Posted by Connie Mettler on December 30, 2009 at 11:06am
Earlier in the month we had some stories on this site about using empty stores to sell art for the holidays (and beyond, I hope). My friend, Donna Beaubien, opened one of these venues in Rochester, MI, at the Village Shopping Center, a "life style" mall. Here is a video of the gallery. I thought you'd enjoy seeing what a good job she did.
View it on YouTube.com:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=77vFjsLWjZMRead more…
Posted by Connie Mettler on December 30, 2009 at 10:49am
July 8-11, 2010 Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts State College, Pennsylvania 44th Annual Sidewalk Sale and Exhibition 300 Exhibitors Deadline: January 29, 2010 Applications available online:
www.zapplication.org Why should you apply to this festival? Here is what its director, Rick Bryant, has to say: --It is always ranked in the
Top Ten in the
Sunshine Artist magazine rankings --We bring roughly
125,000 people to State College over five days in July (the first day of our Festival is Children's Day, and our artists set up at the end of the day, so that they are there four days) --Show is in its
44th year and is on Penn State campus and the streets of the Borough of State College. Actually, we were founded by the State College chamber of commerce and Penn State's College of Arts and Architecture as a "town/gown" event --
Penn State alumni return for "Arts Festival Alumni Weekend," a time to renew old college ties, attend special programs, and, of course, the arts festival --We hand out over
$17,000 in prizes --We also receive lots of support from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania-not only the Pennsylvania
Council of the Arts, but also the Pennsylvania Tourism Office --Our festival features the outdoor show, an indoor gallery exhibition, a celebration of Italian Street Painting, performing arts on three indoor stages and four outdoor stages --The Festival will be the
cover story in the summer of 2010 issue of
Pursuitsmagazine, the official magazine of the Pennsylvania Tourism Office, with a circulation of 400,000 Where is State College, PA?
Visit this link. Our take on it:
If you are sincere about your career at the art fairs, this is an event that you should seriously consider for your participation. The best reason is that your work will be seen by a clientele who comes from across the country for this annual reunion at their alma mater. The exposure to a new audience could lead not only to success here but it will broaden your art fair experience. Lots of Easterners attend, a great cultural mix. For more information about the Central Pennsylvania Festival of Arts
visit their website and
apply now! **************** Find more art fairs for your 2010 art fair season:
www.ArtFairCalendar.com/callforentriesRead more…
Art Fair Insiders has been a busy place this year. Here are my choices for the top posts. Do you agree with these choices? 1. Here are some great examples of
artists being their own promoters and drumming up their own customers in trying circumstances. Great job,
Maria Arango. 2. Many thanks to glassblower
Renee Engebretson for her reports on the
Des Moines Art Festival and Denver's Cherry Creek Art Festival.
3. R.C. Fulwiler's moving tribute to the loss of
Michael Craven to cancer. We also lost ceramicist
Nick Rostagno,
photographer John Peer, and
painter Kevin Finnerty. 4. Art fair patron
Geri Wegner gives artists a fresh perspective in "
From the Outside Looking In." 5. Artist
Jacki Jacobson's thoughtful post:
21 Facts abut Selling at a Street Fair.Sort of a scary photo taken by Bill Sargent at an evening fair.... 6. Can you imagine this?
"Artists Behaving Badly at Art Fairs" 7. Looking at all the empty real estate at the nation's malls has brought art to the mall.
Can Art Save the Mall? 8.
Show reviews Archives includes information for over thirty events, big ones and little ones. Interested in finding a specific show review? Type the name of the event in the "search" box at the top of this page and you can retrieve the results. 9.
Michelle Sholund tells us "
How to become an expert of doing "Bad" art shows." Nels Johnson's photo of a crowd at a fair -- do you think there will be much buying happening here? 10. And, it's a good thing some artists not only do lots of art fairs but they write about them! So many great articles this year from photographer
Nels Johnson who entertains us from Florida to Texas, to Chicago, to Minneapolis, Milwaukee, Ann Arbor, etc. I particularly liked his report on the art fair that he went to
a week late, in Perrysburg, OH. Coupled with lots of pertinent fair details he also takes us on a culinary voyage of the art cities and their various tequila bars. Thanks, Nels. Can't wait to see where you take us in 2010. Nels Johnson comments on artists moving into the Internet Age:
In the Old Days we sat in our vans and smoked numbers, now we are smoking on our computers! Fabulous
discussion boards led by the best discussion of the year by
Linda Anderson, regaling us with her struggles with the
Edina Art Fair, her
communications with the committee and the outcome. And how about these? "
Can you survive financially on your art fair income alone?" Ron Mellott's discussion: Art shows:
Who is doing it well? What needs to be done?
Rising Booth Fees - started by Bobbie Matus And please contribute to this discussion:
Wrap up of the 2009 art fair season. We'd love to hear your take on it! We've reported on the art fair business including the great (and not so great) sales in Texas - Ft. Worth and La Villita, the moving and hopefully consequent rejuvenation of Arts, Beats & Eats, the new art fair directors in Omaha, Columbus and Ann Arbor, prize winners at Winter Park, stolen paintings in Des Moines. Laughed and cried at the convolutions of entrepreneurism at its best -- the art fairs of the U. S. Wishing you a great year!
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Posted by Connie Mettler on December 28, 2009 at 11:30am
Your Holiday Present - a bunch of laughs! Take a look at this video, a bunch of funny clips all rolled into one. Then would you please tell me why I am sitting here laughing out loud? Is there something wrong with me?
www.UTube.com/funnyclipsRead more…
Posted by Connie Mettler on December 23, 2009 at 10:17am
Maureen Riley!! -- Ann Arbor Street Art Fair
Leah Alters!! -- Columbus Arts Festival
After a lengthy vetting/application process at the Ann Arbor Street Art Fair (see this blog post with more details) the former Director of the Detroit Festival of the Arts, Maureen Riley, will be named to the position of Executive Director at the prestigious art fair, effective January 1, 2010. Maureen, a Detroit area resident will be moving to Ann Arbor soon, told me, "I’m extremely excited about joining the team that puts on this prestigious art fair and I’m really looking forward to becoming part of the Ann Arbor community."
We are all sending you the best wishes, Mo, in this new position. I am confident you are the one for the job. Congratulations to the Street Fair Board on a good choice.
Leah Alters, executive director of Wausau Area Events and Main Street Wausau, will leave her position Jan. 1 for a new job in Ohio, replacing long time director Katie (Lucas) Laux who left to pursue new opportunities with a Columbus non-profit.
The Columbus Arts Festival hosts about 230 nationally acclaimed artists and features gourmet food, live concerts and hands-on art activities, according to its Web site. The festival will run from June 4 to June 6 in 2010.
A veteran of the Uptown Art Fair in Minneapolis where she was artist coordinator, in recent years has worked on the Wausau Balloon Rally & Glow, and helped develop other events in Wausau. Read more details here.
Welcome to Columbus, Leah! We wish you a great first year at the festival.
Other changes:
The fabulous Erin Woody, who managed and developed events for the Rock Financial Showplace in Novi, MI, (including the Great Lakes Art Fair) is starting a new position in St. Louis, MO, the first of the year where she will be Field Marketing Manager for Red Bull. Congratulations, Erin. We will miss you in Michigan but know this is an opportunity you cannot turn down. Best wishes.
Which, in turn, means that Erin's position is open in Novi. Interested? Contact Anne Sloney at the Rock Financial Showplace for more information, asloney@rockfinancialshowplace.com, 248-348-5600 x 210.
In Omaha, NE, the very capable and popular Carly Barth is stepping down from her position as art director of the Summer Arts Festival to spend time with her son. The art fair community welcomes Elizabeth Balasz into Carly's position.
Read more…
Listed below are
thirteen Chicago area professionally run art fairs by Amdur Productions. Headed by Amy Amdur, these events exploded on the art fair scene 27 years ago when the Port Clinton Art Festival appeared in the affluent community of Highland Park, IL.
Taking her cue from this success Amy has gone on to create new events in affluent areas of the metro area. Her hard work coupled with a strong marketing outreach have allowed many Chicago area artists the possibility of commuting to their art fairs. The rest of us have, of course, joined the Chicagoans and headed to Chicago to meet this good marketplace. Take a look at these thirteen events to fill your art fair schedule and your pocketbook! Amy and her staff Visit the website:
AmdurProductions.com for full disclosure on each of the events, then, "think Chicago!" CALL FOR ENTRIES: CHICAGO'S AMDUR PRODUCTIONS
May 29 & 30 Barrington - New Festival! Barrington Art Festival 10 am to 5 pm 140 artists Barrington, known for its wealth, mansions and horse farms is the setting for our newest festival which is situated 36 miles northwest of Chicago. Barrington has a population of about 40,000 and an average household income of $125,000, with ¼ of the population earning $200,000+. This art fair kicks off the Chicago art festival season. Amy says:
Wealthy, art-loving area & great local support! Nice downtown layout. Memorial Day Weekend (still have your Monday off). Average temperature 70.June 4-6 Chicago Eastside Millennium Art Festival downtown at Michigan Ave., on Lake Street Fri. noon-5, Sat. & Sun. 10-5 150 artists The Eastside Millennium Art Festival is a downtown Chicago show located at Michigan Avenue on Lake Street, just north of the world famous Millennium Park and Chicago's Art Institute. 175,000 people pass through this office and residential area daily. Chicagoans and tourists patronize and love this show. The show opens Friday. $25 City permit is required. 2nd year of this event, previously known as New East Side Artworks. Amy says:
Located just north of Millennium Park in a very busy area. Chicagoans and tourists love this show. Average temperature 71.June 12 & 13 Lincolnshire Lincolnshire Art Festival Village Green 10 am-5 pm 150 artists The Lincolnshire Art Festival is situated around a tranquil fountain in an upscale community 30 minutes north of Chicago with plenty of restaurants and hotels in the area. Booths are on grass and pavement. Visitors are from the north and western suburbs. Artists' parking is free and close. The festival features all types of fine art and fine craft. 13th annual event in same location. Amy says:
All themes, all price points do well. Good for new artists as well. Average temperature 71.
June 19 & 20 Wheaton Cantigny Art Festival Father's Day weekend 10 am - 5 pm 130 artists The Cantigny Art Festival is held Father's Day Weekend at Cantigny Park, one of the most beautiful settings in the greater Chicago area. The festival offers extra spacious booths and is a lovely, safe, friendly location. Booths are on grass and pavement under a light canopy of honey locust trees. The striking Visitor's Center provides comfort and convenience to all. 9th annual event in same location. Amy says:
Beautiful setting, very low stress. Middle price points do best. Artists' breakfast included. Average temperature 72.June 26-27 Arlington Heights Promenade of Art 10 am to 5 pm 150 artists Arlington Heights is in an affluent community of 77,000 people. The festival is held on the downtown streets amid new and upscale residential buildings, the Metropolis Arts Centre, quaint stores and popular restaurants. An artist reports that she had a $150,000 commission come out of this show. This fair is easy, safe and fun! 8th annual event in same location. Amy says:
A great show for experienced as well as new artists. Nice easy compact festival layout. Traditional themes do well. Average temperature 73. July 10 & 11 Glencoe Glencoe Festival of the Masters In cooperation with the Village of Glencoe and the Chamber of Commerce 10 am to 5 pm 150 artists The Glencoe Festival of the Masters takes place in the prestigious Frank Lloyd Wright-influenced community of Glencoe near Lake Michigan in Chicago's famous North Shore area. Held in the downtown among boutiques and cafés, parking is close and free. The crowd is wealthy, educated and loves art. Fine art and fine craft are featured. 3rd annual event in same location. Amy says: H
eld in a wealthy community near Lake Michigan where the average home price is 1.2 million. All art does well here. Average temperature 75.July 17 & 18 Buffalo Grove Buffalo Grove Invitational Art Festival Buffalo Grove Town Center 10 am to 5 pm 160 artists The Festival is northwest of Chicago and is home to some of the most successful and reputable business organizations in the Midwest. Buffalo Grove boasts a population of 44,000 people and is home to a large Jewish community. Plenty of close parking and great sales. A huge community volunteer corps provides booth-sitting and artists' assistance with a smile. Village permit required. 9th annual event. Amy says:
All themes, all price points. Bright art doing well, crowd loves jewelry and wearables. Average temperature 76.July 24 & 25 Skokie North Shore Festival of Art Old Orchard -
New & better location! 10 am to 5 pm 140 artists The North Shore Festival of Art is located at Westfield Old Orchard in the Village of Skokie. This festival has a long and rich history. It is our third year producing this festival for the discriminating art lover of Chicago's North Shore including a large Jewish community. A great layout, high visibility location and day before set-up make this show a pleasure to do. 3rd annual event. Amy says:
In a highly visible location at this popular outdoor mall. Judaic art, paintings, jewelry and photography did well last year.July 30, 31 & August 1 Chicago Gold Coast Art Fair A Chicago tradition for over 50 years Along LaSalle St., at the intersections of Erie, Huron, and Superior Friday noon to 5; Sat. & Sun. 10-5 350 artists The three day Gold Coast Art Fair returns to one of the biggest and most vibrant cities in the United States, Chicago. Considered to be the "grand daddy" of art festivals this event draws artists and visitors from around the world. Thousands of people attend this show daily. Many artists' report record sales here. Most event streets are closed to traffic. City permit required. 53rd annual event. Amy says:
Big show, best for experienced artists. All art, all prices. Most streets closed to vehicles. Average temperature 76.August 7 & 8 Glenview Art at the Glen The Glen Town Center Saturday 10 am to 6 pm, Sunday 10 am to 5 pm 195 artists The Art at the Glen is held in Glenview, Illinois, north of Chicago in a beautiful, dynamic area designed for strolling, browsing, shopping and dining. Festival streets are filled from open until close with thousands of art buyers. Festival sales rank among the top of the season for many artists at this high quality show. 7th annual event in same location. Amy says:
Great show, better for experienced artists. Big crowds. All art, all prices do well. Average temperature 75. August 28 & 29 Highland Park Port Clinton Art Festival Along Central Avenue 10 am to 6 pm 260 artists The Port Clinton Art Festival is a high-selling show located in downtown Highland Park, an upscale community 30 minutes north of Chicago. Those who attend are art savvy and have high disposable income. Only originals are allowed to be displayed in artist's booths. Artist's amenities include artist breakfast and booth sitters. City permit required. 27th annual event in same location. Amy says:
Top fine art and fine craft only. Only for experienced artists. Average temperature 72. September 11 and 12 - JUST ADDED! Downers Grove 34th Annual Downtown Downers Grove Art Festival 10 am to 5 pm 130 artists The Downtown Downer's Grove Art Festival is held on the lovely main street of this suburban community. Downer's Grove has a population of 50,000, a median age of 39, a downtown filled with restaurants, stores, coffee houses, luxury apartments, and a state of the art parking facility for about 800 cars. An annual cherished community tradition for the past 34 years, the festival now comes under the direction of Amdur Productions. Historically a one day show, the festival will now span a two day weekend with optional set up for artists on Friday night. 34th annual event in same location. Amy says:
This festival has a great following. We predict big crowds and great sales. Average temperature 68. September 25-26 - New Earlier Date! Highwood Highwood Last Call Art Fair On closed streets in the downtown 10 am to 5 pm 130 artists The Highwood Last Call Art Fair features great art at great prices. The show gives the public the chance to buy end of the season original art, left over inventory, slightly damaged, bruised and odd pieces at discounted prices. Artists decide how much to discount their work and can use festival stickers to mark work at 10% to 50% off. 2nd annual event in same location. Amy says:
End of season opportunity for you to sell off inventory at reduced prices. Artists and/or their representatives welcome. Average temperature 63.What to do Next! Learn more and apply at
www.amdurproductions.com If you have any questions on the jury process, our festivals, or related topics, please contact the office at 847-926-4300 or email
info@amdurproductions.com. Lennette, Steve, Alana and Amy are ready to take your calls Monday through Friday between 9 am and 5 pm central time.
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Last week I traveled to
Royal Oak, MI, to meet with Jon Witz, producer of
Arts, Beats & Eats, and the operations people for the event. I do believe we have here the "second coming".
In
1998 Witz produced the first Arts, Beats & Eats with the support of the Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson, perhaps the most important politician in Michigan. Patterson found Witz great partners like Chrysler and K Mart and Jon was off and running with his characteristic moxie, vision, energy and ability to put people together to make things happen. The first event was a Wow! My husband and I got pulled in from the very beginning. I was on the advisory board. We have participated in a fair number of first time events over the years, including: 1st Arti Gras, 1st Fine Art in Birmingham, 1st Greektown, 1st Laumeier,
1st Cherry Creek! All of these started slowly but with decent sales. But in 1998 in Pontiac at a first time show we
sold into the five figures! Cherry Creek didn't even do that for us. The people came in the
tens of thousands, they loved the event, they bought art, enjoyed the music, the galleries
and the atypical art fair food from the area's finest restaurants. Witz put together a
coalition of media sponsors including radio, television and all the local print media to inundate the area with news about the event. Yes, you've heard a lot about this event. As hard times in Michigan have mounted the event has not kept its perfect audience. But, I am here to tell you today that Arts, Beats & Eats is back! The City of Royal Oak is welcoming it with open arms! Everyone there is working together to make the event an exciting and successful time for all. Royal Oak is a section of metro Detroit seemingly
untouched by the economic problems found elsewhere. When I was there last week I saw street after street of very nice single family neighborhoods, with cool shopping streets full of one of a kind goods and restaurants that cater to all kinds of eating. It is a jewel of a place! It is like the neighborhoods around the Plaza in Kansas City and Cherry Creek in Denver or Uptown in Minneapolis. So...while you are thinking about your 2010 schedule, put this one back on your list for
Labor Day weekend, September 3-6. Arts, Beats & Eats is back with a vengeance! It will be cool, it will be in the right neighborhood, it will be full of excited Detroiters ready for a celebration -- and you remember that Michigan audience that loves art fairs? They'll be there too.
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So here it is 4:45 am, days before Christmas. I thought I was taking this week off to take care of and enjoy the
holidays, but instead I am lying in bed thinking about all the things yet to do. You probably know what I am talking about. Luckily I have this article from Charlene Davis, from the
Artisans Monthly, with tips on managing. "Statistics overwhelmingly indicate that stress is the root cause of many health-related issues including heart disease, cancer, obesity, depression, memory loss, high blood pressure, and diabetes. And with increasing demands on both your personal and professional life, learning how to effectively manage stress is more important than ever - especially with the holidays right around the corner!" I am even quoted in the story, with my favorite tips. Now, I just have to find the time to read it! Most of my shopping is done but the gifts still need to be wrapped and sent to the lovely ones in Tennessee, Kentucky and California. Is it really true, better late than never? Get a cup of tea, sit down, a little seasonal music and read:
Managing Stress at the Holidays. There, my little gift to you. Next?
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Thanks to Duke Klassen at the NAIA Forum for sharing this good story from the New York Times -- That Hobby Looks Like a Lot of Work
QUIT your day job?
Sara Jorde for The New York Times:
To some craft enthusiasts that is just the name of a popular blog on Etsy, the fast-growing Web site that serves as a marketplace for crafts and vintage goods.
But to Yokoo Gibran, it was an epiphany.
Ms. Gibran, who is in her 30s, had been selling her hand-knit scarves and accessories on the site for less than a year when she decided last November to quit her day job at a copy center in Atlanta. Thirteen months later, she would seem to be living the Etsy dream: running a one-woman knitwear operation, Yokoo, from her home and earning more than $140,000 a year, more than many law associates.
Jealous? How could you not be? Her hobby is her job. But consider this before you quit your day job: at the pace she’s working, she might as well be a law associate.
“I have to wake up around 8, get coffee or tea, and knit for hours and hours and hours and hours,” said Ms. Gibran, who leveraged the exposure she got on the site to forge a deal with Urban Outfitters. “I’m ...
This is a very interesting article and really worth reading for insight into our business -- after all, we all have already quit our day jobs some time ago! Read it and let me know what you think about it!
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There is a little chat in the discussion area of Art Fair Insiders today about the results of the jurying for the Main Street
Fort Worth festival. A nonplussed artist was pretty amazed that there was such a large turnover in accepted exhibitors. Me, I'm not so surprised. Texas has become the new "art fair heaven" with money flowing pretty decently at the art fairs and as a result floods of applicants to the good Texas shows. That aside, a friend sent me this article from the Houston, Texas, school district of Cypress-Fairbanks,
Students win Culture Shapers Visual Arts awards. Her granddaughter, Lauren age 17, won $5000 in a contest for student artists with the photograph pictured here. A group of Houston-area businessmen and women put up $70,000 for art awards! Now do you believe we should all be in Texas? Congratulations to you Lauren, and also to your grandmother, Della Smith, here in Michigan.
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Posted by Connie Mettler on December 21, 2009 at 10:00am
Shreveport, LA -- October's Red River Revel
As artists we are very aware of the impact weather has on our incomes. A while back a friend's new boy friend was heard to mention that he had recently learned that The Weather Channel was as important as CBS and NBC as a source of news. No surprise to any of us! But have you thought of how the weather impacts the organizations putting on the event?
This fall the 34th Annual Red River Revel was held in the midst of 20 inches of rain for the month of October, "the wettest on record. Water flooded dozens of homes and forced evacuations throughout northwest Louisiana," reports TheTownTalk.com. What this means to the festival is that revenues were down considerably and they are being challenged to make this up to keep the 2010 festival on schedule.
“As one of the nation’s longest running outdoor arts festivals, we are proud to say that when it comes to festivals, THE REVEL REIGNS! This year, The REVEL meant RAIN,” a Dec. 4 letter from the Revel governing board states. “The financial losses this year are nothing less than staggering.”
I have spent time with the festival's organizer, Kip Holloway, at NAIA Director's conferences and know him to be totally devoted to his city and its premier festival. Read the rest of the story here.
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August 21 & 22 Washington Park 29th Annual Lakefront Art Festival Michigan City, Indiana Sponsored by the Lubeznik Center for the Arts Saturday - 10 to 6 Sunday - 10 to 5 Deadline: January 29 The Lakefront Art Festival attracts thousands of visitors from surrounding states to a festive, high-quality event held under shady trees in a grassy park on the shore of Lake Michigan. Because the festival is sponsored by the Lubeznik Center for the Arts, it is overseen by arts professionals, committed to making every aspect of the festival a quality venue for artists and visitors. Where is Michigan City?
Visit this link. Why this should be of interest to you:
--small town art fair in the heart of vacation country --a weekend get away place for Chicagoans --$3000 in artist prizes --sponsored by an art center --an art purchase program --volunteers who understand artists' needs --very reasonable booth fee These days there is a lot of talk among artists about keeping their overhead down. One of the best ways is to exhibit at local events and the Lakefront Art Festival is in the heart of where a lot of artists live. Expect a $125 booth fee and a $25 jury fee. When we are all talking about events that seem to forget the artists this is a small show that "gets it". All of us need smaller shows to keep us going between the big ones. The Lakefront Art Festival could be one of those secret ones that everyone can appreciate. Advertising will include press coverage, ads, and billboards throughout the area and through LaPorte County Convention & Visitors Bureau. For more information and to download an application click on this link:
www.lubeznikcenter.org ******************* Find more art fairs for your 2010 season at:
www.ArtFairCalendar.com/callforentriesRead more…
Posted by Connie Mettler on December 16, 2009 at 12:30pm
Many thanks to jeweler
Idelle Hammond-Sass who forwarded this information to me today:
"This is a call for a WPA type competition for posters to "Save Michigan" contest and also check their website- there are places to write stories, upload pictures etc. " The creativity needed to revive our state will not be found beyond the Great Lakes - it is already here at home. At Let's Save Michigan, we're activating Michiganders to take grassroots action in their local communities to bring about the policies and legislation that will create vibrant cities and a more resilient economy. We believe you and your neighbors have the vision Michigan needs. This is why we're excited to be partnering with the Detroit Institute of Art to present the Let's Save Michigan Poster Contest. We're calling all artists, illustrators, and graphic designers to create an original poster to inspire Michiganders to revive our state - and we need your help! Do you know a Michigan artist whose work captures the spirit of our state and has a vision for a strong future for Michigan? Please share this
contest with your friends. We're asking artists to share their creative vision of Michigan's future -- whether that's renovating historic homes, planting community gardens, expanding public transportation and bike lines, or public art. The possibilities are endless. Now through February 15, participants can submit their entries online throughour website. Judges will select 25 finalists whose work will be featured on the website, and visitors will be able to vote for their favorites. The winner will be awarded $1,000 and the runner-up will receive $250. The remaining finalists will be eligible for other prizes. You or someone you know could win the Let's Save Michigan Poster Contest and inspire countless other Michiganders with your vision for our future. Make sure your friends don't miss the opportunity to
enter: Thanks for being a part of the Let's Save Michigan movement. By acting together, we are creating a stable future for Michigan and the cities we all want to call home. Sincerely, SEAN MANN Let's Save Michigan P.S. Need inspiration? The DIA exhibition
Government Support for the Arts is on view now through March 21, 2010 and features around 100 prints created under the Federal Art Project, a unit of the WPA. The era represents a very specific moment when art for the people was a true rallying concept.
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Posted by Marina Terauds on December 16, 2009 at 12:43am
I do Chicago show for 5 years and I always loved this show.I love the place - Merchandise Mart and holiday atmosphere and classy gallery look. Move in and move out are very easy: no dust, no mud, no darkness, and you don’t have to lift heavy things. Workers are very good in MM, they really do their job. I know some artists don’t like MM workers, but these artists did not try NY show.My expenses were big (double booth because of large format pieces), and this year sales were down, it was not my best year, but I still did ok. Thursday and Friday were very slow, but Saturday and Sunday were good. My neighbors and friends all complained that this year show was very slow.Critique : the show is too big now (600-700 ? artists) - it is difficult to see everything. Jury could be more selective: too many hobbyists at the show. I would not add Etsy pavilion (as it was) to the show either – it was too unprofessional and childish for such caliber show. I am very sorry to say that, but it is not $10-$30 items craft show in local school. There are some amazing artists also, museum level artists like Valerie Hector or Pete Zaluzec, and the contrast “hobbyist versus professional” is very big.NY show was completely different animal. Set up was horrible: no workers at all. I could not find any worker for 2 hours. It is the union like in Chicago, but difference is huge. There were empty dollies everywhere, but union stuff don’t allow artists to use union dollies. Bring your own (I did not) and do move in/out by yourself. Show was small, about 150-200 artists. The biggest categories were jewelry and clothing, and very small amount of fine art. Overall quality was ok, but of course there were some exceptions (junk). Etsy pavilion was better then in Chicago (imho) - some very promising jewelers and one very good ceramic. It was “first time show”, and it was very well advertised, but attendance and sales were very slow. I don’t have mailing list in NY, and I did not cover even half of my expenses, but my neighbors (jewelry and wood) did very well. Almost every visitor in my booth was invited by stuff or artist (I asked). In my opinion this show has very big potential because of it’s fabulous location (Manhattan, Pier 94). It just needs time as any new show.P.S. My medium is printmaking (intaglio).
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Posted by Connie Mettler on December 14, 2009 at 10:53am
Many, many years ago the Laumeier Sculpture Park in St. Louis hosted its first art fair. It was started by (who can tell me her name, preceded Kathy Crick at the State Street Show in Ann Arbor) and it was a hit right off the bat! We were there and continued to enjoy this May event in St. Louis for a number of years. My favorite time was the year we were in St. Louis for the show then hung around the town for a couple of days with our friends Bill Coleman and Carl Inglesby and then we all headed to Dallas. That was when Dallas was hot.
Nonetheless, the show has continued on, some good years and some bad ones. Those of you interested in the event will be interested in meeting the new director of the Park, Marilu Knode, a curator and researcher. "Knode, 50, has worked at Future Arts Research at Arizona State University in Phoenix and at the Institute of Visual Arts at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, two venues that specialize in experimental art and public programs," says STLToday.com.
I am reporting this here because we don't know if (1) Ms. Knode is interested in outdoor art fairs, (2) this might be a nice time to contact her, introduce yourselves and (3) see if she needs any input on exploiting this lovely park and bringing in the buyers. Getting in early could bring in fresh ideas.
Read the whole story here, pretty interesting: New Laumeier director plans to bring new life to sculpture parkRead more…
Hello Friends,I am a potter and I would like to buy a display rack for my mugs....yeah, i know it might seem easy to build...but I make pottery.....can't nail to boards together!! lol....does anyone know where I can purchase one???'thanks,michael
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I'm new to the art fair circuit, this was actually my first big show. I've done local weekend markets for the past two years here in TN - the Knoxville Market every Saturday and the Chattanooga Market every Sunday, but I'd yet to do anything that required more than a 2.5 hour drive. First of all, let me say that the Bluffton Art and Seafood Festival would be awesome if you lived close by. The organizers were super nice and helpful, the location was very picturesque, it was well organized and well advertised. I really, truly, honestly don't thing the organizers could have done things any better. We actually stayed in a hotel on Hilton Head a block from the beach (Comfort Inn close to Coligny Plaza) which worked out great because we could go to the beach in the evening. The hotel was super comfortable, roomy, and clean. We had a balcony, fridge, and microwave. I got it using my Check Inn Direct card for $39 a night for 2 people.But back to the festival. There were quite a few people there but I really didn't see more than 1 or 2 big purchases going by. Small prints and notecards seemed to sell well as did the amazing seafood (oh the gumbo!). The bands were great as well. It seemed that most of the people were just browsing as they walked past the art/craft booths on their way to their destination at the end of the line - the seafood tents and children's activity areas. There were a lot of positive comments as they browsed of course but not much money changing hands. I got the impression from other artists that no one was selling much but looking at their Sunshine Artist Magazine 'paragraph', it says that 85% of the vendors plan to return. This leads me to believe that most of the vendors were local and didn't have hotel expenses, etc. If I was local, I'd definitely do it again lol. All in all, we made less than $500, had 3 nights of hotel bills +food + gas expenses, I don't even think I broke even. It was disappointing for me since it was my step into the art fair arena but I'm not going to let it put me off, I just have to pick better next time :).
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I am kind of new at the ZAPP application process.....I applied at the ocala art fest last year and was put on a waiting list....when I spoke to the woman in charge of the show, she said don't worry, mostly everyone gets in......well...they didnt call until the night before the show......how could i do this show?..its like 3hours from my home, i would have to get a hotel, etc....so i said NO....my question is this....I am getting ready to put in an application for the melbourne show in april.....deadline is end of december......it asks if i would want to be put on a wait list....should I say yes to this?.....do most shows call you the night before?......this would seem rather difficult for me again since Melbourne is on the other side of the state.....If I say no....does that ruin my chances of getting in?.....thanks for the advice,Michael
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