Just got back from 4 Bridges Art Fair in Chattanooga,Tennessee tonight. When I pack up from a show and drive home I can never get to sleep that night...I don't know what it is...I'm always beyond tired but jazzed also. Anybody else have that problem? Anyway, while I'm staring at the walls... I thought I would do a review of this lovely mid-sized show. 

Friday is set up all day, the committee is there to give you the packets from 8 a.m on. A.V.A, the group that has put on this festival for the last sixteen years is incredibly organized and pro-artist.  It certainly is great to be part of a show that treats us so well. The venue is in a large open but covered pavilion. (no rain problems) So, there is a considerable dollying in situation. The right far side of the pavilion is car accessible, the middle and the left hand side are a much longer distance, depending where your booth is. There is great back of booth storage space on either far wall but if you are in the middle it can be a tight fit. Corner booths are the exception as there seemed to be more space around the side for them.

Some artists put a tent up so that they could cover their work at night but many just left the work exposed. Nothing, (I heard) was taken or messed with.The security was top notch. I put up a cheap pop up that I had when I first started, and it served the purpose. if I get in next year, I will probably just leave my work out and not worry about it.

This show feeds you and feeds you really well.....Friday night was the Patron Party and we were served a great dinner before it started. Also, we were given free drink tickets and beer on tap throughout the whole show for artists....not too shabby (Nels, take note) !!!

The Patron Party...ah, well, it was from 6 until 10 and we were all pretty tired by the end. I realize these parties are a thank you to supporters and volunteers but an hour shorter would have helped. I didn't see much go out that first night...but that is usually the way it is. My friend Matt sold the heck out of his bird houses though...so I stand corrected. From my vantage point...I didn't see too many packages go out the door. 

Saturday was sunny and solid. Everyone around me did really well. The crowds came and came inside each booth- which makes a big difference. There were very few tire-kickers here and lots of engagement from people. That could be because of the ten dollar (I think that is how much) entry fee. It didn't stop the crowd...It was busy most of the day. The show went to 7p.m. It quieted down around 6-ish but fifteen minutes before the end I had a $450 dollar sale-so go figure. And, we were served breakfast, lunch and dinner. 

There were big prizes given out, I was next to Clifton, a photographer from Baltimore who was having a slow Saturday, I did the ol' pep talk... stay positive and things will get better....Well, ten minutes later he got the Best of Show-(4K)-Ha! See, you just never know. You probably know Clifton's work, Incredible stuff... and he has that iconic picture of a little girl standing on a sink with her arms spread wide- knock-out! I was so happy for him- what a humble, wonderful human being. Lucky me being next to him. 

Sunday was even busier than Saturday. Hours were 10 to 5 and they again served us breakfast and lunch and to top it all off brought each one of us a goodie gift bag for the drive home. Ah, that every show would be that good to us.....

Load out, honestly, was hard, we were all trying to get out and it was a bit hectic and long. Artist's parking was right next to the pavilion on either side- we could get things out of our cars if we needed to- the buyers walked over from a distant large parking lot. We were right up close and personal- when have you heard of that lately? Like I said, artist's as royalty....a wonderful concept!

I had a really good show. I had done the show in 2013 and it was lack luster for me. I applied in 2014 and 15 and got in... but didn't attend. I thought it wasn't my market. Boy, was I wrong! The jeweler next to me and my friend a 2D artist had fabulous shows too. I saw a lot of big work walking out the door- almost everyone was carrying a package. Can't beat that!

I have to say, that for a small Southern City, Chattanooga has it's act together. I used to live here many years ago and it sure isn't the same town anymore! Bike lanes, great restaurants, museums, super clean, and just a really positive vibe among residents. I recommend a visit- you will be blown away.

Just for the record...I have been lucky this year so far. I have written three reviews- all good. I am not Susie Sweetheart...I can be as snarky as the next guy....and I have been to plenty-and I mean plenty of bad shows. This one turned out well and hopefully this run will continue, if it doesn't ....I'll roll...that's what we do-right? 

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  • Great review, Margaret! Very happy to hear that this show seemingly went well for all. Having recently relocated to Chattanooga from the Northeast, I concur with your assessment of the city. It's charming and the entire city is artist-friendly. Seems the more, the merrier. I didn't apply to this show because I'd wanted to check it out first, as many artist acquaintances I'd spoken with had mixed views on it from a few years past...so glad to see an upturn. AVA deserves the win...such a good group.

  • Thanks Margaret.  It is always nice to read a good show review.  It helps to give hope that the economy is turning around. 

    This show sounds very good.  Thanks for sharing.

  • You're talking to the hand Susan....I do encaustic and that takes a heck of a long time...same type of issue. Maddening but honestly, I always seem to win awards when i forget the judges are around...Ha! For me the show is the important thing...awards are gravy...nice but not necessary for a good show. You just can't worry about it.

  • I agree. I make glass jewelry and since I alter the surface of the glass, people often ask me "what kind of stone is that?" Judges probably think I'm a bead stringer, which I'm not. The ones who take time to ask, give me an award. I take issue with judges who won't ask questions. We pay a jury fee--we ought to get something for paying that, even if it's a negative comment. They don't care if we sell or not. They just want us to look a certain way. Customers tell me they love my set up without the cases as they can see and touch without being intimidated, yet I feel I will have to get some glass cases to be taken seriously. Oh, and I don't know about you, but I find that judges don't always read the description. One judge said my beads looked liked commercial Pandora beads. If he/she had read the description, I made the necklace with large, hollow, blown glass beads--some 3 1/2" in diameter--plus they were graduated in size. Pandora beads aren't  hollow, blown, graduated etc. It's hard finding a way to show scale. One show said I should use a model, another said to not do that. Have you all had this experience?

  • Well, In a perfect world.....but in some of these big shows I imagine it's impossible. I have had both ends of the spectrum and when there are more than one judge, at least one is usually inquisitive. What it comes down to in judging, I think we all kind of know this intuitively, is an artist's high level of skill and inventiveness...and what the judge is subjectively drawn to. Because let's face it -there is a lot of excellent work out there in all catagories. It's truly out of our hands. I let it go... and most of the time I like it better when I don't talk to the judges.

  • Jurors often don't have expertise in a category of work with which they're not familiar, and won't spend time in those booths.  If the jurors are being paid, why don't they have the time to talk with each artist to find out WHY their art is special and how it's made?

  • I'm a jewelry artisan.  I see a huge divide between traditional metalsmithing and any other kind of jewelry.  It seems that the juries don't have a very wide idea of what's jewelry art.  I agree that they want the booths to look more streamlined.  It makes is hard to sell if the majority of the inventory is hidden.  Not that a cluttered booth is very appealing either (try to tell my husband that! HA! :).

  • I know Wendy and really love her both as a person and as an artistIt seems to me that  nowadays the judges seem to overlook a lot of jewelry artists who don't work in precious metals. And for some reason, some of them can't tell a bead stringer from someone who makes his/her own beads. I also think they want the booths to look more like a museum with little out for display.

    What do you think?

    Thanks for writing back.

  • The jeweler next to me had natural elements (shells, stones and shells) with metal hammered attachments...she had some beading but not much... I can't tell if something is precious metal, I do 2D so it's not my medium.....sorry.

    I have to say though-5 years ago one of the big awards went to my friend, a incredible bead weaver by the name of Wendy Seward. Now you don't see that as much. Shame.

  • What kind of jewelry did the artist who was near you make? Was it precious metal or beads? Thanks

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