S Brian Berkun's Blog (91)

I don't have an answer for this so I thought I'd start the discussion/thread.

I've seen lots of signage meant for "normal" stores; tape on the floor, printed round thingies that promote social distancing, etc. However, I've yet to find something ready made, though my search is by no means extensive, that might be appropriate for an art fair booth short of making my own. I've even "googled" images thinking I'd make my own poster to put up.

Anyone hit on something that they would…

Some of the discussions on various social media pages have revolved around resources for artists. Here are some that you may or may not have come across and may or may not be of use to you.…

Just The Facts...

Show Hours and Dates: Wickenburg Art Club's Artisan's Fair and Fine Art Show at Gold Rush Days 2020. February 14, 15, 16, 2020 9 - 5 all three days. Load-in was Feb 13th from 8 - 5. 

Logistics, Load-In/Out:

Load in for the show was Thursday  starting at 8 am. Depending on your location load-in/out can either be frustrating or less so. Local police were assisting with the move-in but it…

First time exhibitor at this show. The weather was a big component to this years show. Setup was early Friday, starting at 7 AM, glad I got there early because by 10:34 it started to rain just as I had finished and was ready to leave. It rained throughout the day.

• Friday evening the show was to be open from 5 - 8 PM, at 7:45 the tornado warning siren went off closing the show for the night, which was pretty well finished anyway, too few people, too few sales.
• Saturday…

Breckenridge CO, Main Street Art Festival 8/1-3/2019

First time exhibitor for this show. The show was held Thur-Sat as the Farmers Market had dibs on Sun. Weather was relatively good with occasional drizzle until Sat when it really rained for about 45 mins 2 hours before ending, this is a mountain show, rain happens!

Sales were slow in coming, some artists doing well on Thur and not on Fri, vice versa for this artist. Saturday was slow in coming. Main street in Breckenridge…

This was the second time I had done the show, the first was about 12 years ago with a different body of work.

This four day show, which starts on a Thurs, with longish hours (12 noon to 11 PM) is not as bad as it sounds as the late start each day is not as tiring as the usual 9 or 10 AM start time.

Work was variable good quality although there were some rubber swords and funny walking animals near the kids area.

Relatively easy load-in with staggered times and good…

This was the first time experience for this artist in Frisco, did an HA event in Redstone, UT years ago billed as Park City, UT a bait and switch?

All spaces were marked for the early (5AM) load in time. Load in was remarkably not chaotic as was load out, everyone behaved themselves. Minimal presence of staff with fewer instructions at the time of load-in, most instructions were given via their website or online way ahead of the show.

It has been years since I've done a…

First time at this show. People were very engaged, enthusiastic and appreciative of the art and artists. They asked meaningful questions and showed a lot of interest. That interest translated into sales. Although some sales were out of the bin (they chose the largest of my matted pieces) many sales came off of the walls! It has been a long time since I was at a show that paid off as this one did.

It should be noted that for many years, there has been a "scab" show adjacent to this…

Wow! Just got the results from the Saint Louis Art Fair. In addition to the rejection notice I got you can see how the jury scored the show for all 4 rounds THEN you can compare the results with the images/submissions of the various artists! (they only use numbers to identify the applications) Very useful as an educational tool. It is also interesting to read the various artist statements to get a feel for how others introduce their work. I always struggle with that 100 or 200 word…

2018 version of the Fountain Hills Great Fair in Fountain Hills, AZ an isolated community NE of Phoenix. I say isolated meaning that it grew up outside the boundaries of the larger metro area but still within reach. This was the third time I've attended this show with diminishing returns this year.

Just The Facts...

Show Hours and Dates: Fountain Hills Great Fair, Fountain Hills, AZ. Feb. 23-25, 2018, 10 - 5 each day but it helps to be open by…

I've been on and off with this show for years. Two years ago it was good (relative to this show) and last year it was worse than ever, I was stuck in a corner in the back and NO ONE ever goes to the back corner! This year the show was moved to the east side of the outlet mall on the north side of town. Some visitors were reported to have said they went to the old site and didn't know that it had been moved, no signs to speak of...Some folks I talked to said that they hoped the show would go…

Got back from the Cheyenne Arts Festival on Monday in where? Cheyenne, WY. The Festival takes place inside and in front of the historic train depot in downtown Cheyenne which, in and of itself, is quite quaint. Cheyenne being less than 2 hours away from Denver, I thought I'd try something different.

Just The Facts...

Show Hours and Dates: Cheyenne Arts Festival, Cheyenne, WY. August 18-20 (about the third weekend in August) Friday 5-9, Saturday…

This show was two weeks ago so sorry for the lack of timeliness but, seeing as it is already over, it doesn't matter anyway! I skipped this show last year (2016) for some reason, most probably as it wasn't that great the year before.

Just the facts:

Show Hours and Dates: Pearl Street Arts Festival, Boulder Colorado, July 15 - 16.  Sat 10- 6, Sun 10 -5. Applications now are being taken on Zapp.

Logistics:

The show is set up in two…

It had been 6 years since the last time I participated in this show, even had a different portfolio of work to show, but the results were little better then the last time. I even had a better booth location, or so I thought.

Just the facts:

Show Hours and Dates: Scottsdale Arts Festival. March 10 -12.  Fri & Sat 10- 6, Sun 10 -5

Logistics:

The show is set up inside the the Scottdale Civic Center Park which has meandering…

Okay, I know this will never happen in any big way, so don't sweat it, and those of you who disagree with my rambling musings, it's just a thought, I was thinking.

Recently got back from the Fountain Hills Not So Great Fair and whilst I was standing around freezing and waiting for the occasional buyer to manifest I had a thought. Occasionally I have more than one but I did have this one...Booth fees are way out of control and my first experience with shows that charge a commission was…

I know that just about everyone, with some exception, has had a down year and, for some, Tempe was just a continuation of that trend. For me, thankfully, it was "okay". The bottom line is I didn't lose money but didn't make much either. I made about the same at the spring show. Read between the lines, this show is not making a lot of money for some artist/attendees.

The administration of this show has changed hands since spring. Kate Borders, President / Executive Director of Downtown…

And, the envelope please...Award winners from this Falls Tempe Festival of the Arts

2016 FALL FESTIVAL

AWARD WINNERS ANNOUNCED

BEST OF SHOW

Stephen Harmston

Harmston Arts

Printmaking

Chandler, AZ – 1106

BEST BOOTH DISPLAY

Jim Williams

Allen & Williams Pottery

Ceramics

Carpinteria, CA – 1107

DRAWING

Michael Rohner

RohnerArt

Oakland, CA – 1113

CERAMICS

Deborah…

This has absolutely nothing to do with art shows directly but it might be helpful if you own an iPhone, or use iTunes or iPhoto to back up your phones contents!

I upgraded to Apple's newest entry into the iOS family with the system upgrade 10.0.2. I couldn't stand it when I upgraded to iOS 7 but I learned to live with it. A new low has been achieved with the iOS 10.0.2 and its need for redundant pressing of the home button just to get off the screen with the day and date, as-well-as…

I had heard about this show from one of the volunteers at another Wichita show and thought I'd try another new show as I've been wait listed by so many other shows in the last 18 months. This is actually a new iteration of an old show. Perhaps they should have renamed it and not gone with the ..."57th Annual" part. The show was held in the parking lot adjacent to the Wichita Art Museum at the same time as the annual book fair, not a bad idea, people that read like art don't they? What I…

It's a little late come'n around, but you don't need this info till next years application cycle anyway! Thought I'd do something different and try out the Lubbock Arts Festival. It IS something different. The good: It's an indoor show! Given all the crazy weather that has hit Texas lately more shows should consider this. I know it is lovely to be outside, etc, etc but given the expense that artists go through to be at any given show and have it ruined by weather? In the case of this show…