Held June 22-23, 2013, this used to be in my top 3 art festivals. This show has been disappointing the last few years and this year was no exception. It used to be a wonderful show, always some new, really fun artists with really great pieces that you had to have.
There are good artists here, it is a solid show but it is just another art show. I guess I am damning this show with faint praise but that is what it is, another show. With the excessive number of shows located in the northern suburbs of Chicago, having them all look the same is definitely not a good thing. This once unique show has been Amdurized.
In addition to too few new artists, out of 121 booths, 49 were jewelers. By my calculations, that is 40% of the show taken over by one medium. That isn't fair to anyone, patron, jeweler or other artists. From the patron's point of view it is an overwhelming number to have to decide from. If you are a jeweler, the pieces of the pie can be very small and if you are an artist of a different medium, all of the potential customer's money may have been spent on jewelry before they even see your work.
Before i wrote this review, I read the ones I wrote the last two years. Ironically, the thing I kept commenting about at the show this year was something I had mentioned previously------
This show has the best looking dogs of any show I go to. The dogs were more interesting than a lot of the art (remember, I have seen most of the artists, it wasn't that the artists weren't good). I realized I wasn't enjoying the show as much as I may have liked when I commented on the dogs for the 3rd of 4th time.
I don't know why The Art Center, the original producers gave up control of the show, probably not enough time or volunteers, but I sure miss the originality of the old show.
Comments
I did this show as well. Terrible results. Zero sales. Lots of nice dogs walking by. Could not even get people to look in the booth. It was like that for many of the artists around me. Sorry to say, I will not be back.
how did I get 2 comments?
I did 3 of Amy's shows a couple of years ago. I was so excited that I got into an Amdur show. After all she's the lady that takes the back page of Sunshine Artist every month and tells us all how to have great shows. How could you go wrong? Weeeeellllll all 3 shows were over 33% jewelry. Now, I understand that some of the people with other media think jewelers aren't artists and people buy jewelry not matter what, but that simply isn't true. She had beads galore, some really neat stuff and some not so much. But come on 33% is still 1/3 of the show and none of us do well. She does some neat things but come on, we are here to make some money.
About 3 years ago I applied to 3 Amdur shows. Wow the lady on the back page of Sunshine Artist every month, with all the tips on how to do well at shows, let me in all 3 of her shows. Well guess what friends......didn't do so well. First there were all the tolls, Chicago rooms aren't inexpensive and the shows were ALL at least 33% jewelry and not one of the three had a decent amount of traffic. I know there are many 2D artist who think jewelry isn't art, however, we spend hours and days in our workroom too. I think she should add as one of her tips to stay away from Amy's shows if you want to make money. I realize she has lots of other shows and possibly some have a better balance but I'm afraid I'm not going to spend the money to find out.
c
There was a beautifully groomed old english sheep dog in my booth, of course he took up the whole booth and everybody stopped the gal who had him to ask about him She really wanted to purchase a dress , she tried it on and loved it, but the throngs of inquisitive folks on the street, made her give up on the idea and she promised to come back tomorrow without her dog,
She did not return the next day however, and the whole time she was in my booth nobody else could be.. guess they are distracting, eh? I was down 75% at this show this year from last year. What changed? what a disappointment after a 16 hour drive!
I would be curious to have that info also, Geri. When this show first started it was a big hit, as you remember. It was limited to 3D which made it unique in the Chicago area (except maybe for ACE if that was around then). Supported by the Art Center it was full of work by artists who didn't do many shows. So what has changed? Did the economy just really hit this well to do neighborhood? Was the event run mostly by volunteers and volunteers are a tough job for a small staff to handle? Who knows? If you don't we're in trouble here ;)
Which was your favorite dog?
Too bad the puppies can't shop!