Along with 1000's of others I attended the Garage Sale Art Fair at the Kalamazoo Fairgrounds on February 22. In case you hadn't heard the polar vortex has been pretty phenomenal imprisoning us in our homes for nearly two months and making driving akin to zip lining. BUT - Saturday dawned sunny and bright and the last snowfall was several days earlier and all the signs were "go" to go shopping.
The event, organized nearly 15 years ago by artists and now headed by jeweler Bonnie Blandford and potter Michael Kifer was jammed. We (my art fair loving friends Jacki and Barb and I) arrived at door opening time 9:30. Bonnie told me that the line was so long that they had opened the doors at 9 am.
The place was jammed. I hadn't been to an art fair for 13 weeks so it was time to shop.
Only 2 hours into the show and potter John Bauman looks about to sell out.
On Facebook last week potter Paul Jeselskis challenged the rest of the potters to a "sell off", here he is with the one I bought from him.
Multi media artist Dylan Strzynski whose Kickstarter project, a film chronicling the loves and lives of art fair artists was successfully funded last week
Member Alison Fox whose booth was almost empty before noon
A few of my old friends: Rhonda Cearlock
Phil Thompson selling so fast my camera couldn't keep up
What's an art fair without printmaker David Bigelow?
My newest niece, photographer Kim Ritsema-Mettler, who married my nephew this fall.
Finished shopping: Connie, Jacki Bilsborrow and Barb Burkhardt
My treasures: Pastel drawing by Lynn Krause
Pottery from Paul Jeselskis with "8 Mile & Woodward", a favorite photo from Cynthia Davis
Leaded glass panel from Alison Fox
And of course, the required pair of new earrings from Salvaged.by.Mary.
Does anyone have a report? Did anyone make any money or at least turned some old supplies into cash?
Comments
Dang...me too.
Shireen, we arrived at the opening bell and left at noon! Probably passed each other in the parking lot.
Yes there was yarn, Tina. A bunch. Wish you could have gone with us.
Sounds like a great time...sorry I missed it. Was there yarn? Love your purchases, especially the lidded pot, very cool.
I arrived at noon and left at 3pm. We must had crossed paths but never recognized one another.
Shireen, I spoke with Bonnie when I came in the front door. She knew I was there and gave me the skinny on what had happened so far. Next time I'll page you. There were two other new-ish show directors there also who I had wanted to meet. Just got too caught up in the shopping and seeing old friends ;)
And, I had to waste my time in Naples Florida. I did the Garage sale last year and will be there next year.
Connie, I asked several artists including Bonnie if they had seem you. They said, they hadn't seem you and the weather might have kept you away. I was hoping to be able to meet you in person.
Maybe, you can come out to one of my summer shows.
I too picked up pottery and a scrimshaw piece. I also ran into a lot of artists I know and met new ones.
I'm still waiting for my graphic art designer to send me the web logo for FINE ART ON THE FARM event. Looks like we will also be booking an up in coming singer who was a finalist on American Idol a few years ago. Things are going well for KoZmo Events.
It was $30, Alison. So, who is counting? And, as you can see it fits that door well, for now. I repaired the hole with some crumpled saran wrap, which mimics the glass. Looks good as you can see. Most everything in our house is from family, thrift stores, antique auctions, handmade and from "junking" and, of course, art fairs.
Geri -- you should have been there ...
I don't know why this doesn't catch on in other communities. Colin Murray has started one of these near Milwaukee, but don't think it has caught on like this one has. Of course, they've got many years in and are relentless marketers!
Bonnie said that Kristy Jo Beber (potter from Ft. Wayne) showed them the way through Facebook marketing and the "shares" just kept growing.
I am so envious!!!!
This is so cool! Thanks Connie for the purchase of my "broken" stained glass. What was funny was Connie set her bags down, said to me "I'll buy that window because it's broken like my house." Thought that was hilarious and actually seeing this hanging in ur window it's kinda hard to see the breaks. All that for 20 bucks! And yes, the most important thing about this show is this....I made money, decent money, on items, supplies, extras that I would have probably thrown out or given to Goodwill. Just the glass scraps in 7 lb boxes for $10 went fast. A lady said she was going to try her hand at learning stained glass so she bought 2 boxes. What a great way to get alot of awesome art glass and practice before really investing in the expensive retail prices. It's a wonderful, good vibe day in every way. :-)