Call for Artists, Making Money at Juried Art Fairs, Craft Shows and Festivals

Connie Mettler's Blog – August 2009 Archive (13)

Not So - "Art Fair Doesn't Pay Bills - Loses Permit - Moves to PA"

Here's an update on the Brandywine Arts Festival first reported here on August 18.

It seems as though the second site at St. Anthony in the Hills is NOT going to be the site for the 20,000 visitor event coming up in two weeks, September 12 and 13, reports the Delaware News Journal in its DelawareOnline.com.

Okay, art festivals get cancelled, but the event which advertises… Continue

Added by Connie Mettler on August 30, 2009 at 11:30am — No Comments

Featured artist: Bruce Holwerda - Painter

Welcome to the world of fantasy painter, Bruce Holwerda. Walk into his booth at an art fair and you are suddenly whirled away into another dimension. His human figures are all off on one wacky adventure or another. Put yourself into one of those images, rolling off into space, or soaring through the cosmos and consider what it must be like to live in Bruce's imagination. A painter for over 35 years, Bruce says every painting is a struggle between the balance and form the eye… Continue

Added by Connie Mettler on August 29, 2009 at 5:08pm — No Comments

Artist Takes Art Fair into her own Hands!

Keeping up on the art fair news is one of my duties here as chief moderator/bottlewasher. I regularly read several other forums and belong to other organizations. Recently, member

Mark Zurek, posted a thorough show report on the Telluride (CO) Festival of Arts both here and at Larry Berman's yahoo groups for art show photographers. Read it here: …

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Added by Connie Mettler on August 27, 2009 at 12:00pm — 5 Comments

Downtown businesses, nonprofit agency suing city of Ann Arbor over parking garage project

Just when you thought we were finished talking about the Ann Arbor Art Fair for another year comes this interesting news, courtesy of photographer Walt Pinkus, at the yahoo art-show photo group. A very interesting and lengthy article at Ann Arbor.com about the most recent turmoil in the city of many faces.

It seems as though the city wants to build an underground parking garage in the heart of the State Street commercial district (well, nearly the heart), disrupting businesses, but… Continue

Added by Connie Mettler on August 26, 2009 at 10:28pm — No Comments

New Digital Jury System: Entry Thingy

As an art fair organizer are you still struggling with the problem of how to use digital jurying for your event? Or as a user of the current systems do you have unresolved problems? Or are you looking for something still better?

You already know about Zapplication.org and Juried Art Services, be prepared to be wowed by a new opportunity for digital services for your art fair.

Art Fair organizers, meet Entry Thingy!

Entry Thingy is:

1. Easy to… Continue

Added by Connie Mettler on August 26, 2009 at 10:16pm — 1 Comment

Call for Entries: St. Nick's Warehouse

November 28 & 29 Sterling Heights, MI 30th Annual St. Nick's Warehouse Arts & Crafts Show Henry Ford II High School 250 Exhibitors New Deadline: September 1 Where is Sterling Heights, MI, and Henry Ford II High School? You just know it has to be the Detroit area which abounds with buildings named for one Ford or another, right? …

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Added by Connie Mettler on August 26, 2009 at 10:07pm — No Comments

The Feds Raid Homes of "Art Collectors"

Think art fairs have problems with buy/sell and imposters exhibiting? Look at this information from the 31st Annual Antique Indian Art Show (seems like that name should be Indian Antique, right?):

Federal Seizures of Indian Art Puts Damper on Indian Market "While there was talk about the… Continue

Added by Connie Mettler on August 20, 2009 at 9:45am — No Comments

Art Fair Doesn't Pay Bills - Loses Permit - Moves to PA

In its 49th year the Brandywine Arts Festival in Wilmington, DE, is in deep doo-doo for not paying its bills. Reports say that the event organizers still owe the State of Delaware $8500 in usage fees for the use of Brandywine Park on the banks of the Brandywine River. The fur has been flying (they say). Organizers and parks administrators continue to feud. With the dates of the event coming up fast (September 12 & 13) unofficially it has been announced that the event will take place at St.… Continue

Added by Connie Mettler on August 18, 2009 at 3:21pm — 1 Comment

Importers posing as artists at art fairs--another resource

Recently, Sally Bright, from the NAIA, wrote us to tell us we had an importer on the list of exhibitors at Arts, Beats & Eats. Lisa and I (Lisa Konikow my co-director at ABE) were not pleased. We really liked the images and the exhibitor looked like a quality addition to the show lineup. But when we googled the name: misturadesigns.com and read more about the company AND the extensive list of art fairs they had participated in this year the handwriting was on the wall.

A recent… Continue

Added by Connie Mettler on August 17, 2009 at 12:52pm — 7 Comments

"Summer Reading" for Artists

Here is an article full of helpful ideas of good books for artists to read, not only for summer for the long haul, an excellent list full of practical books written by Charlene Davis for the Association of Artisan Businesses. Me, I do read a lot and Charlene included my list in the article. I also recommend these to you: •

Your Money or Your Life, Joe Dominguez and Vickie Robin (great for an attitude adjustment and justification for following your bliss). •

No… Continue

Added by Connie Mettler on August 13, 2009 at 12:50am — 2 Comments

Fairs See Huge Crowds When They Weather Recession

Are you wondering how the fairs are doing this year? Tales of events being cancelled, others growing, artists starving and artists thriving got you confused?

Here's a thorough look at the economics and challenges of it all by AP writer Tom Breen at the Yahoo News:

"Fun-seekers venturing out to farm fairs, art festivals and other mainstays of the American summer are finding either crowds or cancellation notices this year — and sometimes for the same reason.

Many… Continue

Added by Connie Mettler on August 10, 2009 at 5:55pm — 2 Comments

New Fair: Call for Entries in Missouri

September 26 & 27

Art Fair at the Meadows

Lake St. Louis, MO

Art Fair at the Meadows at Lake St. Louis

I-64/US40 and Lake Saint Louis Blvd

25 Exhibitors

Sat. 10 am to 6 pm; Sun. noon to 4 pm

Deadline: August 20

Your chance to get in on the ground floor of a new event. Here is what artist/organizer Don Crozier told me:

"The first year might be a little rough, but if we can make it to years 2 and 3 and beyond, the potential is… Continue

Added by Connie Mettler on August 10, 2009 at 5:30pm — No Comments

Let's Talk Some More About Uptown

Here's a little background from the local TV channel:

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - More than $2.5 million in original art is expected to be sold this weekend at the Uptown Art Fair.

With about 375,000 visitors, attendance at the event is second only to the Minnesota State Fair.

Hundreds of artists will be selling sculptures, paintings, photos' woodcarvings, glasswork, jewelry and more. Attendance is free at the event held at the corner of Lake Street and Hennepin… Continue

Added by Connie Mettler on August 10, 2009 at 5:00pm — 1 Comment