discussing the "normal" format with Keynotes and other speakers. As discussion continued, it became apparent that the one advantage that NAIA has over other conferences is that we can bring artists and directors together to work on the issues and come up with possible solutions. So, rather than the same old format where all sit for two days listening, do some talking -- and, ultimately, little is accomplished -- we decided to work on issues.

We have selected three primary topics that were narrowed down after talking with both artists and show directors. Though specific formats are being worked out with facilitators, the general agenda will be as follows:

• The Cost of Doing Art Shows
• Booth Images
• Buy/Sell/Imports/Production

This conference will be the first in which artists and directors will work together to identify and discuss issues in the industry then work toward workable solutions during the conference.

If these are issues of concern to you then join us.

The rest of the story.

Are you ready for the chance to stay in the studio and do more creating?

Are you really ready to monetize your website?

Would you like to have clients and shops around the country finding you online?
 

Welcome to Chocolate in Peanut Butter*

                                             a boutique site of fine goods "made in the USA"
 
The team at Chocolate in Peanut Butter is looking for artists and designers of fine goods to join our community. We offer an extensive background in retail, fashion, media and public relations and are out to leverage our skills to create a one-stop shopping site full of amazing pieces of all handmade goods and items from the USA. The site will be marketed as the "go to" for retail buyers, media and clients to shop all things American.

Chocolate in Peanut Butter is not an Etsy, Big Cartel or Dawanda. CiPB is a meeting place for consumers who do not want to spend hours searching for fine goods online. They know when they visit our site that they can browse with confidence that all pieces were made in the USA. This includes retail buyers shopping for goods for their stores.

I speak from years of buying for my stores, if I had a "go to" like CiPB to purchase beautiful American made products, it would have changed my buying process and saved me a lot of time and money.

So, I reach out to you before we start our media blitz with Chic Exec's.** I promise you our fan base will grow quickly as there is no other website that provides an efficient way for consumers, retail buyers and media to search for products in a beautiful "store front" setting. 

NEXT:
  
    1.    Please go to www.ChocolateinPeanutButter.com

           and "join the crusade". We will then contact you for
           photos and a link to your site. If this email has found
           you, you have already been selected to participate as
           this is an "invite only site", all others must submit
           product for approval.

    2.    We will blitz/market using our 20,000 media contacts
           and facilitate all inquiries

    3.    Interested shoppers will be able to click directly through to your website to shop further

    4.    You will fulfill all purchases

                               No commission, no fees, no special advertising costs 

Please consider joining CiPB. Our media blitz is set to go out March 16th. We are busy putting new companies and products on our site, so please allow us time to do that same for you.

We offer an affordable way for you to market your brand or pieces.  
We offer 3 month, 6 month and 1 year representation on the site.
3 months - $60, 6 months - $99, 1 year - $200

We will offer 1 year publication to Art Fair participants for $150 a year.

This promotion will expire on March 18th, 2011.

Right now Diane Sawyer is focusing on companies that offer made in America goods. It is more important then ever that we provide an efficient, shop friendly atmosphere for clients to learn more about you. http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/MadeInAmerica

Please contact me if you should have any questions,

Michelle Thelen
New Talent Director
cellowoodard@comcast.net
www.ChocolateinPeanutButter.com

********************************************
*The site's name is derived from an unmistakable and uniquely American combination-chocolate in peanut butter. We have hand selected designers that offer posh pieces that are only "made in America."
 
**Chic Exec's have been successful with product placement in over 100 mainstream publications just within the last year!  Their clients have been featured in magazines such as Brides, Parenting, "O", People, In Style, Tot Trends, In Style, Pregnancy and Newborn, US Weekly and Glamour - just to name a few!
 

Hopefully i have downloaded the pics in the right order to match descriptions.

First, all the beautiful babes at the show, Kim,Bea,Ellen and Bonnie. Next my buddy who was gonna bring moonshine for me to write a report about.  he sold three big pieces early Friday.  Next, nice pants. She walked in my booth and I persauded her to let me portray her best side.  Next,Looking down the shaded lanes past Swayze sculptures.  Next,Frank discussion of art early in the morn.  Next, Mr. Webber with the lovely "Lu Fuller" and faiat, barry Bernstein is lurking behind.  Last, but certainly not least, award-winner Janet Rogers' piece.  Last year she was Best in Show.  that lady does know how to paint.

Well, nothing like a jury smackdown to keep you humble!  I applied to a show I've done for years with a new media....I want to continue with the jewelry so they told me I had to make a separate application for each category.  Okay, so I did that.  But since the new "stuff" had already won a Best in Show, two international awards and sold for high dollar, I thought it would be just a piece of cake.   Hahhhh!   Although I was accepted in my usual category of jewelry, I got a resounding "No, thank you" on the new work.

This isn't a complaint......more a laughing at myself that it does no use to feel a little smug about something because it's so easy to get put in your place even after 45 years in this business.  Oh well, a glass of wine, a little whine and whimper and then back to work...the show must go on!

September 3 & 4
Oak Brook, Illinois
Oakbrook Center
130 Artists
Deadline: April 1
 
Oakbrook Center is a premier outdoor shopping center located in the affluent western suburbs of Chicago.  The Center features more than 160 fine shops, including Bloomingdale's Home and Furniture, Lord & Taylor, Macy's, Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, and Sears.

For over 40 years, Oakbrook Center has held the Invitational Fine Art Exhibition, offering artists, from all over the U.S. an opportunity to display and sell their original work in watercolors, pastels, oils, acrylic, photography, sculpture, and mixed media.  All artists are located throughout the mall's walkways among trees, flowers, plants, waterfalls and fountains.

This is a contemporary fine art exhibition.  ONLY original work in design and concept is allowed. Thus, no imports or works made with the use of commercial kits, molds, patterns, plans, stencils, or prefabricated forms accepted.  The exhibition features live entertainment, free parking and admission.

Festival Facts:
    •    Jury Fee: $25
    •    Booth Fee: $350
    •    Checks Payable to: Oakbrook Shopping Center LLC
    •    Ribbon Awards: $5,000+
    •    Attendance: 130,000
    •    Event is promoted extensively through various media
          outlets
    •    Friday evening and Saturday morning set-up
    •    Continental breakfast for exhibitors on both days

For additional information, please contact:

Oakbrook Center-Marketing Department
    •    Suzanne Beres, Sr. Marketing Manager
    •    Miriam Blumenthal, Assistant Marketing Manager
    •    Stacy Kolios, Marketing Coordinator, 630-573-0700

or visit:  www.oakbrookcenter.com/events/signature-events
 
 
Please mail application and checks to:

     Oakbrook Center
     Attention: Suzanne Beres
     100 Oakbrook Center
     Oak Brook, IL  60523-1838