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Estes Park CO Fine Arts Guild show Sept 18-10

This was my second show of substance this year. Here's my experience.

Setup was pretty easy but the parking around the park in the center of town is a challenge. Being new at this it is very much a group effort. Surprised that folks would not simply pull up, get their stuff unloaded and then go park elsewhere so that the next person could do the same. Many pulled in and then setup their booth. Worked much better at teardown on Sunday.

Weather was perfect for the mountains. A bit breezy in the early afternoon and the town doesn't let you drive stakes into the ground so bring weights. As a side note there was show over Labor day that was shut down by the Fire department when winds were in excess of 50MPH. Heard some booths were damaged but everyone at that show helped each other quickly tear down.

The folks that run this did a great job. Usually about every hour or so someone would come by asking if I needed a break. Water was available at the 'office' tent.

Sales, well this was a mixed bag. I am doing canvas wrap prints. I had a moderate Saturday and zeroed on Sunday. Crowds were solid all day Saturday and probably half to 1/3 on Sunday. Impression is that many were tourists (very true) and makes me wonder that large canvas prints are kind of tough to take home :)

In talking with other folks the feeling I got was that sales were off from 2009 by 50-70% for photographers. One glass artist zeroed and other had sales Sunday but nothing on Saturday. A stained glass artist I heard did very well. So it was a mixed bag.

Estes Park is a great venue. Fall is wonderful if the weather works. I'm looking forward to next year and will tweak my product mix.
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$449,000 in Prizes - ArtPrize - Grand Rapids, MI

No art fair me this weekend, September 24-26. I'm heading to Grand Rapids with my friends for the coolest art event in the Midwest. Can you make it too? You will not be disappointed. The art takes over three square miles in the downtown and everyone comes to enjoy it. I attended last year's inaugural event, one of the highlights of my year.

sculpture from 2009

At least three members of this site are exhibiting: sculptor Jerry Berta, artist Sara Youngman and digital artist John Leben.

The opening is tomorrow night with parties throughout the downtown. I have invitations to three!

Here's the story:

ArtPrize, a radically open, city-wide art competition will take over Grand Rapids, Michigan from September 22 to October 10, 2010.

ArtPrize awards the world's largest cash prize for an art competition: $250,000 for first place, and $449,000 in total prize money. The event exists as a catalyst for a deeper relationship between art and the public. There is no central jury or curator and the prize is awarded by public vote. Artists and venues connect directly with one another through ArtPrize.org. Venues range from professionally curated art institutions and public parks, to businesses and unused spaces.

ArtPrize began in 2009, with 200,000 people debating and voting on over 1,200 works of art. This year promises to be even bigger, with 1,713 entries filling 192 venues throughout downtown Grand Rapids.

Visitors must register to vote in person at the event at one of the Exhibition Center venues, or at ArtPrize headquarters, known as The Hub. Attending the event and registering to vote is FREE.

Voting takes place in two rounds:

Round One: September 22 - September 29. Visitors can vote up or down for as many entries as they'd like.

Round Two: September 30 - October 6. The top ten are announced. Visitors can vote up for only one of the finalists. The winner is announced October 7. All the artwork stays on view through October 10.

There's a lot to see, and a lot to do!

See the ArtPrize Calendar for a full list of events. Here are a few highlights:

Concerts! - Performing are top acts Natasha Bedingfield, David Archuleta, indie-rock band Surfer Blood and other musical acts.

Neighborhood Parties! - The ArtPrize district is divided into five neighborhoods, each with a fantastic party during the first week. You can watch West Side Story on the Westside, challenge an artist to Pictionary on the North end, get inspired and paint a canvas with the whole family, and much, much more.

Lectures! - ArtPrize features a phenomenal lecture series. Speakers include Xenia Kalpaktsoglou, co-director and curator of the Athens Biennale; Paul Ha, director of the Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis; Jeff Speck, city planner and architectural designer and former director of design at the National Endowment for the Arts, and more.

Are you participating? Let us know so we can find you and vote for you!

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I just finished The Hidden Glenn Art show and the week before Art Westport in Kansas City. Westport started out rough because we left our sides to the tent at home so my husband had to return home to get them. I stated to set up my jewelry cases and then the rain came and was blowing into the tent so instead of setting up I was stacking every thing in the middle to keep things as dry as possible. So that delayed my set up by three hours causing me to be still setting up when the show began. People streamed by looking at my nearly empty jewelry cases and I tried humor while franticly setting things out. I'm sure I lost some sales that night since in the past Friday night has always been a good beginning.

The rest of the show had a good crowd, but sales were way down from the past. The artist next to me has done the show for 30 years and he told me this was the worst he's ever done for this show. We both agreed however, that we've never given out so many cards. It was hot and humid also, but it has been much hotter in the past. As long as I have a fan the heat doesn't bother me and the patrons enjoy the breeze when they step in.

The show is now being run by a group rather then just one person, so they were learning, but I think they made great effort. And for the most part things ran smoothly. Ray W. ran the show in the past by himself and it seemed for the last couple of years it was becoming harder for him to keep up with all the deadlines he had posted. He's done a great job and I glad he pasted on the torch. It's a hard job running a show by ones self and I'm glad he's getting a break.

This last weekend was Hidden Glennis in the Cedar Creek housing development just outside the city. It is an affluent community, but for some hard to find. One woman came into my tent Saturday afternoon and told me that she started out for the show that morning drove around for a couple of hours, couldn't find it, went for lunch and some shopping and then decided to try again.

I give kudos for how the promoters try to take care of us, but there is just not enough people coming to really support the artists. And it was hot, hot and humid. No electricity, no fan. There was a total of 75 artists and in that mix 16 jewelers, that is not good for me. Not good for the other jewelers. Hidden Glenn is a beautiful setting, but just not profitable. It is also right between the weekends of Art Westport and The Plaza Art Fair. So the timing maybe questionable

I'm writing this with a major migraine that I've had for two days caused by the heat from the show. So hopefully this is coming out fairly. I believe it is a fair assessment of both shows.
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Backwoods Festival, Thornville, OH 9/17-19/10

Just back from the Backwoods Festival in Thornville, Ohio. Another wonderful weekend at this festival. The weather was absolutely fantastic and that helped tremendously. The attendance was up again this year. The food and entertainment is really good and festival-like.

The promoter Gene & Cathy Lauder really work very hard at keeping exhibitors happy - an almost impossible task at best. They take care of the ground year round as well as everyday during the show. The are true promoters and it shows.

I'll be back next year.

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Finally got my studio open and all renovations are completed. Did have one shelving unit in an armoire decide it wasn't going to stay up and that had to be redone. Fabric and such are all put away and now I can take my time organizing it the way I want it to be instead of just unpacking 48 5-gallon tubs! Will be starting to work on some project very soon.Just a reminder to any and all who may be in the Alpena, Michigan area that the 15th Annual Great Lakes Lighthouse Festival will be held on October 7 - 10, 2010 in Alpena, Michigan at the Thunder Bay Recreation Center, 701 Woodward Avenue, Alpena, Michigan. Doors open Friday with admission at $2.50, children 12 and under are free. There will be music - Carl Behrend, The Blue Water Ramblers and Russ Franzen, crafters, authors and artists will be selling their wares. Additionally, there will be live auctions, silent auctions, two concerts, guest speakers, boat trips, helicopter rides and plane rides. Come join the fun.I will be there with a booth AND I am their official photographer this year. Please do come by and say howdy. A portion of all proceeds will be donated to the GLLF to help preserve and restore our an integral part of our nation's history - our lighthouses.
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Creative Arts Guild Festival 2010 in Dalton, GA

This past weekend we did the Creative Arts Guild's FESTIVAL for the third year  in a row in Dalton GA.  There were probably forty vendors there and we had good sales. The entrance fee the 2-day outdoor (under cover) show is only $65.00. The sponsors certainly take care of the vendors and we're very much appreciated....breakfast both Saturday and Sunday mornings, soft drinks and snacks all day and booth sitters.  For $25.00 there is also a month-long juried indoor exhibit, in which artists may show up to 3 pieces of art.  The culmination to this is a wonderful catered and well attended dinner Friday night for patron's ($50.00)and those artists (free)who chose to exhibit in the indoor exhibit,in which patrons may purchase the displayed art.  The crowds for the Saturday and Sunday outdoor show aren't big but folks do come spend money!  It's great for us since it's only thirty minutes from home.


Dalton is a small town about 30 minutes south of Chattanooga, TN, on 75 and nestled in the foothills of the Appalachian mountains; it is known as the "Carpet Capital of the World." I imagine the population to be about 35,000. That might currently be disputed since the carpet business has been greatly affected by the housing downturn. Unemployment is currently just a tad over 10%. I don't know how much the folks (Terry Tomasello and Leanne Lawson) at CAG want it to grow, but it might be worth checking out. We have a "good thing" and are most appreciative.

Bill Moore
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Centerfest in Durham NC

This was our first time showing here so we talked with several other artists who could give a fair comparison from past events.
Setup..For the most it was a Saturday morning setup. The food vendors came in on Friday night but they did let the artists setup after 9:00pm when the food guys are done. That was a big help. We knew that the weather was going to be in the 90's the next day.
Organization. Flawless! They had "block captains" with radios. So, if you needed anything, you didn't have to wait it was taken care of immediately. They had an army of volunteers to help with information, parking, keeping the area clean, booth sitters and everything you could imagine.
Weather..Hot and Hotter!
Artist parking.. Very close and plenty of it.
Layout.. It is held in a huge parking lot with entertainment at one end and food vendors and a sitting area. We were at the other end so we didn't have to deal with any of that to which I'm very glad. At times the music was loud even for us.
Attendance.. Very light. With the comments from artists who have been there before, they said it was way off from last year. But, there was a Duke home football game and some other events in town that they had to deal with.
Sales..Some did ok, a lot didn't. We zeroed on Saturday but pulled it out with 4 big sales within an hour on Sunday afternoon. We did not see many packages; but, again I'm sure a few did well. The crowd was mixed - young families with children to a lot of college age. There were the visitors for the the ball game. It was an educated group but not a real buying crowd.
Overall, it was our best show this year in sales but I think it was our turn to have a little luck. I will have to think hard about returning next year.
Let me repeat one thing... the staff for the show was the best! They knew what they were doing.
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La Grange (Chicago) West End Art Show

This was our first time at the La Grange Show. It is directed by Erin Melloy, who directs a number of shows in the Chicago area.

We arrived on Saturday morning. Most of the artists had set up Friday night, as there was a Jazz Group who performed. Artists were given the option to be open during that Friday night event. We choose not to do so. Set up was on the street, with easy load/unloading available. We were able to drive right up to our booth location. And set up quickly. It normally takes us 1.5-2 hours to set up. We were all done in just over an hour. We were concerned about the weather, as the skies were dark.

Everyone opened at 10:00 and the showers came by 10:30. This limited the attendees. But the few who showed up, were buying. Many of the artist who we talked to told us this has been a lower attendance show, but lots of buyers. That is fine with me. Despite the weather on Saturday, we did OK in sales. Sunday brought sun in the morning and clouds in the afternoon, but no rain. Many more people shopped on Sunday and sales were fair.

I believe this is a show we will try again next year. It seems to have potential and the set up is easy. Even more important, people seem to like our mixed media framed art.

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The Bluemont Fair, Bluemont, VA

Just got home from the second day of the 41st annual fair there. We've been vending at it for seven years and this one was the best yet in revenue and weather. Even got to sell something to Oliver North - he and his wife were just members of the great crowd attending. Saturday was in the mid-80's and sunny, today pushed 90, but partly cloudy. This felt cool compared to the last several shows we've done.

Many of the other vendors are repeats, so being at this is almost like going home. All that I talked to did good to very, very good in sales. Almost everyone you saw was carrying something. We get a second spot for me to demonstrate woodturning at a reduced price and there were small groups watching me most of both days. I'd estimate attendance at around 10k. The lady that manages the craft area is very particular about everything being hand made, and there were no buy/sell vendors that I could see anywhere. We've never had a bad show here save way back when a leftover part of a hurricane made things muddy, but even then sales were more than break-even.
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The Holy Hill Art Fairs have been around as long as I can remember - and I'm not young. I remember going to one when I was in High School - way back when. So my artist daughter & I thought we'd try one - THE 36TH ANNUAL HOLY HILL ARTS & CRAFTS FAIR. The date worked for us, it's less than two hours from our home, the jury fee was low $10, and the 10x10 booth fee was $150. They touted "230+ Artists & Craftsmen Presenting Their Work in a Natural Setting." One downside we saw was that they charged the public a $4 admission charge, but they also provided public shuttle bus service to & from the parking lots.

After having some problems with some assigned spots at other shows this summer (I'm in a wheelchair for distances, so I need to either be near the "facilities" or need to be on wheelchair friendly ground - not bumpy grass...) we called and kindly requested that we be assigned a spot suitable for the circumstances. We were told that they would try, but couldn't promise a spot.

Set up was very organized (but slow at the start). We could see they've been doing this for awhile. There was a line of cars into the grounds, where volunteers checked each car in, gave them their registration/information packet and sent them to the area where their booth space was. Volunteers directed cars where to park so aisles & roadways remained clear. Beside the normal name tags, brochures & evaluation forms, the registration packet had $10 worth of food tickets included - what a nice touch!

The site was partially a paved parking lot, and a grassy wooded park like area next to it. We were on the pavement (Thank you!) and the row behind us was on the grass. Booth space had no wiggle room. Tents were right up against each other on three sides. Some one in our row must have had a smaller tent because we "lucked out" with about three feet extra on one side.

You could tell this was a church -run show because the show started with a prayer over the P.A. system before they opened the admission gates (with their waiting throngs..) And we really needed a prayer because there were terrible black clouds overhead. When we left home it was really pouring and we were afraid that the weather would follow us. While we were setting us several quick showers came and went.

But the public came anyhow. They were ready to shop. We found it unusual that most of our sales were cash sales, rather than charge sales. The clouds parted a few times during the rest of the day. The crowds were large. We had steady traffic in our booth all day.

The event also had a music tent, fundraiser tent, a raffle, a bake sale with cheesecake slices. Yumm! Amaretto Chocolate Cheesecake! (They had other flavors too...) The food tent had the usual hamburger-hot dog type stuff.

Modest cash awards were given in three categories - fine art, fine crafts, country craft. There were less than 1/3 fine art booths. Fine art probably was 20% of the booths - fine crafts 40%, country crafts 40%. Highest award was $175.

All-in-all the day was worthwhile. We'll probably come again next year....


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November 19-21 - New York City - Jacob Javits Center - Call for Artists
Excuse me if I get a little excited here. Imagine showing and selling your work at the Javits Center in New York City! Imagine being at the heart of America's art world! Imagine meeting real collectors. Imagine coming face to face with people who insist they only buy art in NYC. Imagine -- you can afford to be there!

Two things that may have stopped you in the past from going to New York:maincontact_store.jpg
  • The high booth prices
  • Logistics of exhibiting in this huge city
Solved!

Price:
American Art Marketing, owner of the American Craftsman Galleries in NYC really knows this marketplace and has put together a package of booth options that begin at $390 for a 10 x 10. Really.

Logistics:
  • The Javits Center is next to the Lincoln Tunnel. You can easily be at the New Jersey chain motels (ranging in price from $59 to $99) in ten to 20 minutes.
  • Additionally, if you'd like to explore the City you can park your van at the Javits and take a cab or bus to see the sights.
Seize the day! You can afford this...here, you go again, off to the City!

Visit the website for more details: www.ContemporaryArtFairNYC.com

Questions? Richard Rothbard, producer, will be pleased to answer your email or phone calls (845-661-1221).

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Absolutely Amazing Booth Fee


$390.00 10 x 10

· $535.00 10 x 15
· $780.00 10 x 20
visit website for complete details

americancraftshownyc.com | contemporaryartfairnyc.com

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Artists working in the Adirondack Style. Furniture & Furnishings never before seen at any metro NYC show!

Live demonstrations & workshops

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My summer shows have been down like most as a matter of fact five 0 shows. I have talked to many artist and hear there stories. Some had to refinance there home just to be able to afford to apply to the shows. So many just not doing well. All looking for reasons for what is happening out there.
I too have wondered and have felt something is going on out there like a big deep dark secret, and no one is telling what the secret is. I am not really getting good vibes as to what this secret is. It seems somewhat troubling.
On the other hand I have been blessed again and again. I am so grateful to my Lord for hearing my prayers and blessing my work and continuing to provide me with a good income, as I am self supporting now after my husbands stroke five years ago.
So the last show of the season for me in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. I had applied to this show for at least 5 years and again was put on the wait list. I finally called and explained to the show director how long I have applied for this show and asked for what reason I continue to be put on the waiting list. The usual answer, the jurying etc. Well two weeks later I was called to be apart of the August show.
The folks there put on a great show really try to accommodate the artists with a breakfast in the morning booth sitters etc. Everyone who had done the show before me said the attendance was down. Although it was a good crowd. The response was as always so complementary, " gosh I wish I had a dollar for the comments" how your work is so beautiful". But as we all know that does not pay the bills. For the most part everyone around me had a decent show. I was very pleased and had a customer come by mid afternoon and purchased a 34X40 original. Then later in the day another couple came by and asked me to there home for a possible commission. Again giving praise to Almighty God for His goodness, I was blessed with a Triptec measuring 120x38. I just go away feeling so humbled and blessed. All I can say to you out there have faith in Almighty God and he will bless you and your career if you completely Trust Him
Katherine McNeill
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This is Your Mother Speaking...

I do not intend to be a heavy-handed moderator on this site and definitely believe that we are all adults and know how to behave in public. Recent days have brought wonderful art reviews to the site from all around the country (yes, a little light from the West) and helpful information for many in the discussions -- yet a few people got carried away.

If you can step back from the seeming vitriol of the speakers some of it is very funny, but some recent comments have been mean and intimidating and inappropriate to this forum. My apologies to the many good people who have been supportive of the goals of this site and have been instrumental to its growth.

Please note there is a Code of Conduct under the Discussions Tab. Here's the link: http://www.artfairinsiders.com/page/code-of-conduct. Please read. Most of all, the message is: "Be Nice."

As the originator of ArtFairInsiders.com I have the power to suspend and have just suspended a person who only comes on the site to make trouble and shout at others. Others have been warned. We have much to learn from one another and you had better behave!

Your loving mother...
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Arts and Crafts Fair Shriners Jacksonville

This affair took place in Jacksonville, Florida weekend of Sept. 11-12. With a great deal of excitement, I set up my display on Friday afternoon since I live so close. I've heard of this show for years and finally decided to try it to start the fall season. There is very little going on here in Florida in September. The surroundings were great and the A/C was a welcome change along with the snacks both morning. Nicer people runnning the show couldn't be found. What I thought was a big crowd decended Sat. a.m., but I was told this was not up to the usual number of attendees. Disappointment settled in about 1 p.m. I saw that this was not my crowd for my finer jewelry, but was hoping to get something out of the less expensive things I make. I realized that several of the booths had Buy/Sell- One right behind me! There were numerous complaints from artists and crafters to the show officials about the Buy/Sell booths. Most of the artists I talked to managed to make their booth fee by Sunday p.m. and that is all!!! An official came by late Sunday and apologized about the Buy/Sell vendors and explained that they didn't know even though photographs of the work had to be send in with the application. The official was marking the booths that were Buy/Sell so this wouldn't happen again and the application was being re-worded for the future. Needless to say, I won't be back for the November show or next year! The new committee seems to have been taken unawares and I hope new policies are in place in the future for their sake. Let me add that this is not a traditional juried event, but a description of your work and photos are to accompany the application. Met some neat new artists and we connected on the supplies and shows that we do - so all was not lost. Hope to have better luck in Amelia Island and Hallifax which have always been good to me.
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Started out with rain (thank Heavens no wind) through late morning, otherwise weather was great the rest of the day and all of Sunday. Pretty steady crowds after the rain, better crowds on Sunday. Folks were looking and, more importantly, buying. Most vendors I spoke with said they were pleased with sales. I had a solid weekend, have received six custom orders to date from the show, (I make whimsical dog leash hangers and will customize a whimsical likeness from an email pic). I would do this show again, lots of variety.
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Artful Vision is going to the Emmy's!

It should be of no surprise to you that the people who support worthy causes, also buy gifts. Now when shoppers choose unique art and fine craft as gifts they also choose to support a
participating non-profit. It’s a win-win for everyone, thanks to Maxine
Gardner’s own “artful vision”. Artful Vision is a website organized as a juried online art fair. It includes visual, decorative and functional art, as well as music and creative writing. It’s a unique way for artists to make a difference in communities across the U.S. by donating 20% of every sale to a community or national non-profit.

Artful Vision's official launch was August 1st and Maxine's vision is already being recognized for our unique concept. Artful Vision is going to the Emmys. That's right. Artful Vision has been invited to the News and Documentary Award Emmys as one of the businesses that will provide gifts for the 700 attendees from TV and Internet News. They are one of 30 small businesses that have been afforded this opportunity to put their product or service in front of the people that can see a great story in what they strive to do.

It is all about the power of a network -- a friend of Maxine's told a friend and that friend in turn who was looking for goodies for the Emmy gift bags was caught up in Artful Vision's concept of encouraging shoppers to choose handmade gifts when they are shopping, especially when those purchases contribute to charity. Maxine has made up 700 packages with handmade notecards and her flyer that will be going into those goodie bags. She has been told to expect her website to crash, so what if, e.g., Diane Sawyer "tweets" about her gift and all her "friends" go to take a look? Crash!

Hopefully you are already a part of Artful Vision's web business -- stay tuned for a viral explosion of art!

View the website: www.ArtfulVision.com
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Durango Fall Festival of the Arts.

Just got back from the Durango Fall Festival of the Arts in Durango, CO. Not a big show (80 artists?) but the attendees were very appreciative of the artists as was the event coordinator. Lots of volunteers and booth sitters. Some sold, some not as much. I had the best show of this year with my photography.
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Fall into Art Festival, Edina, Mn. Sept 11-12

This was my 3rd time at this show. Sales on Saturday were disappointing considering the constant flow of attendees and they were just that. Sunday sales were much better. The over all sales may or may not bring me back next year. This is a pretty large show and quality of fellow exhibitors was all over the map. Fair amount of 'art' on purchased goods, even cast concrete stepping stones. Lots of 'jewelry' of commercial beads and findings. The usual selection of pottery from my stoneware to the over done.

Long 12 hour drive from Mo ozarks where we live. Fortunately for me I stayed with my brother so food and lodging were great.

So, if I don't have anything more good to say, I shouldn't say anything.
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