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Food for Thought: Can Art Save the Mall?

Posted by Connie Mettler on November 23, 2009 at 2:59pm
Thanks to my friend, Denny Schroeder, for sending me this link from Sunday's Parade Magazine: Can Art Save a Mall? When too many stores came up empty at a large mall in the St. Louis area the owners decided that instead of demolishing it they would offer the spaces to artists for their use at $100 per month, plus utilities. You'll enjoy reading the various uses to which it has been put: art gallery, dance studio, museum, etc. Not only does it give the arts groups a home but it also increases traffic in the mall for the other stores and restaurants. There are lots of empty spaces in the nation's shopping centers this season and entrepreneurial artists are taking advantage of this empty real estate. The organizers among them have rallied their friends and acquaintances to fill the spaces for the holiday time. My brother, Michael Mettler, is hanging his photos in a gallery at Jefferson Pointe along with about twenty five other artists. This is a "lifestyle" mall of upscale stores in Fort Wayne, Indiana. The gallery is next to the Barnes and Noble, a nice location. My friend Donna Beaubien, has gathered the work of around forty artists to fill a lovely space at the Village in Rochester, MI, including my husband (Norm Darwish) fine art photographs. Donna reports sales were being made before they had even opened. Now neither of these places are going to become arts districts, but we all know, where the artists settle gentrification occurs and their appearance is often the prelude to better days for the nieghborhood. Don't believe me? Then read one of my favorite books, Richard Florida's, The Rise of the Creative Class. Are you participating in one of these "temporary" galleries this season? Tell me about it and I'll add the info to ArtFairCalendar.com.
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Michigan art fair news: Arts, Beats & Eats moves to Royal Oak!

Posted by Connie Mettler on December 8, 2009 at 6:11pm
Breaking news -- it's official -- the hugely popular art, music and food festival held on Labor Day weekend is leaving its birthplace, Pontiac, MI, to move to a new address -- cool, captivating, hip downtown Royal Oak. Jonathan Witz, producer of ABE, made the announcement this afternoon at Sangria Tapas Cafe in Royal Oak. I've been part of the arts of this event since its inception 12 years ago and have seen firsthand what was a very promising and exciting and financially rewarding event full of the nation's top artists slowly become a victim of the huge shoulder to shoulder crowds and the crumbling local economy. What had started out as a happy "Ann Arbor alternative" for those who were tired of the AA crowds lost much of its luster. Heck, it's been tough in Michigan for a long time now. The recent recession where the rest of the country seemed to be slipping into hard times was nothing new to people in business in Michigan. Therefore, this is great news! Royal Oak is a lovely residential suburb, full of young families, excellent schools, cool restaurants and good shopping. It is going to be really interesting to see how the huge event adapts to this new footprint, but I'm telling you, that if anyone can make it work it is Jon Witz, a man with more ideas, moxie and readiness to make things work than the average guy. Here's wishing you good luck on the move, Jon. Thanks to the city fathers of Royal Oak welcoming the event. Stay tuned for a solid economic turnaround. Read the announcement in the Royal Oak Tribune.
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What is Your Favorite One Day Art Fair?

Posted by Connie Mettler on May 26, 2009 at 10:00am
I always loved doing one day art fairs - you get there, you set up, the people come, they buy and then you are on the way home! No dithering or waiting for people to make decisions. They know you won't be there long. The art fair is their destination for the day and they have made plans to buy. What's not to like? Here are my two favorites: 1. 'Round the Fountain Art Fair, Lafayette, IN-- always held on the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend. This is undoubtedly the best quality art fair in Indiana. Lafayette is a university town, home of Purdue University. The event is held around its beautifully restored courthouse. In fact it was started to raise funds for the restoration of the courthouse some time ago! Small, 80 artists, with an audience who is loyal and who buy every year. It has the advantage of a well-loved tradition in a more or less rural area that is full of people who love it. Here is a good story, including video, from the local television station: Sunny skies make a perfect day. Here is another story from the Lafayette paper: Art patrons score at fountain art fair. Wood artist LeRoy Bayerl of Marshfield, Wis., won best of show. My old friend jeweler Jack Forney earned second place honors and Randall Harden of Noblesville came in third. 2. Charlevoix Waterfront Art Fair, Charlevoix, MI -- always on the second Saturday of August I loved this one because it was a chance to get "up north" on a beautiful summer day, eat fresh whitefish, see the playground of the well-to-do, hang out a little on Lake Michigan, and do some very decent sales. In fact, we had our best one day sales ever at this event. The fair is set up on the waterfront of a beautiful harbor. There are some fabulous boats docked there. The owners would host parties on their boats and then come into the park to shop and take their goods back to the boat. The art fair weekend is the biggest one all summer in Charlevoix. The committee is all volunteer and terrific. In the morning expect homemade muffins, coffee and http://www.charlevoixwaterfrontartfair.org/seeing your friends, gathered here for the festivities. Plus, if the committee likes your work there is a good chance you will be reinvited for years to come. The weather is invariably fabulous and was a reminder of why we live in Michigan. Do you have any favorite one day art fairs? Tell us about them.
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Call for Entries: Amish Acres Arts & Crafts Festival

Posted by Connie Mettler on March 13, 2009 at 12:30am
amish_acres_header_010208.jpg July 30 - August 2 Nappanee, IN 350 exhibitors Deadline: April 1 The 47th annual Amish Acres Festival is seeking talented artists and craftsmen to exhibit and sell their wares around the pond at Amish Acres. Amish Acres is an 80 acre farmstead, listed in the National Register of Historic Places in the heart of Indiana's Amish country, Nappanee, IN. It is an historic attraction demonstrating three generations of the legacy of the family who lived here and a destination for travelers interested in learning about the Amish a way of life, a life nearly forgotten in today's fast paced world. Helpful information: * This event pulls from a wide region and includes an effective advertising and marketing plan that encircles Nappanee from Chicago to Detroit to Toledo and Indianapolis - expect visitors from a large geographic area who call this their favorite show * The readers of Sunshine Artist have selected Amish Acres as one of the 200 Best for the 10th year running, further ranking it the 7th Best Classic & Contemporary Craft Show in the Country * The American Bus Association chose Amish Acres Festival as one of its Top 100 Events in North America in 2008 for an unprecedented third time (2005, 2006 & 2008) * New this year: a partnership with a national pharmacy chain in our and surrounding 5 state region for Art Festival promotion amish.jpgNote from Jenni Wysong, organizer of the event: I have proactively created an Exhibitor Stimulus Package with 10% reduced fees and increased artist benefits to effect each exhibitor right in their pocketbook. I want to show them we are supporting them for our shared future health. See page 4 of the application for the details. Expect authentic Hoosier hospitality that includes: * free accessible parking * electricity * no jury fee * exhibitor discounts on hotels, theatre tickets, food and drink * $10,000 in cash awards * 60,000+ is the expected attendance based on previous years A casual family oriented atmosphere abounds as Amish Acres remains a family run business. The Festival was started in l961 and is still owned by the same family, on to its second generation of management now. There are many activities on this historic farm but the Art and Crafts Festival is a singular event and eagerly awaited by past exhibitors and patrons. Visit the website to learn more about Amish Acres and to download an application: www.amishacres.com
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Pittsburgh Cultural Trust to the Rescue of 3 Rivers Festival

Posted by Connie Mettler on November 27, 2008 at 10:07am
The very popular Three Rivers Festival in Pittsburgh that runs through three weekends in June has been struggling to keep its bills paid in recent years. The festival supports many entertainment venues plus three different art fairs, a different group of artists each weekend and is held in the glittering Golden Triangle in the downtown. Because of economic uncertainties the future of the event was in question. Now the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust has stepped in to take charge. "The 2009 festival probably will be smaller," President and CEO J. Kevin McMahon said, citing economic troubles and the limited time the trust has to plan the event. "There likely will be less money than the $1.6 million budgeted for the 2008 festival," McMahon said, but he's confident the trust can raise enough money to produce the festival. Read the whole story at the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.
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