I have recieved some great and disappointing feedback concerning the Fairhope Arts & Crafts show. If you have feed back I would love to see your comments. I am talking about the Chamber of Commerce Show. What Iam hearing is negative to somewhat consistance in sales
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As Texas seems to becoming the Happy Hunting Grounds for artists fleeing the North and other distressed areas we will be hearing more and more reports on these events.
Veteran artist Ginny Herzog decided to not exhibit in Florida this year but instead to focus on this area. Here is her report from Houston this weekend:
I exhibited at HB this past wkend for the first time. I decided to forego the FL shows this season because of the bad economy there and, instead, do four TX shows in five weeks. I had heard good things about the Houston show and was looking forward to doing it.
The show is held in Memorial Park and artists are set up in the roadway that circles in the park. Most booths are set up on the outer circumference but in some areas the roadway has wider areas for parking and artists are set up on both sides facing each other. There were nearly 300 exhibitors and about 100 were new this year. Set up times were Wednesday, Thursday and early Friday morning. In most areas there was ample room to pull your vehicle in across from your both for unloading and loading. We had a downpour late
Thursday afternoon so I elected to leave my unstocked booth for a dinner break and returned later to stock it. Weather was very warm and humid on Friday and this Minnesotan is not used to dripping in March. The size of the crowd was okay the first day but it seemed that sales were slow for most...as if the buyers were merely scoping out the show. The temps plummeted on Wed. night and it was in the 40's when we opened our booths on Sat. We came dressed in layers and the sun warmed us up into the 60's in the afternoon. Big crowds attended both Sat. and Sunday in the perfect weather.
The show was very well publicized and organized. I thought the quality was mixed but leaned toward quite good. The focus was on the art but they had good food booths and the entertainment was supportive of the art buying atmosphere...not too loud and very tasteful. The artist hospitality and volunteers were some of the best I've encountered and it was very much appreciated.
There is very little parking available near Memorial Park so they shuttle the festival goers in large buses from shopping centers. There is a $10 gate fee which supports art in Houston. No dog allowed. This show is very well supported by the community.
As far as sales go, it was mixed. I spoke to several artists. It seems that most of the 2D artists were selling prints or smaller works from their portfolio, although I did see occasional larger works go by. Some fine crafts did okay and others said sales were down for them. Many who had done FL, said although their sales were down, the show wasn't as bad as the FL shows. Personally, I sold only one of my smallest pieces so did not come near making expenses. However, I had excellent interest in my work and felt my lack of success was probably a combination of being new to the show and the economy. I am still considering trying the fall Bayou show in Oct. and maybe returning to the spring show to give it another chance.
I thought load out went much better than expected and I even had a wonderful volunteer help me take down and load up.
Thanks for all this info, Ginny. I know some more of you were there. Let's hear what you have to say.
Other news out of Houston: photographer John Galbo rolled his truck and a crane had to be brought in to upright it. Neither John, his inventory nor truck received much damage. John drives a large box truck. I look forward to hearing from you, John, about this recent adventure.
I am sitting here and thinking what a mess this had to be not only for John, but for artists nearby and the committee. There is a narrow road that encircles the park that artists use to access their spaces. A truck in the ditch would certainly impede any movement, add to that a crane! I know how crazy some people get during set up and tear down. Doesn't anyone have photos? Nels?
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“It is so much fun exploring each new small advance. Magic happens with a series. It’s wonderful to trust your inner instincts and turn off the brain chatter now and then.” -Jean BradleyDid Jean Bradley really say; “turn off the brain chatter now and then” ? Brain chatter, what a wonderfully interesting way of describing the constant barrage of information that plays like a movie reel in my mind. Brain chatter. I think you know what I am talking about - it is that continuous stream of questions...moreadd your commentsDeborah T. Colterweb---http://www.deborahcolter.com/blog---http://deborahcolter.com/in-the-studio/facebook--http://www.facebook.com/pages/Deborah-T-Colter/59140847038twitter---http://twitter.com/dcolterRead more…
Success! Finally! I had a great show! My ego had a huge lift! The WCACG did a wonderful job of advertising their show. As I drove to the show, I saw many promotional signs in peoples yards!
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Another great art fair report from a sunny place...Tempe, AZ, and the Tempe Festival of Arts:
Hanging outside of Zeny Cieslikowski's photography booth at the Tempe Festival of the Arts is a sign that reads, "Invest in your happiness, surroundings, pleasure, understanding, senses. Invest in fine art."
Cieslikowski travels across the country to more than a dozen art festivals annually. The California photographer decided to put the sign up last year when the unemployment rate began to skyrocket and the stock market crashed.
"With all the investments that have gone so poorly for so many people, I thought I'd put the idea in people's head to invest in things that have lasting value," he said. "Even if they don't buy my art, I just wanted people to remember there are other things besides the economy to invest in, like children and family."
Read the article here: Vendors, crowds flock to Tempe Festival of Arts
The article does say with pride that the organizers enlarged the festival this year because they got so many applications. Artists hate to hear this. It may enrich the presenting organization, but it definitely does not enrich the artists.
In the "comments" to the article there is a griper about how the festival disrupts the business going on at the rest of the stores in this commercial district and wishes it would go away. Seems to me I've heard this story before...where was it? oh yes, Ann Arbor, State College, Coconut Grove, Denver -- art festivals bring thousands of people to cities where they eat, shop, spend the night, buy gas, let alone the artists who come for several days and also contribute to the economy. Gee, let's turn that money away and not have the festival. Who needs the millions of dollars these events produce?
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It looks like a spammer joined ArtFairInsiders.com yesterday. I have removed the comments and banned her from the site and taking steps to prevent this from happening again. I'm sorry for the inconvenience. Connie
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If you are in the Central Florida Area and a Creative of any kind, I hope you will join us this summer for the 6th annual Artist Way summer. The Artist's Way 13 weeks of classes, beginning June 7, 2009. Members Exhibition August 3-31 2009 with artist reception August 15. See our web site for more info.
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June 20 & 21 Montclair, New Jersey presented by Rose Squared Productions, Inc. 180 Exhibitors Deadline: as categories fill up In its 21st year, the Spring Fine Art & Crafts at Brookdale Park, will feature approximately 180 professional artists, photographers and crafts people displaying and selling their American-made, hand-crafted work. This longstanding show attracts a savvy audience with its furniture, jewelry, glass, fiber, pottery, oils, watercolors, serigraphs, photography, leather, sculpture, wood and more. Spring Fine Art and Crafts at Brookdale Park is located on Watchung, Bellevue and Grove Avenues in Bloomfield/Montclair. This is an affluent neighborhood only twelve miles away from New York City.
Rose Squared Productions, Inc., has built a reputation for turning beautiful New Jersey parks into exquisite art and craft boutiques for the weekend. Over the past 28 years, Rose Squared has amassed a public mailing list of more than 30,000 attendees and uses county property to place billboards advertising the show to bring in an admiring crowd. Each park is a lovely setting for the free two day event with a Friday as well as Saturday morning set up. One of five park shows, Spring Fine Art and Crafts Show at Brookdale Park, a high quality, juried fine art and craft show. pottery by Andrew Wender Rose Squared Productions, Inc., shows are known for their exhibitor friendly atmosphere with an extremely easy set up and breakdown. The other shows are listed on the web site:
www.rosesquared.com For additional information please contact Rose Squared Productions, Inc. at
info@rosesquared.com or call 1-908-874-5247
Applications available at www.rosesquared.comRead more…
DATE: Friday, March 27, 2009
TIME: 5:30pm-8pm
LOCATION: Doubletree Park Place (1500 Park Place Blvd., Minneapolis, MN 55416)
Jurying for the 2009 Uptown Art Fair will take place March 27-29, 2009. Artists will be contacted shortly after the process and notified of whether or not they were accepted into the show. The public is invited to view work submitted for the show on Friday March 27, from 5:30pm-8pm. Each of the images submitted will be systematically projected onto a large screen (by medium category).
If you've never attended an art fair jury session, or seen a Zapplication jury the Uptown Art Fair will be doing an open jury on March 27. You are welcome to attend. Attending a jurying can be an eye opening experience. You will see why some people seem to get into all the art fairs and definitely see why others don't even stand a chance. It is especially helpful to see the competition in your particular media.
For more information you can call the Uptown Art Fair office at (612) 823-4581.
My thanks to Larry Berman from his Digital Jurying Tips newsletter for this info.
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It is a pleasure to showcase a friend of mine this month: sculptor James Eaton, a former industrial designer whose skills enabled him to emerge from the l983 recession with a new career: fabricating one-of-a-kind weather vanes. Jim's movement from employee to entrepreneur is a lesson for today and is an example to others as Jim says, "Who in the world would ever believe there's a market for something that's really high quality and special?" James' work adorns the poster for this month's featured show: the
Palm Beach Fine Craft Show, an exciting marketplace where you can find the finest of goods made in America, or as a friend said recently, where you "meet the Tiffany's of today." In Eaton's studio workshop women with trailing locks twirl around barbershop poles. Tandem cyclists spin around a propeller-fueled arrow in a primary palette. Drawers brim with silver wings, flying fish, propellers, horses' tails and pointing fingers, the whimsical flotsam and jetsam of an anatomical circus. "I like fantasy things. I like magic. I like circuses. Its all part of the package." His winged weather vanes have carried him to some of the finest arts and crafts shows in the country, including an exhibit with the Smithsonian Institution. Eaton begins with rough sketches of his 3-to-7-foot works of jaw gnashing crocodiles or finned mermaids, then plays with the form in three dimensions. The process of grinding, machining, drilling, painting and assembly can take up to 16 weeks to complete. They are ready to live outdoors as they have the same finish as on a Lear jet. Meet him March 20-22 at the Palm Beach Fine Craft Show and the Philadelphia Invitational Furniture Show, March 27-29. Read the rest of Jim's story here:
www.ArtFairCalendar.com/artistRead more…
As I recall from last fall, Houston's Bayou City Art Festival is making record money -- doing a great job of putting their art festival together and finding sponsors along the way. They also have a great publicist, Susan Farb Morris, who even promotes on the Internet - some good Web 2.0 going on here. Here is their email. I hope they have thousands of people on their mailing list. It sounds like they are getting a good headstart tonight! The
12th Annual Bayou City Art Festival Memorial Park is
This Weekend - Friday, Saturday & Sunday! Get a Head Start on the Festival Weekend This Thursday, March 26, 2009, at Cultured Cocktails with Beaver's & Spacetaker!
Cultured Cocktails Thurs., March 26, 5-10 p.m. Beaver's, 2310 Decatur St. 77007 Cultured Cocktails Mar. 26 menu features one appetizer, one cocktail, one beer and one wine, with 25% of the proceeds from that menu's sales going to the Art Colony Association, Bayou City Art Festival producer Need more details about the festival itself? Check this out: Bayou City Art Festival Memorial Park
See why this outdoor party got a Best Festival nod from the Houston Press Best of Awards It surely sounds like a great time in Houston this weekend. Think I'll put it on my calendar for next year. Here's a nice piece about mixed media artist Stephanie Rubiano in the Houston Chronicle:
Stephanie Jones Rubiano brings her whimsical art to HoustonRead more…
From photographer Jeane Vogel:
Could you please pass this message on to your members and as many people as you think would be interested? Time is short and I'm trying to get the word out as quickly as possible. The loss of art is incalculable. To put this in perspective, it's as if all the artist colonies, galleries, museums, sculpture parks and studios -- and all the art -- in New England was suddenly gone. It's catastrophic. I know we can help.
Thanks so much,
Jeane
Dear fellow & sister artists,
In February we all watched in horror while much of the Australian province of Victoria went up in flames. While that was horrible enough, it got worse: the town of Marysville, Victoria, is an artist's haven. Every gallery, studio, wooden sculpture garden, brush, canvas, oil, pen -- everything went up in flames. Hundreds of thousands of pieces of art and every art space is gone. All. Gone. In a blink of an eye. There was no time to save anything.
We have a chance to help. A sister artist, Wyn Vogel (no relation) and I have joined together to create ART - "Art Recovery Together" Wyn lives in Brisbane and has lots of contacts in Marysville. She has contacted the local art group, the Yarra Valley Arts Council (YVAC) to find out what artists need. They need EVERYTHING.
For three months, from April 1 to June 30, Wyn is turning over her website to collect art for sale, the proceeds to help buy art supplies, replace equipment, anything they need that helps artists start working again.
We need your help and your donations. The donating artist will email me with a jpg, sale amount, how much of sale amount will benefit ART, (at least 50% please!) and the estimated shipping cost (to US and to AU). We will put them on the web site and publicize the on-line event. If your piece sells, we will contact you with information on shipping. All family-friendly work is requested.
Basic info:
1. Jpg files should be about 900k
2. Send up to 5 views of each work. Fewer is better but send what you need to show the work
3. Include your name & contact information, website, size and medium of work
4. Short bio (no more than 3 normal sentences). You can include your picture.
This project has been backed by the Regional Arts Council of St. Louis and by the Yarra Valley Arts Council in Australia. Both Wyn and I are putting our reputations behind it, for what that's worth. Wyn's work can be seen at http://www.wynvogel.com.
This has taken Wyn and me a couple of months to jump through hoops and get permissions to proceed. It's not too late! Thanks for any help you can give our fellow and sister artists who have lost everything -- including their art. Let's get them creating again.
Jeane
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October 3 & 4 405 Artists Deadline: April 15 Art in the Park is one of the largest outdoor juried art festivals in the Southwest and is the largest fundraiser for the Boulder City Hospital Foundation. The event is held over two days in beautiful Boulder City, Nevada, not far from Lake Mead, Hoover Dam and the bright lights of Las Vegas. It is free to the public, and although Boulder City's population is just over 16,800,
the event draws over 100,000 visitors. Under the new direction of Wendy Kyser, 2008 was the revamp revival year for the show, and the artists were thrilled! With new radio, television, newspaper and magazine partners, they were able to showcase the show in a BIG way! Artists now say that the show is the most organized show they participate in. They love how the show provides them with regular communication and listens to their ideas and concerns. Artist amenities include: ~4 beautiful grassy parks
~Extra-roomy booths, 10x15 or 10x30 ~Many corner spots available ~Curbside loading and unloading ~On-site "helpers" for unloading and loading ~Roving booth sitters and volunteers ~24 hour security ~Substantial marketing and media coverage ~Estimated 100,000-120,000 attendance ~Parking nearby and overnight parking allowed ~Best in Show and 1st - 3rd awards in three categories ~Friday night ArtEve VIP Preview Party ~Over 25 food, beverage and adult beverage choices ~Caring staff and volunteers What the artists say:
"I can't speak for everyone, but I had an AWESOME show. First in a long time. Thanks so much for all your hard work. See ya next year." -- Stacey Morris
"Thank you so much to you and your team in providing us with a super organized venue this year. It was great and our sales reflected it...thank you, thank you, thank you. The whole show was wonderful. -- Larry and Mary Kay Birum For more information visit
www.artinthepark.org or contact Wendy Kyser at 702-293-0214 or
wkyser@bouldercityhospital.org.
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Am so computer illerate, not sure where to go or what to do, want desperately to fit in, do not know how to create a page or a store on line(our dream) I am handicapped so working from home is more than just an extension of our show work.I so look forward to learning from each of you, although we have been aound quite a while, it still is as if we are newbies.We can share a little about us and how we got started in this wonderful world of creation and selling.Mike and I had always attended gem and mineral shows in Houston,, Texas, we would purchase little things that just so impresssed us, we were only married eight (8) months. We had earlier purchased a liveaboard sailboat to retire on and as we were getting it ready for its first big sail I took a part-time job at Zales Jewlery just for the holiday season. about two weeks into my employment, the overhead gate that they used to close the store fell on me, to make a long story short, it ruptured and/or broke nearly everything in my spinel column, along with my knees, it is now over 36 surguries later , along with comas, and all kinds of therapies, including speech, physical, and mental, suffered through seizures, brutal migraines, spinel menengitis, etc.For eight years I could barely speak and had diffficulty walking, used a scooter for many years, now only a cane.Anyway, we eventually lost everything we had ever accumulated in our lives, we came within just a few dollars of living on the street, no food, nothing. Once, we went to a shelter for food, never again, felt so quilty, knew we were taking food from someone who needed it much more than we did, never went back, The shame stays with me always. Had always been the kind who gave, all she could to help others, always gave. Husband always says if we ever won a lottery he would have to bind and gag me, as I would give it all away,I would not give it all away- just keep enough to eliminate the fear I live with, just want enough to feel safe, the rest goes to children, children like me who suffered through child abuse, both physical and sexual. I am someone who lived to be generous and do my best to live a good life, with a wonderful husband eventually. ANYWAY___ After we were nearly destitute, an acquantaince offered to teach Mike how to wire-wrap for $300., as kind and generous as that was, we could never afford that, we hadn't had $300 in years,Mike did get one or two lessons, after that he just practiced and practiced, and now we were fortunate enough to live in a 28' rv for six years, M ike would drive from one show to another, desperately trying to make some money, we basically lived hand to mouth.Little by little we learned a great deal about this crazy business, and had to learn the hard way as all of us do, learned to make really beautiful jewelry, but one thing always remained the same, we would create a beautiful, quality piece of jewelry and sell it at a price that would be fair to all of us, mostly in the beginning we did not know how to price correctly, and desperation makes you accept prices that were not any-where where they ought to have been,, but we learned, we all do, as you will.Had one of my last operations (hopefully) a couple of months ago, and as long as I stay in bed m ost of the time, do fine, fortunately, I was blessed with a wonderful, thoughtful husband, who stayed and fought with me and for me all the way, and it was harder on him than me and I do realize that and will never forget all he went through or sacrificed.We still have so much to learn, we so want to put the business on line, it wll help our situation so much, if there are any of you out there who could make some suggestions, trust me they would be so appreciated, (if I can understand), truelly illerate when it comes to the computer.Always, we are searching for distributors of natural gems and minerals to be able to purchase at the very best prices available, and we do know that everyone is entitled to make a profit, so if anyone has a name for us that we might contact for those pieces, we would be appreciative and gratefulIf we can help anyone out there,we will do all we can although we are not newbies anymore, we all can still learn a lot more, so, if we can help you, just e-mail us.This is an exciting, wonderful way to make a living, meet wonderful new people, see exciting new places. We have had the pleasure of meeting the nicest people ever, and it was because we do what we do. Hopefully, you will experience the same. OH, those first gems and minerals we had bought just for the pleasure of them, provided us the new beginning, it was as if there had always been a purpose for them, we just hadn't realized it at first.Please let us hear from you. gabbig06@bellsouth.net Share your story, please!.
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I came across this article today and thought you might be interested. It is from the Belleville, IL, paper:
Answer man: Do Art on the Square sales figures add up?
Q. Art on the Square is a wonderful show and very successful. Last year, Belleville reported that the artists sold $1.2 million in merchandise. How exactly is this determined? My calculations show that each artist would have needed to sell $600 an hour every hour. Whew!
-- Rosemarie Edwards, of Swansea
A. You think those figures are being airbrushed a little like a Playboy centerfold? Not so, according to AOTS founder and co-chair Patty Gregory. The totals really are as pretty as the picture of results organizers have painted afterward, she says.
Here's how it works: Each artist is given three audit cards to record his sales. One is given back to the show's directors while the others are sent directly to two major art show magazines that keep track of how well shows do. They all mesh.
"We have been right on target the last several years with reports given to us and also to the magazines, which are finalized in December," she said. "The last three years, Art on the Square has been ranked in the top five in the nation based on sales (rankings are based on total average artist sales). By the way, all names and information are given to the IRS office in Fairview Heights before the show for sales tax reports."
Now she's hoping the economy won't keep Belleville from having another million-dollar baby when the show returns for its eighth go-round May 15-17. Here's the link: http://www.bnd.com/schlueter/story/698604.html
My question to you...do you think this is legit? How much does that add up to per artist to reach those totals for a two day show?
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I recently received the following letter, forwarded from a member --
Feb. 5, 2009
Dear Artist:
We look forward to working with you to showcase some of the nation’s best craft at the 2009 American Craft Show in St. Paul.
This year, we face a unique challenge given the state of the economy. With falling revenue due to a decline in publishing proceeds, a decline in the number of craftspeople who are able to do shows, as well as a decline in philanthropy across the board, we face challenges on all fronts. Like every well-managed nonprofit in tough economic times, the Council is looking at all ways to reduce expenses so that we can continue programs without increasing your costs. This year, we are removing aisle carpeting at the shows with the exception of the lounge area. Decorative plants will also be removed. These changes are primarily cosmetic and are designed to minimize impact on the public’s experience as they shop and draw inspiration from your work. Benches and seating will remain throughout the show floor to ensure customers have a place to rest.
Thank you again for your contribution to this year’s show. We appreciate your support and understanding as we work through this extraordinary economic time.
Melanie Bender
Shows Director
As I understand it the exhibitors at the ACC show in Baltimore received a similar one.
Artists are wondering if they will get a discount on the fees that they paid that should be paying for the carpeting and plants.
What do you think?
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Lance and I sat for the first two days of the show doing very little business. I have to say that it was a scary place to be. Sunday was excellent and we ended up with our usual Winter Park. The good news is there were several people that had great shows,selling all three days. Some were on the street, some on the sidewalk and some in the park...can't blame it on location. What we learned is...it's time to look inward and make some changes ourselves. The money is out there just harder to get. We have no control over anything else...only thing I can thing to do. Of course, there were lots of artists that didn't do well at all. Lance and I have done shows since 1976...at each show there is always someone doing their worse and someone having there best. That seems to be a constant.One last note, it started to rain at teardown...a pain but certainly didn't affect sales. As the rain pounded the roof of our rv last night...I said a silent prayer to the "show gods"...thanks and good luck to us all!vicki munn
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