Call for Artists, Making Money at Juried Art Fairs, Craft Shows and Festivals
Have Art Fairs Lost Their Value?
Okay I have been reading through a lot of the discussions and the wants and why of the “Art Fairers” as a job title and seems to me that the art fairs have really lost their value as an art fair. Back many years ago (early 70’s) the art fairs were another place for artist to show and sell their ART work. Now it is a business for many just to go to the art fairs and sell their product and not their art work. What I mean by this is that how many of you just make a product to sell at the art fairs? Are you making the same things over and over again because it is what sold before? Have you lost your creativity doing this? Do you still think that you as an artist are you making beautiful, interesting, mind provoking art? Are you too worried about just making the sales and not the art? And we wonder why the crowds are not buying and why less people are going to the art shows. Sure there are many excellent artists out their going to the fairs but what my take is that these excellent artists are not just relying on the income from the art fairs, they are making art. They as an artist have other mediums for selling their art work because people will buy their art.
Art fairs are getting boring and the public know this, they have lost the incentive to go and buy, same old things as last year or too much of the same stuff. From some of the discussions it seems to be very competitive on who has the best booth display, who can haggle sales, why promoters do not do a good job for the artist and where my booth is located. Let’s get back to making art and not just a product. I hate hearing the mind set “I go to just to sell”, sure but what are selling?
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Linnea Lahlum on -
Well, it's the perpetual dichotomy of what we have to deal with. Independent creation of art versus making a living. I'm sure Michelangelo was really bummed about having to cater to the pettiness and self-aggrandizement of his patrons too. I'm having a hard time remembering right now, what he managed to make on his own, without patronage. But I'm sure his commissions subsidized some other work (just not very much).
Warren Townsend said:Since I started this thread it seems that it went off again in the wrong direction, more of the same things and same answers to the rest of these posts, where are the creative minds hiding?
What I wanted to hear is that you as an "artist" (sorry crafters) is what you are selling is it yourself? Are you selling your dreams, ideas, spirit, thoughts, motivations? I got a big angry laugh of some ones answer you have to make what the public wants. Crap that is not art and that is what I am trying to put across. Quit making the fricking products, make some art.
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Permalink Reply by Michelle Sholund on -
Warren, I hear you loud and clear! First, po-tay-toe - pa-tat-ato. Art or craft. Who cares. I am sure you might offend the glass blowers, kalidescope makers, jewelry makers, potters, furniture makers, etc. who exhibit at the Philadelphia Buyers Market of American Craft.
For me though, I am indeed selling a part of myself. I am creating memories based on color and fragrances through the medium of dried flowers. These are moments that I recall fondly when I smell lilacs which takes me back to a hedge row of lilac bushes a relative had when I was a kid. Other people can relate to this or hopefully other fragrance blends I create, but most importantly buy it because want to relive them too. For instance I am working on a new line of candles - very new (in other words NOT SOY and all the candles you see at county fair or country nick nack stores) eco friendly wax, palm wax. Knowing it is a highly competitive field (however this is to enhance what I already sell), I knew I had to do something better and I MEAN BETTER than what everyone else is doing. Although it starts with the wax, what I am selling are memories. I am calling the line "Destination Scent-sations" because each fragrance represents a popular vacation destination (or honeymoon place, childhood vacation spot, etc.). It has taken me nearly 6 months to refine this line through trial and error, finding the right containers (as I don't want them to look or look like anything Yankee C. related), just the right high quality fragrance oils, test marketing, and so on. Without boring you all, my point is I am selling something I like (true), however, most importantly making something the public wants and will buy. Regardless of what you call it, I can say for myself, everything I make is done with my very own hands - from gathering and drying my own flowers (as was done in Medieval, Renaissance, Colonial, and Victorian times) and create something beautiful with that which also happens to smell nice too. What inspires me is clearly reflected in what I create just like those who do photography, jewelers, water color painting - it is just a different medium. Don't confuse me with the "weekend crafter", I have a business and have had my business for several years now. Each year the business is growing because I listen to what customers are asking for. If "you" are of the mindset that what a customer wants has no relevance to you or your work you should just create art for yourself - hang it up on your own walls, give it to friends, etc. I am in it to not only have a creative out, but to make money, keep food on my table, and hopefully make people happy too.
I am sorry if this sounds like a tirade, I am not angry or upset or whatever. I am merely answering your question, however just taking a long road trip to answer it, Warren. I do believe artists do put their heart and soul, their creativity, their dreams, their everything into their work as well as others who work more like "robots" and push push push to put out the same thing with little or no creativity. I put myself in group A and I see the results in sales as they are growing each and every year.
Michelle
www.bythebaybotanicals.com
www.quickcraftartisttips.blogspot.com
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Permalink Reply by Linda Anderson on -
Perhaps I'm just lucky. I am a photographer and experience a fair amount of success, even during these economic times. Since the age of 8, I have captured images that were of interest to me. I continued this passion throughout my life, never planning on selling it, never classifying myself as an "artist" until much later in life a decade ago. I continue to focus on what interests me, using what lighting and subjects that I want to capture. I love what I do. The fact that others are willing to pay for what I love is just a bonus. I have had customers ask if I have a specific image. If I do not, I surely don't rush to find that image just to satisfy one potential (emphasis on potential) person. My art is my stuff, part of me, my personality, my life interests. I do however continue to work on new images all the time as my repeat customers look forward to "what's new this year". But again, these are the folks that have similar interests as I do. I think the trick is to seek out venues (not only shows, but also galleries and web opportunities) that closely match your art. Staying true to the art you want to produce makes it easier to pick the venues you want to participate in. Once that is narrowed down, you'll likely find your success rate improves greatly. I can't imagine having to produce something I have no interest in - I would think at that point the artist is taken out of the "art". May as well have a "real" job.
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Permalink Reply by Warren Townsend on -
Michelle, excellent answer, it was what I was hope to hear that their are folks out their going to the artfairs and care about themselves and what they are selling. I know you work very hard at what you do. On the Michelangelo doing commissions, I have been doing commissions for many years, it is where I make my true art money, yes you are doing something for somebody and you and that somebody can share your visions on what to make, but as the artist I have the techniques that are mine, I have the style that is mine. So in the end what you have made for somebody is what as an artist you feel is a great piece of art. Also nothing wrong at just being creative, if all anybody ever did just make something that the public wants, where would the world be, no Facebook? but first you create and than the public will buy.
Linda excellent answer too. Yes it would be terrible if as in your last sentence:
"I can't imagine having to produce something I have no interest in - I would think at that point the artist is taken out of the "art". May as well have a "real" job."
I have met folks at art fairs where they hate being there, and only do what they are doing is selling the same old thing over and over again because it is all about tring to make money.
But being an artist is a real job, we just get to have fun.
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Permalink Reply by Andy Will on -
Warren Townsend said:Quit making the fricking products, make some art.
Art and product are not mutually exclusive
Product:
merchandise or an artifact that has been created by someone or some process and offered for sale
Art:
the products of human creativity or the creation of beautiful or significant things
In fact art that is not a product, that has no value to the public at large or at least some portion of the public would not serve much purpose (other than for the pleasure of the artist)
The value of art is not always expressed in money but some form of expression of value is important.
Making art that has enough value to the public that they are willing to pay for it means more of your art ends up in the hands of others, not just in a closet.
Of course we should push the edge, innovate, make new things, but to decry making art that sells, and is thus a product, is counterproductive to the life and well being of artists and the arts.
My 2cents
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