Art & Apples, Rochester Michigan -- a plum of a show.

Comment by Bonnie Blandford on September 17, 2011 at 1:32pm

I used to love this show but they've done everything they can to kill it off. Increasing the size way above what it can support and adding that Friday night opening. When they first did that I tried explaining that they raised my expenses by 50% and they said, "oh no. We just added a few hours on Friday". Which is another night in a hotel for me. Going from 2 nights to 3 - 50%. Again, I used to love this show...

Comment by Nels Johnson on September 19, 2011 at 8:06am

Jim you hit the nail right on the head.  It is a local show, for you low expenses, but not so for the rest of us who travel distances.  Also, being a regular you got a nice spot.  zanother good perk.

But it is a huge show, way too many exhibitors for a small buying crowd.  I did it once and saw many bad spots in that show.

For me, the time invested did not yield a sufficient return.  Wouldn't be caught dead at it again.  But that is just me.  Also you have the perfect images for that crowd.

Now where did you find the cherry pies with the sniveling crusts at?

Comment by Connie Mettler on September 19, 2011 at 11:01am

Imagine sniveling! Thanks for this review, once upon a time Michigan's favorite art fair.

Can you identify the other prize winners?

Comment by Jim Parker on September 19, 2011 at 11:31am

These are the whiners (I mean winners), not necessarily in picture order.

 

Wood: Keith Fulmer --Award of Excellence

3-D Mixed Media: Dan Hay--Award of Excellence

2-D Mixed Media: Marie Helene Grabman--Award of Excellence

Drawing: Al Jensen--Award of Excellence

Wood: Keith Kinney -- Best of Show--Award of Excellence

Photography: James Parker--Award of Excellence

Mary Fortuna, Exhibition Director, PCCA

Comment by Jim Parker on September 19, 2011 at 11:36am

I'd like to see this show get back to its original glory. I agree, there are too many artists for the community to support. But it does generate income for PCCA, which provides community art outreach, teaching, exhibitions and other useful art-related activities. Most of the changes are related to generating income for PCCA, not putting together a quality show.

But the thing that really drags the show down is the dwindling quality of the artists. There are many good folks in this show, but they are mixed in with some dreadful stuff. The jurying could stand some closer scrutiny. But the attendees seem to like it, and many are not well-educated when it comes to art. 

It does bring up the question: if the show were higher quality, would it help to bring a more affluent crowd? Which comes first, better artists, or better customers?

Comment by Donna Beaubien on September 19, 2011 at 12:28pm

I have been doing Art & Apples since God was a child. I too had patrons come, who had seen and purchased at ABE and purchase again at Art & Apples. Very nice. I was next to Parker at ABE and across from him at Art & Apples.

In the old days, Art & Apples always generated well into a 5 digit income. Patrons would be lining up in your booth before the show opened. I did better at Art & Apples in 2 days than I did in 4 at Ann Arbor. Bonnie will attest to that, as she was across from me.

So what happened? Well they went from a 2 day show, to a 3 day show, they charged a gate, and doubled the size of the show. If you were a first time exhibitor, you would probably get a less than desirable space. And the best pies, made by the OPC (Older Person Commission) moved across the street to the other show. These were the kind of pies that you would remember your Grandma making.

To answer Parker's question, the better artists come first. They used to get 1,500 to 1,700 applicants. All the biggies from all over the country were applying. The show was fantastic. Can it be again? Major changes would have to occur and I'm not sure the PCCA can afford it. It would help if the better artists applied. The word would get out, more patron would attend, and the PCCA would get more of a gate.

They do have a wonderful plan for setup. You have all day on Thursday and most of the day on Friday to set up. That is great. For take down, we sip up the booth and walk into town, buy an early dinner and when we come back, most of the artists are gone.

Will I return? You bet I will.

Give the show another chance, but apply early, as they do consider application date, when assigning spaces.

 

Comment by Cassandra of Pooknflip on September 19, 2011 at 2:28pm

Speaking as a customer: I enjoy this show as it's local for me and I feel like there's a great mix of talented and interesting artists.  I don't do ABE b/c it's just plain too insane down there for my tastes - I don't care about the "eats" or the "beats" - just want a nice art show.  So Arts and Apples is the one we tend to go to. 

 

I agree that it's a bit large.  If they could cut out some of the not-so-great sellers and limit the number of repeat stuff (like the alphabet photographers and kids puzzle people, etc. as was mentioned) I think it could be a lot better.

 

Again, speaking as a customer - and maybe this will encourage some of those who didn't get such great sales? :) - we saw MANY artists who we truly loved, but were not prepared to buy from that day.  I collected a small stack of business cards/contact info and will surely be visiting these artists' sites as the holidays get a bit closer.  If there are others like me who shopped A&A - then you've still got some sales to look forward to! 

 

(PS: Sidenote: I wish more artists had a stronger online presence.  A lot of the artists I liked could easily be on Etsy, but aren't.  And some artists I liked were not online at ALL!  Crazy to me...I like to be able to browse at shows and come back to purchase when I'm ready.)

Comment by Ruth Jellema on September 19, 2011 at 6:33pm

But, Cassandra, you can't assume you'll see the very same thing online.  What about one-of-a-kind work?  Your chance to buy it - and best chance to see it exactly as it looks - is at an art fair.

Comment by Kathleen J. Clausen on September 19, 2011 at 6:48pm

Which comes first, better artists or better customers?  Personally, I think it's better PIE!!!   :) .

Comment by Cassandra of Pooknflip on September 19, 2011 at 11:13pm

Oh I know.  And you're right, that's a risk to take.  I do buy an occasional item like that - fall in love, OOAK, have to have it.  But my pockets don't usually run that deep. :)  I generally just love an artist's style.  And would like any number of pieces by them.  My point was more that there's a huge market online that these artists are missing out on.  And that low sales don't always mean that no sales will occur b/c of the show.  I plan on purchasing a few things I saw that day (including some jewelry and some photography).

 

We did, however, buy a few pies that day.  MmmmmmMMMM!!

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