What a difference a new director can make.  The paint your own picture people were gone.  The dye your own scarf people that had been heavily advertised for last year’s fall show were gone.  It was better organized this year, as in the booth spaces were marked when I arrived at the appointed set up time.  Any artwork used in advertising was credited.  They have come a long way from a few years back when they used the artwork of an artist who wasn’t even in the show on their website.  I don’t know if it was my location or the fact that I had a bigger booth but lighting in the big tent seemed to be improved. 

 

It is still an arts and crafts festival.  There is primarily low end art and craft but I did hear of some high end work selling.  There are bouncy houses and train rides for the kids and sit down music.  No zip lines though.  I still wouldn’t recommend traveling far to do this show and bring a range of price points.  It is shaping up to be a good filler show if you happen to be in the area.  Jim Spillane (out of retirement) with his exceptional photography was disappointed in his sales.  Tim Moran and his wife Janet with exceptional pottery across from me seemed to do well but with lower price items.  I did below average for my shows in general but not as badly as last year and this is a local show for me so it is as much about advertising as it is for sales. 

 

The artists are in either a big tent or in three smaller pole barns.  You are allowed to put up your tent frame but not your tent top.  Securing your work against rain is very difficult in the outside spaces of the pole barns and the outside spaces of the big tent.  I usually opt for an inside row of the big tent for that reason but setup and breakdown is easier on the outside spots and you have some extra storage room.  This year I opted for the extra 5’ of booth space as well as a corner.  A single 10’ booth space in the inside row can get claustrophobic especially if, like happened to me last year, you are across from a very popular booth.  If you are in the inside rows setup and breakdown will most likely need some dollying but it is not bad.  Electricity is provided and some spots can be dark so be sure and bring lights.

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  • Improvements are always great to hear, thanks for the review!

  • I wouldn't say it is mostly country craft but there is some there like soap and candles.  There are a lot of wearables.  Two separate booths of handmade wooden spoons etc.  Sean Huntington from this site sold two large paintings and I would call his work contemporary although it is of trees.  I didn't see any totally abstract work going out the door.  I think Jim Spillane's work was a little esoteric for the crowd.  I think it would work as a filler show for Staci.

  • Thanks for the review Alison.  Is this mostly country craft?  Did you see any contemporary/abstract being sold?

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