Blog

A fabulous party was held last night in Miami to unveil the poster for the Coconut Grove Arts Festival. It attracted celebrities, socialites and politicians with excellent coverage on the local news channels. If only all art fairs could do this kind of PR to attract the attention to their upcoming events. Interestingly, the poster designer is Guy Harvey, a well-known nautical artist, and not a participating artist as I believe it has been in the past.

The Grove continues to evolve as a master blend of commercialism and culture and changing clientele. Here's hoping the promotion brings to the event what the artists need: an interested art buying crowd to enjoy the entertainment, food, bayfront location, weather and fine offerings of the main attraction, the art.

Here's the story from the Coconut Grove Grapevine: http://coconutgrovegrapevine.blogspot.com/2011/01/this-years-arts-festival-poster.html

They also have a poster unveiling at St. James. Do you know any other art fairs that do this?

Before I forget, notes from the road that I took and had no real internet access. (who really has the patience to blog on a Droid? Not me)...if you’re ever traveling in an RV on I 10 through LA and TX, there’s a terrific rest area just east of the stateline in Slidell, LA.  It’s the Welcome Center available to both east and west bound travelers, set off the interstate, and although it says no overnight parking, the security guard directed us to an RV campground area, separate from the big rigs, where they had a dump station and water pumps available free.  Despite the fact it was 23 degrees that night and we had no gas for the genie for heat, we slept very well.  It’s all about layering.  It reminded me of the show I did in Cape Coral last January, when it was sleeting and dropped to 30 at night.  We had just gotten the RV, and checking out the heater was not on the list of priorities.  Who needs to worry about heat on an RV when you live in Florida, right? 

Today we were able to venture out for pleasure, namely the Carefree Fine Art and Wine Festival, and enjoy this absolutely perfect weather that the Phoenix area has to offer this time of year.  The civil engineers/ city planners of Carefree have built a spectacularly beautiful town in Carefree.  I am enchanted by a town that does not have those horrible strip mall billboard store advertisements that seem to line every street in America, and concrete laid everywhere.  The goal of this city's planning was to blend with the natural desert landscape, and they show what can be done with a little careful planning, more focus on aesthetics, and less on the almighty dollar.  And a lot of buckos, too.  Framer Dude was a little annoyed that we couldn't see what was in each shopping plaza as we passed, or even if it was a shopping plaza, and I suppose I see his point from the driver's seat of a ginormous dually in a town really geared for Porsches and Mini coopers.   But it is a town that is a pleasure to explore, even if we had to turn around once or twice to find the Target to get our wireless adapter.  But I digress...

Thunderbird, from what I've heard, is a family-oriented operation that puts on top-notch festivals, and there was great quality art at this show.  There seemed to be a good balance of mediums, and in fact, seemed light on jewelry, probably because it was all very high end.  I got to meet a few artists who will be exhibiting at the Expo next week, who were taking in a last weekend show before settling down for 10 weeks under the tents behind me.  I am really looking forward to this Expo, and confident in Judy, Judi, and Dennis' abilities to attract the buying patrons.  I must admit I have a few worries that I am not Southwest enough.  But I guess that's the normal jitters when one ventures outside one's comfort zone.  From what I've been reading in the AFI discussions, FL's shows have been losing ground for a while, so if I ( as a fairly newcomer to the business) was able to make some profit in FL, then anywhere else will seem like gravy.  Right? No?  I hear about the artists who did shows in the glory days of the 90's and sold out their inventory, had 5 figure shows, and I can't even wrap my mind around that...

This is an enormous setup that goes on here that even Framer Dude the Pragmatic was impressed by.  The 2D artists' booths occupy probably close to 2 1/2 acres under the tent, and I can't fathom the work that goes into putting that puppy up.  Then, there is an outdoor sculpture garden of about half an acre, which includes a Koi pond and specimen plants.  I can't wait to see it all come together.  We've met and broken bread (ok, cracked a beer with) some artists doing double duty and helping to erect this exhibit, and everyone is as nice as can be, which once again makes me glad to have chosen this profession (actually, it chose me).   What's also super sweet is that my booth is only 200 dollying feet away from our RV (and bed)! 

Tomorrow, I bust out the paints and start some sketching for new ideas.  I love the desert and the cactus; it's so different than where I'm from, I'm getting a much needed kick in the pants to try something new!  I just have to be careful when I back up while taking pictures: I almost sat on one of these.

Post from January 10, 5 pm after switching driving...

Well, days and 875 miles into the road trip and Framer Dude and I haven’t killed each other yet, that’s a good sign.  But we have 1,200 miles left, 800 miles of it just through Texas alone, so there’s a lot of tread left on these tires, so to speak. 

I hate interstates.  They take the fun out of a road trip, but for the sake of expediency, they’re a necessary evil.  Coming home I will do secondary routes.  There’s so much out here to see and I don’t want to become cynical, too “been there, done that”, too old in the mind.  That’s one thing that is vastly different between my road trips in my teens and now, and I touched on that in my last post.  I had Tom Petty’s Full Moon Fever album (HA!! I just showed my age!!) playing as I left Louisiana and blasted into Beaufort, TX.   I reminisced that I had first bought the cassette tape for a road trip when I was 18 and taking a road trip on I 90 west with my college buddy Warren, when I was the only one in my dorm with a car (my great-aunt’s 71 Maverick, 3 on the tree, no heat, no ac, no power brakes or steering, and a gas gauge that worked intermittently).  We would get a hair up our butt to just “go west” into cow country out of Albany, NY to see what there was to see.  I still remember that sense of adventure, the excitement and we and maybe a few other clueless 18 year old piled into my car and headed west.   No particular destination, just wanted to see what was around the next bend.

I miss that feeling.  Sure, I’m excited as a little painter can be, going to the expo across the country, quitting a 40K steady job to do it, how much more ballsy can you be?  But I want to be that adventurous kid again.  I want to wonder what’s around the next bend, be wide eyed at the mystery and beauty of it all.  I don’t want to be a staid middle ager reluctant to leave the security of my GPS and next clean pair of socks.  Going on a road trip used to mean you definitely weren’t going out there to be sure there was a Walmart within 10 miles.  I know my fellow RV’ers out there know what I mean, and most of us artists too, because that’s what we do- create from a place that inspires us, and try to pass that along. 

But for the moment, time is of the essence, and here I am on on I 10 weaving my artmobile through Houston’s rush hour traffic. I am always a little awed by the sweeping concrete overpasses that crisscross each other around cities, I suppose in the same way that Edward Hopper was when he painted his cityscapes.  There is a kind of industrial beauty that Art Deco was fascinated with.  I may try my hand at painting one of them if I ever get bored of rocks.  I guess if you think about it, the overpasses are a kind of rock...maybe.

April 9 & 10
Miami, Florida
Bayfront Park
200 Artists
Deadline: January 27

Fine artists are invited to apply for Art in the Park Miami, showcasing the best contemporary fine art and craft from around the country. Approximately 200 artists will fill Bayfront Park, downtown Miami's premiere outdoor venue with an outdoor art exhibition destined to be a staple for years to come. We're looking forward to an incredible inaugural show.

Art in the Park Miami will follow The Coconut Grove Arts Festival and Art Basel Miami Beach, rounding out Southern Florida's critically acclaimed season of exhilarating, prominent art fairs.

We are strategically aligning the event with city agencies, industry partners, compelling entertainment and high profile advertising, making this two-day art extravaganza an exciting event for all.

With over 12 million consumers visiting adjacent Bayside Marketplace alone on an annual basis, Art in the Park Miami is destined to be a can't miss annual event drawing tourists from across the nation. We are pleased to be able to partner with Bayfront Management Trust in bridging the gap between the artists and community.

With hundreds of established and emerging artists and thousands of local and international consumers gathered together, Art in the Park Miami is poised to be a highly influential show that will help you gain exposure and increase sales. As the event draws closer, we'll keep you up to date with all the latest show details.

In the meantime, visit www.artintheparkmiami.com for information on exhibiting and planning your stay in Miami. Subscribe to updates on our site, and find us on Twitter and Facebook for to-the-minute news. The festival is produced by Oceanside Productions which also uses this event to support local charitable organizations and artistic endeavors.

Art in the Park Miami: Artist/Exhibitor Highlights:

    •    Located at Bayfront Park, downtown Miami's premiere venue
    •    High volume public media campaign (Billboards, print and multimedia reaching over 3 million
          consumers)
    •    Centrally located and easily accessible
    •    High end consumer base
    •    Quality entertainment and activities for all ages


How exciting--a new event in a great location in a dynamic city! Check it out and apply here:  
                                                 www.ArtintheParkMiami.com.

P.S. While you're at the website take a look at their publicity plans. This group knows this city and is geared up to put their connections to work.

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

Looking for more 2011 art fairs? Visit: www.CallsforArtists.com

Anyone do the Dunedin Art Festival?  I am interested to see how things went.

Jacki

After much gentle but persistent nagging by Connie : )  here is my review of 2010 Columbus Winterfair~

Both Dennis and I exhibited this year and were very happy that the directors John Barr and Carole Snyder again accommodated our booth requests to be side-by-side (so important for couples who are traveling and showing in the same venue.) I had a new booth and lighting layout I wanted to try so I spent a lot of time setting up on Thursday-the committee was able to get us extended set- up time and I was grateful for that.

Friday started off with promise; busy, sales holding steady, less for me than Dennis, but still acceptable. Saturday slowed down for almost all in our immediate vicinity, including us. The first real snow of the season was forecast and perhaps that slowed folks down. I talked to a number of mid-price range jewelers like me and they almost all reported soft sales-still, there were plenty of people, a lot of good energy, but cautious, skittish buying ruled the day. I could not seem to close a sale for hours. I took bets with my neighbor on how fast I could run someone out of the booth just by saying,"Hello." Dennis's sales (ceramic sculpture) were way down as well. High-end jewelers, functional ceramics and fiber/clothing seemed to be doing quite well.

Dennis, being the lovable curmudgeon he is, pronounced the show "all done" by Saturday afternoon, and I wondered if my new booth layout had been a mistake. However, Sunday buyers rescued most people I spoke with, and even Dennis ended up  with sales a little higher than last year (forcing him to recant his pronouncement and for those of you who know him, you can imagine how much he liked  doing that.)

Many artists had ongoing doubts about Winterfair's decision to include a "market" of gourmet food, soap and sauce vendors; They are able to provide the buyer with an under $10 gift and most artists can't even venture near that price point. Still it helps bring in the folks which helps create a better buying energy-so for me it's a toss-up...my vote is still out on that. Plus I like buying handmade soaps and lotions, as well as fun holiday mixes and sauces and it's about the only opportunity I get  since I refuse to go to the malls, especially during the holidays.

Overall, the show committee did a great job of promotion with a lot of community advertising and it showed. They were attentive and addressed issues promptly. They have made smart decisions about the length of the show, changing it from a four-day to a three-day event. Our experience with the Winterfair staff has always been positive. The buyers may be more cautious,but there's nothing new about that in the current economic climate.

Given Ohio's economy, it seems that Winterfair Columbus is holding its own.

Ho hum, it is Florida, there is another art fair this weekend. Where is the news in that? EXCEPT - the writer for NaplesNews.com found the angle, one we all can especially appreciate. Writer Victoria Macchi reports:

After driving hours in a van to get to Southwest Florida, then setting up at the Promenade in Bonita Springs, some artists will be more than chummy with their booth neighbors at the Bonita Springs National Art Festival this weekend.

Following two days of selling art, at least eight couples from around the country will pack up what is left of their stock and head home, together.

The story is about many people you and I know: Allan Teger and partner Barbara Krupp, Robin Washington and partner Sharon Matusiak, Gustavo Castillo and his partner Carmen Lagos and Janet and Steve Rogers.

This is a good story about the life styles of traveling artists. Thanks, Victoria, for finding this interesting angle for your story and sharing this information with your audience, the good people of Bonita and the Naples area.

"Frutas y Mar" Acrylic on Paper by Gustavo Castillo of Jupiter, Florida

Read it all here: http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2011/jan/13/bonita-springs-national-art-festival-features-leas/

Those of you who have participated in the popular art fairs in Birmingham, MI, will find this article interesting. Even if you haven't been there it should be of interest to all artists who wonder why art fairs are set up the way they are, why the booths have to face a certain way, where is my booth fee going, are the art fair organizers earning their money?

Did you have any idea of the behind the scenes work that the shows entail working with municipalities, park districts and merchant associations? This is very informative and gives good background on making an art fair site work for the good of all:

http://birmingham.patch.com/articles/commission-approves-final-layouts-of-2011-art-festivals

I debated for two days whether to report on this show or not.  

My New Year's resolution was to report on a show only if I could say good things about it, Cape Coral is kinda in a grey area.  Hopefully, the good Rotarians down there will take this in a kind light in case I wish to apply again.  I did get an award this year.

First off, this is 300-plus exhibitor show that is juried.  Off course that means, the painted bottle art, the painted signs with sayings like "Drink now, barf later" and we will paint your name on it, the tepee people, the bottle stopper people, they were all juried in.  It is a fund-raiser for the Rotary.  Which brings one important thing to mind.

Holly, how the heck did you manage to get juried out of this show?  Did you mistakenly submit your third grade fingerpainting slides instead of your current work.  It takes a lot to get juried out of this show.

That said, a lot of people made money at this show, many with work priced well under $40, but about 10 per cent of the artists sold more expensive items in the $200-$500 range.

My neighbor Ron Lemoine fashions whimsical fish driving cars out of copper and metal.  He sold numerous pieces in the $200 range all show.  He even popped a few big ones.  So there were buyers for higher end.  For me, the show sucked, I couldn't even sell one $150 framed piece.

If you have  work that sells under $40  you can probably do very well at this show.  If you have creative art from the heart, you better pass on this one.

One note about the setup.  Everybody queques up Friday nite in the parking lot and they let you in for setup around 8 pm.  Me, I showed upand got my spot assignment, then I went home (To Lou and Terr's across the bridge) and showed up next morn at 6am.  All the booths were set up around me.  I parked right in front and set up in two hours, then went and had a leisurely breakfest at Perkins, walked the show and was ready by 10 am to do business.  To me, this is a much more civilized way to do the show rather than scurrying about late on Friday nite.  Try it out.

There, I said it all.  Think the Rotarians will let me in again?  Cheez Louse if I ever see Holly, she will probably bash me in the head with that new Witches Broom I sent her from LL Bean last year when she was ill.  Oh well, the chances we take being artists on the street.

Congratulations to these members of ArtFairInsiders.com who make this online community the "Facebook" for art fair artists! Your votes from the blogs and private emails to me have been counted and the winners are: 

• Member of the year:  Larry Berman

• Personality of the year: Nels Johnson

• Author of the year: tie - Nels Johnson & Michele Sholund

• Funniest member: the team of Munks & Holly Olinger

• Best comment: Munks
  
• Newcomer: Melanie Rolfes
  

• Special Recognition: Geri Wegner
  

Read additional notes on these nominations from my emails: MemberAwards.rtf

Best blog posts:

1. Munks: "Bad Things Happen When You're Not Where You're Supposed to Be"
2. Nels Johnson: Here is my Tequila/Elvis/What is the Meaning of Life at Art Shows, Report
   
3. Barry Bernstein: Gasparilla Review--The Good, The Bad, The Ugly
4. Bill Sargent: Kumquat Festival, 2010 (we didn't have a category for most amazing art fair photos, but his post definitely would be in the running for the best ones)
5. Phil Crone: Coconut Grove 2010 - the Fobots' Perspective
   

Read additional notes on these nominations from my emails: BestBlogPosts.rtf

Honorable Mention:
David Hipwell, Bert Herrera, Joe Clifton, Merri Pattinian, Jim Parker, Heather Jordan, Martha Bennington, Richard Rothbard, Michael Wommack and Robert Louallen.

Amazon.com gift cards will be in the winners mailboxes soon.

Many thanks to all of you who have made this community flourish, not only those listed above but to all of you who taken the time to care, comment and share with one another. We are looking forward to what will happen here in this ever evolving group. Thanks for all your support to one another in this exciting art fair business. Community is what makes us strong.

May 2011 bring you all the blessings you deserve. See you at the show! Connie

Comments welcome below

I'll keep one a little shorter than usual, since I've reviewed previous editions of this show.

Produced by Patty Narozny's Hotworks LLC, this was billed as the "seventh biennial" edition--it made a quick return following the successful November 2010 event.  It was blessed with beautiful weather and solid, if not spectacular crowds.  Even better, folks on Saturday were BUYING.  Sunday visitors were a bit more in "browse mode" but there were still patrons with packages walking around.  I was a bit disappointed with my Sunday totals, but only in comparison to a near record-breaking (for Florida) day on opening day. 

The show is moderately sized, with 130 artists and a nice mix of media.  Although this is nominally an upscale area, it's still been heavily dinged by the recession.  So it's smart to have multiple price points available, no matter what your medium.  As often seems to be the case down in these parts, many of the 2-D artists I spoke with who sell only high-priced originals reported slow sales (or even zeroes) for the weekend.  Those who had quality reproductions, or whose originals were more modestly priced, seemed to fare better.  The jewelry I saw was exceptionally high quality, and this category was not over-represented.  Those I had a chance to spoke with seemed pretty pleased with their results. 

Although awards were offered, I can't report on the results since I didn't win one, and I didn't see the judge while he/she was in my booth because I was swamped with customers.  I'll take that over a chance to chat up a judge any day. 

Artist amenities were available: water and fruit anytime; muffins and Starbuck's in the morning (no decaf: another sign that Narozny knows her audience ;-)  ) .  Booth-sitters were availble, too, and the artist packet included lots of coupons for mall discounts.  Which came in handy if you didn't pack your own lunch: wishing to encourage the crowds to visit the mall's restaurants, mall management didn't allow any food vendors (save for a lemonade concession) at the show.  Live acoustic music was featured all weekend, but it wasn't so loud to be a problem while you were chatting up your customers. 

Two "dings" worth noting:  Mall management addressed parking and traffic issues of shows past by banishing the artists to a far-distant parking lot on the other side of the sprawling mall.  It took me 10 minutes exactly to make the trek, and I was hoofing it without any encumbrances (dolly, bags, etc.).  Since I'm a runner with two good knees--so far--your results may vary! Although the organizers pointed out to each artist at checkin that you could park closer if you had a handicapped sticker, there was lots of grumbling about this...and many artists disregarded the instruction on Saturday, prompting mall security to crack down on Day 2.  And one artist near me discovered at tear-down that vandals had broken a lock on his RV and stolen a GPS unit and other valuables.

Speaking of tear-down: The traffic flowed 'way too early, at 5 PM sharp, when a number of artists' vans drove to their tents while some customers were still browsing the show.  This is a personal pet peeve of mine. For one thing, nothing kills a potential last minute sale faster than carbon monoxide wafting into the tent.  Moreover, it's a safety issue: A woman finished browsing my photos at about 5:02, took a step outside, and nearly got nailed by an RV that was passing by--and none too slowly--inches from my entrance.  I get it, folks--you maybe didn't have a great show, and you want to get home ASAP. But use a little common sense, willya?

Overall, though, the weekend was a fun one.  This is a strong show with a growing reputation, and getting stronger.  It's one worth keeping in mind as you plan your next Florida excursion. 

Here is blatant promotion for a telesummit in which I am participating next week.

On January 13, 1:30-3:00 pm (EST) I'll be part of a MasterMind panel of 13 leading art career authorities, and successful artists. On January 19, 2:15-3:15 pm (EST) with my own keynote presentation "More Patrons Than You Ever Dreamed Of - Learn The Secrets Of Being Successful At The Nation's Juried Fine Art Fairs". I am honored to have been chosen to join this telesummit as the representative of the art fair industry.

This telesummit arranged by Ariane Goodwin has a strong history of helping artists with the "art of the art business". It should be especially helpful to all of you are wondering where to go next with your career and helpful to the experienced who need fresh ideas.

---------------------------------------

From Ariane: 

...have you budgeted dimes for your art career?

Of course you need art supplies, that’s No.1 priority. Only, imagine if someone waved a wand and all your art supplies disappeared? How difficult would it be (impossible actually) to make art?

Yet, if you are being gut honest, isn’t this what happens on the art career side of things?

Isn’t it completely obvious that it’s not just difficult, but completely impossible to move your career forward without investing in it?

Investing in your art career is the very cornerstone of sustainability.

------------------------------------------------------

One cornerstone coming up, click here > http://smartist.com/live-telesummit/2011-live/

------------------------------------------------------

And listen, my lovely artists, I practice what I preach. I’ve been working with a special career and marketing coach every month for the past 3 years!

Sure, I could talk myself out of the expense (still paying off graduate student loans–not to mention car repairs, you know the drill...). But, oh the results! I have learned so much that being coached is now part of my business expenses, like electricity or broadband access, or toothbrushes (sneaky deduction trick I’m not sharing!).

------------------------------------------------------
My personal favorite:

One tax deduction coming up, click here:
http://smartist.com/live-telesummit/2011-live/

------------------------------------------------------

And, oh the results artists have gotten from the past 4 smARTist Telesummits!

How do I know? Because, already, 50% of participants this year are returning alumni!

These artists tell me about: increased confidence, more collectors, new work, landing the perfect gallery, higher productivity, selling more artwork, making connections that are paying off... the list is way too long for one email, but you get the point.

------------------------------------------------------

The Point> Come.

Click here > http://smartist.com/live-telesummit/2011-live/

------------------------------------------------------

For 7 days it’s all about you. 7 days where you immerse yourself in the newest, best ways to sell your art in 2011. (Confession: I want this for you so badly it hurts. I want you to be successful and fill our world with your glorious, creative visions.)

Praying (yes, praying...) for your success in and out of the studio,

Ariane

A. Goodwin, Ed.D.
Founder, Organizer, & Host
of the http://smARTist-Telesummit.com
The only professional Art Career Conference online or off!

-> Subscribe: http://www.smARTistCareerBlog.com       
-> Books: http://www.writingtheartiststatement.com
               http://smartist-telesummit.com/exclusives/dazzling-photos/
-> Follow: http://ArianeOnTwitter.com
-> Friend: http://ArianeOnFacebook.com


P.S. Did you hear this call with me and Barney Davey—who was spectacular, in large part because he is this deeply genuine person who also loves artists.

Barney’s been in the art world for years and has things to say about the Big Vision that no artist should miss.

Check it out:
http://smartist.com/live-telesummit/2011-2/barney-ariane-recording/

P.S.S. Listen to one of your fellow artists: “I have enjoyed all the sessions; several introduced new fields to me that I had paid little attention to in the past. I also appreciate the gentle approach and kind attitude throughout the seven days. Thank you for your professional, outstanding Telesummit. The target lectures are all relevant and useful.” ~ Mary Hrbacek

Want relevant and useful? Click here >http://smartist.com/live-telesummit/2011-live/

There is a job opportunity that someone might like to take advantage of.  It is for an Executive Director for the Americana 4th of July Festival held in Centerville, Ohio.  It is a paid part time position, to direct one of the area's largest  4^th of July celebrations.   Duties include working with over 35 volunteers in the following activities: Street Fair, Car Show, Parade, Children’s Activities, Entertainment, Publicity, 5K Run, Food, Reception, Administration, etc.   If you live near the area you might like to look into this job opening.   This sounds like a great opportunity for someone who would like to would like to try their hand at organizing an event or art and craft show.    Information can be found in the following link.