Pro Panels or Graphic Display Grid Wall?

I'd love some feedback on a decision I need to make. Right now I have grid wall (graphic display system) - I don't use covers because I like the air and light that flows through the grid wall. I have an option to buy some used knock down pro panels - right here in my city.... so no shipping or hassle.

My questions:

Do you really think pro panels adds that much to the professional presentation of art? (I'm a mixed media artist.) Even at a "used" price, this is a hefty investment - I need to carefully consider this. I'm trying to expand to bigger shows - and will start traveling next year (if I'm accepted into the shows I want). Right now I'm wrestling with my already paid for gridwall - or sinking another $900 into pro panels.

Also - for those of you who have pro panels - do you find that your booth lacks air circulation because of the solid panels? When I visited the Boardwalk Art show in June - on a very hot day - the booths with pro panels were very, very, hot and stuffy compared to the booths with grid wall.

Any thoughts or feedback would be appreciated.

Kathy Rose

I've been working with some screen panels I put together on the cheap this spring, but I think it may be time to step up to something a little more professional and durable. What I have noticed is that I think 2D art looks best against a neutral background of some kind. I've had some feedback that indicates people are not able to see well at a glance what I am selling because whatever is happening behind them is a distraction. I'm up here in the Great Basin, ancestral home of the afternoon dust devil, where sail area of your display system is a real concern.
I've seen pro panels set up and admire their look, but wondered about their weight and ability to withstand wind. I've also seen graphic display systems in use and admired their construction and open grid system, but wondered where to get the fabric panels that don't appear in their product catalog. Seems to me GDS would be the way to go, because the grids can be used both with, or without the coverings.
Any thoughts?

Replies

Rick Woods September 10, 2010 at 3:28pm

I've been working with some screen panels I put together on the cheap this spring, but I think it may be time to step up to something a little more professional and durable. What I have noticed is that I think 2D art looks best against a neutral background of some kind. I've had some feedback that indicates people are not able to see well at a glance what I am selling because whatever is happening behind them is a distraction. I'm up here in the Great Basin, ancestral home of the afternoon dust devil, where sail area of your display system is a real concern.
I've seen pro panels set up and admire their look, but wondered about their weight and ability to withstand wind. I've also seen graphic display systems in use and admired their construction and open grid system, but wondered where to get the fabric panels that don't appear in their product catalog. Seems to me GDS would be the way to go, because the grids can be used both with, or without the coverings.
Any thoughts?
- Kathy Rose > Rick Woods September 10, 2010 at 4:07pm
  
  You can get the covers for the grid system from flourish.com. What I don't like about the covers is that you are limited in the type of hooks you use. Basically you need the drapery hooks - and I think they are a real pain. I have a large supply of some great hooks from GDS - and they don't work with the covers.
  
  At this point - just to make my panels look a little better, I've bought some sheers to go behind the grid (attaching at the top and bottom on the back of the grid). That way I have some color, AND I can still use my hooks that I love. Also - it gives me a different look than other people. My art is very unique - I think my booth should be too.
  
  The other consideration for me is the space for hauling. Grid wall takes us less space in my vehicle. I have the kind of GDS where the panel breaks down into three pieces. I have a lead on knock down pro panels - but they still take up more room because they are thicker.
  
  Kathy
  - Diane Wright > Kathy Rose September 13, 2010 at 6:45pm
    
    Hi Kathy,
    I have regular gridwalls that I bought from storesupply.com. I am interested in your post about attaching sheers to the gridwalls at the top and bottom. I will be doing a couple of more upscale shows this fall and would like to put some type of curtains or fabric behind my gridwalls but I can't figure out how. I sell jewelry and use the gridwalls to display my necklaces. I can use all the help I can get to upscale my booth.
    - Kathy Rose > Diane Wright September 13, 2010 at 7:01pm
      
      For the type of gridwall I have, I just put velcro on the back of the top cross bar and attached the sheer. I'm going to have to attach it at the bottom too - in case of wind. Doing this doesn't allow me to put art on both sides of the grid (in case I'm lucky enough not to have a tent right next door - and I get to open a side). The type of material I'm using won't stand up to drapery hooks. This is simply to add some color.
      
      I saw two different booths at the Boardwalk Arts Festival here in Virginia Beach do this. Both had red behind their grid - just in the back. I loved it! One had a bright red, the other a deeper shade of burgundy. I chose a bright rose.
      
      The only time consuming thing was that the sheers were wider than the grid - so I had to sew some pleats so that the size matched up. Since I don't have a sewing machine, I did it by hand. Now I have to do the bottoms the same way.
      
      The 9 sheer panels only cost me $45 - the only other cost was the velcro. I think it'll look good against the white tent walls.
      
      Kathy
Debbie Moyer September 2, 2010 at 6:49am

I remember some website that sold covers for the graphic display panels - can't remember if it was "Flourish" - the people that make canopies - check their website. Also check with Graphic Displays - they should be able to tell you where you can get the covers it that is the way you decide to go. You could always alternate a covered panel, then uncovered, etc - still have some air flow.
Kathy Rose August 28, 2010 at 9:15pm

Doug -
My graphic display grid walls come in two sections - and the pro panels I'm looking at do too. They are nice for transporting that way.

Dave -
I've thought about the covers you have for sale several times! Still thinking about them.... it probably makes most sense just to keep the grid wall and get the covers.

Decisions, decisions...

Kathy
- Don Kelley > Kathy Rose September 13, 2010 at 1:37pm
  
  What kind of grid walls do you have? I've borrowed some in the past and liked them but can't find them for purchase. They are made of 1" conduit pipe with a wire grid welded to them. They are light weight. Since they are covered with a fabric cover anyway it makes no sense to get the heavier ones. Let me know if you have info on the type you have and if you have a name of the ones I described.
  - Kathy Rose > Don Kelley September 13, 2010 at 1:52pm
    
    Hi Don,
    I have gridwall from Graphic Display Systems (graphicdisplaysystems.com).
    
    I chose to get the kind that break down into pieces. For 7 ft. gridwall it's three pieces. I really do love them. You can get covers for them at flourish.com.... although to have a slightly different look, I just bought some rich rose colored sheers and will velcro them to the top and the bottom of the backs of the grid. I'll be using this new look for the first time in the Neptune Festival coming up later this week. We'll see how it goes....
    
    Kathy

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