I was on another forum and this post showed up:
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"I made some subversive message bead-bracelets to sell. They have cuss words and for-adults-only sayings (use your imagination).
So far I have only sold them to some girlfriends- and they're a hit. But I'd like to sell them at craft shows and a street fair I am participating in over the Summer- where I am sure there will be kids present.
My question/Need Advice: How should I display them as NOT to offend anyone- and hide them from kids eyes...but still have them visible enough to sell?
My Display Idea: I was planning on taking an old wood crate and putting a pin-up girl image on it with a little sign that says "For Adults Only" or....something like that?
Also, I have placed each bracelet in a little cellophane bag -they're not "loose"."
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Personally I would find this offensive, especially if I were in the next booth trying to make money.
What say you?
Replies
I don't know...I guess I like the idea of putting them in a separate box but maybe street fairs aren't really the right venue for something x-rated...what is though?
Hmmm...
I have a body of work I take to shows, and a body of work that stays in my home studio/shop. As I do craft shows, Art shows, county fairs, street fairs, music fests, biker fests etc.. I have some items that are not appropriate for the under 18 set- beer bottle cap jewelry etc. I show those items only in the appropriate venue....Harley- Biker shows, etc. Those items DO NOT go to my standard craft shows- they are not appropriate for the teens...who would of course want them, and would be offensive to the family oriented, or school/church/ health organization/fundraiser stuff that I do. I try to tailor my offerings to the crowd that will be there...standard practice for any artisan/craftsperson. I hope this person learns to do the same.
There are some shows that would except those items. The ones I have heard of seem to have evening hours where children are not expected to attend. Right now a show like that that comes to mind is the Bazaar Bazaar. There is also another one that seems to revolve around odd art items but I can't think of it's name.
I do agree with others here, I don’t think it would be into shows or they might be asked to take them down. I think it would only cause a problem for me if their booth had a lot of on lookers trying to figure out what the attraction was, that they made it difficult for people to get into my booth.
This type of thing happened at a show a few years ago, but thankfully, I was not next to them.
The person started attracting looks during setup for the show when she was pushing plastic hospital basinets and a Baby ICU unit. Oh, and she was wearing a lab coat. Turned out she made life like baby dolls. Now when I say life like, I mean life like! The looked real, she had even left on the umbilical cord on the one she had put in the ICU unit.
She was drawing a crowd of on lookers. Being a few booths down from her I heard all the comments from they are so pretty and look so real, to that is just wrong, to they look like they are dead, what is she doing here!
Over the weekend the crowd at her booth would expand at times blocking the booths on either side of her, and one time blocking the entire aisle.
They were very well done, but I do have to admit by the end of the first day the comments were starting to be a little much from people walking by. I even heard it from one of the show workers they didn’t find it appropriate for the show because of the way they were being displayed. If she was looking for the shock factor she got it! She wasn’t back the next year, I don’t know if was by her choice of the shows.
What is in my neighbor's booth is of no concern to me, unless it is buy/sell or dangerous in some way. If your concern is that this will draw a large crowd, we've all been next to someone over the years who draws a large crowd and had to figure ways to deal with that.
I'd think the show committee would be the final arbiter of whether the work should be in the show or not. I'd guess this person is not jurying with this body of work ;)
I think it sounds very edgy and that anyone who truly understands what being an artist and using that talent as a form of expression would understand. I have seen some pretty racy art being displayed at fine art shows. Not sure about the craft show scene however. Also, it would depend upon if it fit in with the rest of your work.
So if I were you, I would use my intuition and not worry about what other people think. As for those who would be offended by it, or by being next to it, my best guess is that some might be a little stuffy. If you're doing craft shows, your probably surrounded by a lot of those types.
As for the professional side of it, sure some shows might ask you to take it down. So if they do comply and you won't have a problem.
No show will allow them to be displayed. Art (and craft) shows are family oriented. And they definitely can't be used for jurying.
Larry Berman
http://BermanGraphics.com
412-401-8100