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hi - has anyone in south Florida heard of "We Merge" magazine? Claims to promote art and artists? Wants to do a traveling show FL-GA-NC and looking for locations. They approached me for my gallery space and I'm just doing some resreach on them before replying - maybe I'm just a naturally suspicious type but there's so many scams out there!!

Appreciate any in put

thanks

Anne Jenkins

Two new shows are in Jacksonville--finally-- April 9,10 Avondale Art Festival-- and the rebirth of the Sawgrass Art Festival on May 7,8 2011

 I think it’s fair to call Lauren Queen of the Sky. She captures the sweeping, dramatic desert sunsets here in the Southwest in vibrant impressionistic strokes; I am psyched to see that someone else has noticed that at a certain time during some twilight skies there is a green streak:

When you stand up close and look at Lauren’s work, her brushwork is loose; step back about ten feet, and these large canvases turn into crystal clear scenes. I was reminded of Chuck Close.

I have the privilege of seeing her start and complete a commissioned piece, from sketch to underpainting to final layers. Once again, I am reminded of my own goal: learn to paint faster. I am learning much by watching my peeps!

Visit Lauren’s site at http://laurenknode.com

Lori, an oil painter like myself, lives here in the Phoenix area, and the first work of hers to catch my eye was one of Kaibab Path at the Grand Canyon, a dramatic scene of this winding path that descends to the floor of the canyon.  This really captures the claustrophobia of a narrow mountain pass contrasted against the vertigo of a sheer canyon drop: 

And because the glare was so bad, here's a detail:

I also really liked her handling of the architecture and the light shining through in this piece,

The first thought that struck my mind was that her scenes remind me of the Mediterranean, with her use of color and play of light; as it turns out, there is no need to go abroad to capture beautiful light: many of her scenes are of California and the Southwest, and her scenes are well known to locals.  Her work feels warm and inviting, like a Southern California summer day.

See more of Lori’s work at www.lorimyers.com.

History of all awards at: http://artinusa.com/bonita/awards.htm

Last weekend found Ellen and I back at Images.  I used to live here back in the 80's and have done the show off and on since 1981.  Many years this fine show is plagued by bad weather, either rain or extreme cold.  This year's weather was perfect.  Can't say the same for sales--it was hit or miss, depending on whom you talked to.

New Smyrna is a laidback beach town just south of Daytona Beach on the east coast.  Mellow amply describes the community, their approach to art and how the show is run.  It is one of the easiest and teardowns in the business.

The show has 225 artists.  Frankly, I think it is too many for the size of the community and the crowds it draws.  It slices the pie too thinly for many artists.  The show is held on concrete along Riverside Drive and then on a stretch of Canal Street, their main drag.  So you have the Intercoastal waterway as a backdrop--not too shabby of a setting.

Most spots are tight on the sides, but all have ample room behind for inventory and yourself. The crowds are big, early in the day with a good mix of oldsters and youth.  Lots of dog-walking at this show, but no ponies.

At Saturday's end,many people had barely covered expenses especially most of the photographers that I talked too.  By the way the second photo is of AFI's Jim Parker and his wife, Karen.  They had a nice corner spot and he snagged a nice Award of Merit--it paid off his tequila bill for the weekend.

I also got a nice award for $500 and it too paid for a lot of tequila and other things.  Sales were mostly lowend for many of us.  As always there were delightful exceptions.  Down from me, a fellow artist with ceramic lamps sold steadily all show, and hids lamps are not cheap.  As usual, photographer Steve Vaughn killed them with his canvassed images.  So did a certain Italian photographer.  Several painters sold one or two nicely priced works.

The real winners at this show were the ice cream people.  By my humble calculations, I saw at least a gazillion ice cream on the stick go buy me Sat.  They cost $5 each, which means they made five-gazillion dollars off of it.  We are in the wrong business.  To their credit, they make their own ice cream and regularly sell out wherever they go.  Their business model obviously works, well.

The show has a very successful Patron Purchase Award system.  Notice all the green ribbons on the booth in my second image.  Those are all Patron ribbons.  There were a ton of them at this show.

Sunday brought equally good weather and crowds.  I did a little better than Sat. and ended up doing as good as Bonita.  My January gross for four shows in 2011 is 25 per cent better than last year.  I think that is a good economic indicator.

As I said, sales were all over the board.  This is just one of those shows that you have to try for yourself.  It won't cost you an arm and a leg, and New Smyrna is a lovely beach town with a great beach that you can actually drive your vehicle on.

Well, this weekend I go to Ft. Meyers and Ellen goes to Sarasota.  Hopefully good sales wil follow.

  Oh, I would be remiss if i didn't mention Bill and John Slade were at the show, and they killed them as per usual.  And I got to drink some Three Monkey Beer---a Slade fav.

Well, here's a first.  I am doing the "Tequila Report" before I do the blog of the show.  What the heck!.

So, Ellen and I are in New Smyrna doing Images.  Lucky for me, I have a two-year-old barter tab with Clancy's Cantina which I have not had a chance to use yet--$350.00 worth.  That is a lot of shots and margaritas.  So, Saturday we invited noted Minesota glassblower, Doug Becker, to join us on a little Mexican extravaganza eating, drinking exposition.  You gotta understand when you invite Dougie along that's like inviting a whole Minnesota brewery along for a tasting.  He and his brother Joe could wipe out all the Wisconsin breweries in one nite's tasting.  But, brave souls that we are, and we love him, we included him.

Clancey's has been in New Smyrna since the days I lived there back in the early eighties.  They have moved twice, each time enlarging, into finally the old grocery store on the beach.  It is pure Tex-Mex fare at a fair price witha gazillion tequilas to choose from, and believe me, we did.

A cool appertizer of theirs is a shrimp, wrapped with a jalepeno smothered with mozellera chese then deep fried.  It is a great starter.  They do great fish dishes,tacos and all the rest.  This is a local's place, so you get to catch all the local buzz.

Which brings us to ice fishing in  Minnesota.

Webbie was not available so Doug ably stepped in.  We are in serious training for the great Tequila-Swizz-off with the notorious chugging-queen, Connie Mettler.  We were working our ways thru Paron Anejo, then Don Julio, then Commemorita anejo, and finally to Milargo Anejo.  Doug started getting a little poetic with me.  Started talking about ice fishing up in Minnesota.  They have lots of winter, so you embrace it or go into hibernation until spring break in Florida.  

Well, nowadays, they are not sitting in those little itty-biddy wooden shacks that look like Ozark urinals shacks.  These guys go out and build an 8x10 foot building and cart it out onto the lake.  Then they put a heater in it. They use augers and saws to cut a eight-foot by five-foot  opening in the ice to fish from.  Or at least they used too, using little rods and reels.  Nowadays, they put fish in some kind of a tether down in the water, then they crank up Creedance Clearwater Revival music to fish by.  When they play "Bad Moon Arising" the pike come arising and now they gig em with a spear.  They call it "Spike a Pike" fishing.Those Minnesota boys know how to have fun in the winter.

We rolled out of Clancey's refreshed and slumbered.  A good time was had by all.  Check out the place, if you ever down that way, it is worth the margarita.

You know those ugly defects on tree trunks that cause homeowners to rush to their nearest arborist and remove the offending specimen?  They’re called burls, and Dave turns them into amazing artwork.  It’s a laborious, time consuming process, though much of it is hands-off seasoning and drying time, but the end result, well, see for yourself:

His goal is to create a work that looks ancient, but well preserved, like it has been dug up out of an archaeological find.  Many of the final pieces look like they contain a bone inset, but it is all wood, just finished differently.  As someone who appreciates details within nature, his work really captured me, and I am awed by the amount of time it takes to go from log to wall!  This pic gives you an idea of the work involved:

Check out his other burl work at barkbywoodsgallery.com.

                              Salina, Kansas

The #1 shows in Kansas celebrate 35 years in a well established tradition of excellence!  Every year for the past thirty-five years, the dynamic cultural life of Salina has been celebrated at the Smoky Hill River Festival, an event that honors the river and echoes the arts ecology of our community.  The Festival is the magnet that draws people together to commemorate this place - through art, artistry and artists - and through the joy of marking time with one another.

Salina is a "small city" with "big city" amenities...where recognition at national levels is a frequent occurrence within its remarkable array of cultural organizations and offerings ...where art and culture are a $23 million industry annually. The City of Salina is proud to have been awarded the 2009 Governor's Arts Award for Outstanding Arts Community!

We present two events seeking your application:
    •    June 10-12 - Four Rivers Craft Show
    •    June 11 & 12 - Fine Art Show

Sponsored by the Salina Arts & Humanities, the shows are highly acclaimed by artists for its incredible organization, quality of exhibition, artist hospitality, promotion, and community support. They are recognized by many publications including ArtFair SourceBook, The Crafts Report and Sunshine Artist with extensive marketing statewide and beyond.
 
The laid-back, carefree spirit of early summer mixed with a river of art and creativity makes the Smoky Hill River Festival one of region's most prized events.  A thriving Art Patron Program contributes over $120,000 in sales to artists coupled with extensive marketing statewide and beyond.  Over 70,000 attendees enjoy the artistic excellence and outstanding hospitality which define the Smoky Hill River Festival...one of the top festivals in the Central United States and Kansas' finest!

Call for Artists: Four Rivers Craft Show

June 10-12
Salina, Kansas
50 exhibitors
Deadline:  February 28

We welcome your application to the 35th Four Rivers Craft Show and your participation in a most incredible celebration in a very uncommon place!

This three day event features innovative and original handmade works in a distinctive combination of folk art, traditional, and contemporary craft.

All work must be of original design executed by the accepted craftpersons.  Only craftpersons displaying their own work may participate.  Work created in production studios is not eligible.  Each craftperson is encouraged to display work reflecting a range of price points.  All selected exhibitors will show in a mixed-media craft venue.

More info:  www.riverfestival.com             Apply today:  www.zapplication.org

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Call for Artists:  Fine Art Show

June 11 & 12
Salina, Kansas
90 artists
Deadline:  February 28

Categories accepted:  Ceramics, Fiber, Glass, Jewelry, Metal, Leather,  2-D Mixed Media, 3-D Mixed Media, Painting, Paper, Photography, Sculpture, Wood, Graphics/Printmaking, Digital, or Drawing/Pastels.

Artists may apply to the Fine Art Show in one of two ways:

    •    submitting through the Zapplication system,
          www.zapplication.org
    •    submitting digital jpg images directly to our
          office on disc with application form,
          www.riverfestival.com

Questions? Karla Prickett: karla.prickett@salina.org

The Smoky Hill River Festival is that rare event that has grown its 35-year reputation as a phenomenal arts presentation while maintaining a "personal touch" and the most hospitable and enjoyable atmosphere imaginable!   It truly is an extraordinary arts "experience" that brings artists and patrons back again and again! 

Living in South Florida can be a huge pain.  Hurricanes, humidity, crazy drivers, you get the picture.

And then there is a day like today.  This is why you live in Florida.  While the rest of the country is buried under record breaking snowfalls and frigid temps, we are going to art festivals.  The weather was around 70, no humidity,  light breezes and not a cloud in the sky.  The setting- an upscale shopping area with wide roads, plenty of parking and lots of outdoor restaurants.  Beautiful buildings, stately palms and a park in the middle.  

This was the backdrop for the Boca Raton Museum Art Festival.  This was as close to a perfect art festival as you could find.  The judges did a wonderful job of selecting high quality artists at a wide variety of price points.  There was something for everyone.  There were a lot of jewelers but otherwise, there seemed to be a good mix of every other craft.  The crowds were there early.  I saw people carrying bags  but that is the curse of a festival in a shopping area-where did those bags come from.  

I finally got to meet Barbara Umbel after missing her at several shows.  She is as beautiful as her work.

I hope the artists had  as good a time as I did.

I first met Ernie (and his wife Cynthia, whom I wrote about yesterday) on the first day of setup, and was immediately in love with his hand crafted leather-and-embroidery furniture.  That’s too simplistic.  Let’s just say, I utterly regretted my Rooms to Go leather couch and loveseat purchase and am still trying to wrap my mind around a way to return them so I can have a set of Ernie’s craftsmanship.  

The most amazingly butter soft leather, in grape purple.  Totally cool, totally wow.

I never knew furniture could be so creative.  This is the first piece that captured me:

and its detail, in copper and turquoise, and yes, real python:

Check out his other creations at nwnative.com, here's another and Ernie himself, who I have to give a shout out to for his advice to me on shipping!

I also love the painting of him and Cynthia behind him, done by a friend of his.

Post 1/28  29/11

I am pleased as punch to report that I made a rather large sale the other day; however, this is where experience separates itself from just plain old dumb luck. Realize now, that I still am a fairly relative newby with less than three years art show experience under my tent.  So, when a wonderful patron asked me, “And how much is shipping to New Hampshire?”  I played coy and said I’d have to check my book and get them a quote.  Hell, I’ve shipped paintings to Germany!  How difficult could it be to ship a piece to Keene, NH?

Well.

I checked my little book, and recited the quote for the USPS for a piece 36” X 24” and up to 25 lbs to NY for $85.00.  Hey, how much more could a piece 52” X 24” be? A few bucks?  Oh no no no no.  At a certain dimension, the USPS turns its back on you.  At a certain weight, UPS and FedEx just hand you Vaseline and tell you to bend over.  There is a netherworld out there in shipping, where the actual size of a package is eclipsed by its estimated weight category.  This is the best way I have to describe it, and it’s better this way, because my tequila report is interwoven with it.  Apparently, according to one private shipping company (which may be the issue) dimensions and weight cease to matter and become a nebulous area where the length x width x girth is estimated to fall within an estimated weight range, and if your package doesn’t fall within these specifications, they hand you the extra large bottle of Vaseline.  Uh huh. 

“Three hundred thirty dollars.  Plus one hundred twenty nine to build the crate.”

“Two hundred sixty five dollars, and that’s only a thousand dollars insurance.”

“Well, air will insure any amount, if you can prove its value, but ground will only insure up to a thousand.”

Hang on.  I’m getting to the tequila report.

So, after a few hours of feeling like I bit off both ends of my burrito, so to speak, I began to ask other artists which shipper they use.

“Shipper?” many of them inquired with a politely raised eyebrow. “Why would I want to use one of those?”

For the first few days of the show, my booth was peppered with fliers from private shippers advertising “free packing”, “will pick up from show”, “insurance included”.  I began to feel like a college student shopping for car insurance.  I didn’t even know there was a difference between packing and crating.

“You make your own box.”  Upon viewing my completely obtuse expression, my peeps began to explain.

“You go to Home Depot.  You grab a refrigerator box.  They’re always throwing them out, they’re free and they’re heavy duty.  You cutta the box to size.  Now, if you gotta canvas, you gotta getchaself summa masonite and putta thata on the face of it...you builda your owna box...”

Ok, so maybe I’m overdoing the Godfather bit, but it was about as big a mystery to me as say, oh, cannoli cream, cappozella, and Casa Nostra.  So, taking me under their wings, these obliging artists initiated me into Packing Your Own Artwork 101.  “Screw the shippers,” went the first commandment, “they overcharge.”

As Framer Dude is collaterally involved with this adventure, he was adamant that I buy a box from someone: “I am NOT dumpster diving for cardboard!  We’ll go to the shippers and buy a box!”

So, we went to various packers.

“I can order that size for you, it’ll be here Wednesday.”

“A 65” x 30” x 6” is $70.  Yeah, just the cardboard box, lady.  We gotta pay to freight it here.”

“You need a crate for that size.  Mine are $129.”

Uh huh.  When a shipper charges more for a box than I paid for a painting to go to Gemany, I start to get the idea that maybe I’m being played and taken for the rube I am.   I don’t like that feeling.  I retreated into my wounded manic artist persona in the truck home, feeling about as stable as nitroglycerin.  Seriously, one decent sale and I shoot myself in the foot and eat my profits with the shipping? There’s got to be a better way.  Maybe I don’t have all the money in the world, but if I bought a painting for say, 2 grand and then was told I’d have to pay 500 in shipping, I’d balk on principle and rent my own damn uhaul and driver for less!

Framer Dude suddenly changed his tune when another boothbuddy pointed out all our frigging tools.

“Can he build a crate?  I mean, it’s kinda like building a frame...I got a painting I have to ship next week, and I’d pay you to make it rather than one of these vulture shippers.”

 MacGuyver Dude pipes up.

“I can build a crate.”  

Today I saw the covert looks towards him with visual vocalizations of “Crates” along with fingers pointing.  He may be leaving hot dog heaven soon.

So, having been deflowered by the packing and shipping companies, one of the veteran artists who has taken me under his wing, gently tugged at my sleeve at Happy Hour yesterday and offered me a consolation/congratulation: homemade tequila by a compadre of his from Mexico.  A bit of law and trivia (are the two even mutually exclusive?): if you make your own tequila in Sonoran County, you are not allowed to call it ‘tequila’; this was called Baccanora, or something like that.  I took French and Latin in high school, what was I thinking?

“You’ll get the hang of it,” he assured me as he expertly daubed finishing touches on a commissioned painting.  What, the shipping?   “...don’t take it like a shot, just sip it.” Oh. Oops.

Sippin’ tequila.  This stuff had a smoky cactusy burn to it, complex and oaky and flowery, that would have made it a venal sin to mix it with anything.  Well, after a water glass of this pure cactus heaven, I stumbled back to my RV, only to find Framer Dude and another peep engaging in another consciousness-altering substance.

Feeling suitably invincible now, I acquiesced to this peep’s generous offer as well.  Which is why this blog post was not published last night, as originally intended.  Beware of artists bearing gifts.

40 Questions Blog Series Question #38 – How can customers find me?

   Do you find yourself saying... I apply and sell at art fairs. I have a website. I have a Facebook page, use Twitter and even have my own blog. Perhaps you're just starting to do your own podcast ... Your name is out there, but how are people able to find you? What's the secret? The answer might surprise you!

    Question #38 How can customers find me?

   The answer is so basic and so simple that people miss it all the time. The answer is you must find them, NOT wait for them to find you. Not only that, you have to make that active choice to WANT to find customers. So, how can one do this? First, start small and know your customer base. By this I mean, look at what you do and who will most likely buy what you make and target those groups of people. Find all you can about who, in your area, works in your medium, contact your friends and family members (both close and distant ones) and let them know what you've been up to. Don't sell to them (they may not want to buy right off the bat), but share a bit about yourself to open the door for communication. This can be as simple as striking up a conversation at a check out line in a grocery store or with a barista at a coffee shop (complimenting a person on their earrings say if you are a jewelry maker). Find and contact old and distant friends and relatives via facebook, for example. Don't just click the invite button, but engage them by adding a small note saying how you are happy to find them and WANT to learn more about them and catch up. You will constantly find friends from high school, college, doctor's office assistance, teachers, places where you worked, friends of the family, old neighbors, childhood friends and pen-pals... see where I am going? There is a reason why the newest norm to stay in touch with people is via social networks – I do recommend Facebook and Twitter – is because it is easy, instant and millions upon millions use both social network formats.

   Now, fast forward a few days or weeks and start looking up organizations, places of businesses, etc. and think outside the box. Think about where you buy your supplies, join t.v. shows groups that your typical customers would watch, mommy or retiree groups, chamber of commerce or SBA groups, local fiber art, photography, or other guilds, museums, boutique shops or galleries you would like to get your work in (learn about their customers and what their hot sellers helps too), art festival Facebook pages, county or even state wide organizations too... Note: don't just join or follow these people and organizations and forget about them - participate in them and often. Start with 5 and like or share people's posts, comment on a topic posted and give your expert opinion on the topics, invite new followers to be fans of other interests you have too. Don't forget to add good quality content from time to time too like a video you like on YouTube that pertains to your medium. Utilize monthly newsletters or weekly email blasts, send out daily tweets or facebook postings on anything and everything new that is related to your business.   For example, when I take a new product photo I announce it on every social network I use and ask followers to see that photo via my website. Another idea is doing a count down each day leading up to your up and coming art fair each time providing an interesting fact about that show. There are plenty of social network help sites offering more info if you are seeking other ideas.

  While social networking is big, you really can't forget the people you see face to face like with church members, co-workers, PTA members, neighbors, hair salon specialists, waiters, parties, seminars (like that in the picture of a social evening at the 2009 CODA conference in AK) ... Simply having a business card with at least 3 ways people can contact and find you is another way to reach out to people that you physically come in contact on a daily business. This can drive traffic to your website, capture info for newsletters, or even drive folks to your social network outlets. To get these ideas to work, YOU have to actually implement them. No one else can nor will do it for your, but you. The best news of all is once you start doing it – it is FUN and FREE! Connecting with just a few people will ignite a spark and introduce you to even more people to want to not just get to know, but they in turn will want to get to know you too. My challenge to you... What, right now, is working for you to attract new customers or fans to your craft business or art? Share it via this blog by using the comment button Thanks in advance to all and be sure to tune in to the last 2 questions of this blog series coming up in February! Michelle Sholund – www.quickcraftartisttips.blogspot.com, www.bythebaybotanicals.weebly.com,

April 2 & 3
Crestwood, Missouri
Deadline: February 21
Arts Abloom in Crestwood Court
Sat: 10am-6pm
Sun: 11am-4pm

Start off your spring art fair schedule with Arts Abloom.

Building on the success of the ARTstravanganza! In November, the Regional Arts Commission and the artists of ArtSpace at Crestwood Court are proud to invite you to apply for the Arts Abloom Fine Art Fair.  Our patrons have been asking for the return of a fine art fair. 

What to expect:
 
    •    Juried show
    •    No more than 50 artists
    •    Indoors, easy load in and load out
    •    Volunteer Booth sitters
    •    Strong marketing budget
    •    Reasonable fees: $20 jury/$200 booth includes electric
    •    Patrons who are asking for another show!
    •    Application deadline is February 21

                                                   Download Arts Abloom Call for Art

For more info contact:  jeane@vogelpix.com

Organized and promoted by artist Jeane Vogel who has taken an unused mall space and transformed it into a center for the arts that includes gallery space, studio space and art classes. Now, isn't this a great date to start off your season...indoors?

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I've decided that I'm going to post one artist a day while here at the Fine Art Expo here in Scottsdale.  My photography is lousy, my writing is amateur, but I'd like to honor all my peeps who devote ten weeks of their lives to exhibit at this wonderful show, and have extended a helping hand to me with my endless questions.  Today, for my first victim, I chose Cynthia Downs-Apodaca, who was the first artist I met here last Monday during setup.  She is the first woman I have ever met who is more of a rock geek than I am, and once you see her jewelry, you can see why.  What first caught my eye were the opals, since opals are my favorite gemstone and I can spot one at a hundred yards across an art show.  The silver wire braiding that she does is so intricate, I don't think my photos can even come close to doing it justice:

She also has these fabulous pieces she calls Tidal Pools, and in this one, the bottom stone- an Australian boulder opal- actually has a teeny beach scene in it!  Talk about the intricacy in nature! 

I'm also impressed whenever I see a woman firing up an acetylene torch and power tools, as she was hard at work one evening, after the show had closed.  Look for her wearable minerals at cynthiadowns.com. 

Cynthia, sans goggles and mask:

I can truly say she rocks!