Art (273)

Temple Beth El Review and Award Winners

I did the Temple Beth El fund raiser Art Fair for the first time this year. This event has a stellar reputation among career artists because they bring in the money. Their members do a pre-buy in the form of purchase awards and they support the event. The week before the show I talked to one of the committee members who told me they had $145,000 in money spent in purchase awards. They take 35% of your sales, less than a gallery. It is set up as a gallery. I'm not sure whether you can apply to this show. The committee goes around to many art fairs and finds work they like and invites artists. You still have to fill out their forms. I think you can send them images asking to be in the show. Actually, I am not sure of any of this except for the people they invite. You'll have to google it to get the info.

Setup and take down are really easy. All you do is bring the work, or, ship it. They set everything up and have a storage area for backup pieces. If you have fragile work they let you set up your own work. They have pedestals and pegboards. My work looked better in their gallery than in my own booth.

They make an effort to have a top quality show. There is a main gallery room with work $500 and up and a "boutique" room with work under $500. Since my main work starts at $250, I had all my work in the main gallery. I believe that as long as the majority of your work is above $500 they let you put some under $500 in the main gallery. I had a number of pieces at $90 and $125 that were supposed to be in the boutique room. By the time I was ready to bring those pieces in, that room was filled, so, I couldn't show those pieces. In fairness to the committee, they want you to A) get your work to them on Tuesday so they can plan where they go and B) send your inventory sheet at least a week in advance so they can print out their proper labels and prices. I did neither partly because I didn't know what to expect. Next year I will do things differently if I get invited back. I won an award so I believe I'm invited, but, nothing is etched in stone.

They do a very good job of presenting the work and there were very knowledgeable patrons. I had some extremely good conversation and the people who bought my work knew what they were getting. I didn't do as well as I thought I would do. It seems that clay and glass did OK. 2D, 3D wall pieces, and jewelry did extremely well. However, the potential for doing well is sky high. I will go back next year if they have me and I will bring pieces based on what I learned. I expect to do much, much better, next year. A third of the artists were there and the rest shipped work. I could have dropped my work off and done another show, like St Armand's Circle. I would suggest being there to talk about your work, but, it isn't a requirement.

I forgot to mention that they took care of us all weekend. There was no shortage of really good food, even on the setup day. I, also, forgot to mention that I saw some old friends and fellow artists that I haven't seen for a while, potter Jan Richardson and jeweler Barbara Sucherman.

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Call for Artists: ART! Macomb

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June 2, 3 & 4
Mount Clemens, Michigan
Presented by the Anton Art Center
75 Artists
Deadline: March 1

Application fee: $20; Booth fee: $125

ART! Macomb is held in historic, walkable downtown Mount Clemens. With plenty of parking (free on the weekends!), public art, and other cultural assets, ART! Macomb is situated in a central business district populated primarily by unique, locally-owned shops and restaurants.


New this year: 

The Anton Art Center is revamping the 35-year-old Mount Clemens Art Fair to better serve a modern Macomb County. In addition to a new name, the Anton Art Center is partnering with the Mount Clemens Downtown Development Authority, Macomb County's OneMacomb and Make Macomb Your Home initiatives and adding Friday to the weekend to capture attendance from County employees who work within walking distance of the art fair.
 
71fb666e-d2b0-4c78-883d-72b20db4046f.jpgMarketing:
Our marketing will focus on downtown and fair assets: free parking on the weekends, a vibrant and walkable historic downtown area, unique local shops and plenty of dining options, extensive public artwork and other cultural resources, not to mention the Anton Art Center! 
 
We will continue our partnership with C&G Newspapers for print advertising, and will be increasing our advertising and public relations for the fair using a combination of traditional and new media.
 
 
 
 For more info: Phil Gilchrist, information@theartcenter.org, 586-469-8666
 
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Find more local shows for your 2017 show schedule: www.CallsforArtists.com
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Call for Artists: Great Lakes Art Fair '17

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April 7-9
Novi, Michigan

Suburban Collection Showplace

200 Artists

Deadline: February 26

 

Application Fee: $30; Booth Fees: $400-$950

Krumpe

Want to stay close to home AND earn money 

in April? Then please consider applying to our show.

 

The Showplace is a first class expo building situated right off the freeway in an affluent area of Detroit's western suburbs. The show offers fine artists in the region a reliable, regularly scheduled, weather-free venue to showcase their freshest and most beautiful work, and word is spreading rapidly that this is a destination event for artists and patrons alike.

 

Consistently lauded as one of the most artist-friendly Art Fairs, accepted artists are given postcards and free tickets for their customers, email blast content for their patrons, free electricity, a roving snack cart with complimentary snacks and drinks during the show, complimentary morning coffee, muffins, drive right up to your booth for unloading and loading, plus more! 

    

What to expect:

  • Elegant Grand Gallery entrance showcasing your art
  • Delectable cuisine and relaxing entertainment
  • Community partnerships and other fresh components, to create a regional marketplace for artists and their patrons.  
c86af0b3-b251-4b5e-96e8-9b746b890455.jpg?width=400Effective promotion is as crucial to overall success as the selection of artists.  Our mission is to deliver a high quality experience for patrons and artists that will assure qualified buyers, return visits and exponential event growth. 
 
Participating Artists will also benefit from a multi-level marketing and publicity campaign to promote the event throughout the region, including media partnerships in print, radio, television, direct mail and building awareness of this regional event.    

 

For more info:  www.GreatLakesArtFair.com 
 

Apply: http://greatlakesartfair.com/artistapply.html

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June 10-11  Royal Oak logo
Royal Oak, Michigan
Sat. 10am-7pm; Sun. 11am-5pm
120 artists
Deadline: March 5

Application fee: $25; Booth fees start at $320

We have been voted a Top 50 Show by subscribers to Art Fair Calendar.  Sunshine Artist has often listed us as a Top 100 Show. Our 23rd year features 120 clay, glass, and metal artists. Our artists tell us it is a pleasure having customers who understand their work and techniques.  
 
0e661bed-9bde-4a46-bc6a-afcd22e5efb6.jpgEntertainment at the show is art related.  No loud music.  No stages.  Our audience prefers artist demonstrations. Accepted artists who demonstrate will be given extra space next to their booth for free. 
 
Integrity Shows uses a 3 year jury rotation plan.  Once accepted, artists can count on being in the show for 2 more years provided they submit an application by the deadline.
 
We provide:
*Qualified buyers who are educated about your media.
*Cash awards
*Overnight security
*Artist breakfast Sunday morning
*Free artist parking
*Collectible T-shirt
 

Presented by Mark Loeb, Integrity Shows, info@integrityshows.com

Mark Loeb, Integrity Shows President, has been producing and consulting with events since 1982 in metro Detroit. Among the shows produced by Integrity Shows are Royal Oak Clay, Glass & Metal Show, Funky Ferndale Art Fair, Belle Isle Art Fair, Palmer Park Art Fair and Jazzin on Jefferson.
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92993bec-44cf-4f02-93e2-8556546969bf.jpgJune 3 & 4
Quincy, Illinois
Downtown in Washington Park
60 Artists
Deadline: February 3

Application fee: $20; Booth fee: $100

This outdoor arts festival is located in historic Washington Park in downtown Quincy, Illinois, which sits on the banks of the Mississippi River. Quincy is a vibrant arts community of 40,000 and the commercial center of the tri-state region of west-central Illinois, southeast Iowa, and northeast Missouri with a population of over 300,000. 
 
Artist booths are located on flat ground in the park on the grass facing the sidewalk. Ample nearby parking is available at no cost. Electricity is available at no extra charge on a first come, first-serve basis. Most booths are within 50-100 feet of an electrical outlet.
 
New this year:
  • 7f37957d-1e30-4593-85bd-27f06162279c.jpg?width=450NEW NAME! - Q-FEST is a re-booted, major annual event for the Tri-State region celebrating art, music and food that will be held in and around Washington Park in downtown Quincy. 
  • NEW DATE! - The first annual Q-FEST will take place Sat., June 3 and Sun., June 4. 
  • SAME GREAT REPUTATION! - Q-FEST is being presented in place of the Midsummer Arts Faire which has been held the past 13 years every fourth weekend in June. The new event will feature new and familiar artists and activities, a fine and fresh art festival, street concert and taste of Quincy. 
Marketing:
Extensive marketing takes place in and around the Quincy market. An exclusive media partnership with the local newspaper and NBC affiliate includes thousands of dollars in free print, TV, and radio advertising and everything else!

Even better:
We provide above-and-beyond hospitality for our artists! We also give $5,000 in artists awards including a $1,000 best of show award and pre-sell art bucks. These art bucks may be used to purchase artwork from any participating artists and are reimbursed for the full face value. All sponsors receive art bucks based on their level of giving, so this cash is ready to be spent!

Testimonials:
  • "What a wonderful surprise and honor. So many great artists and a wonderful event. Hope to be back next year!" - Tim Schroll, artist and winner of the 2015 $1,000 Best of Show award
  • "I've heard many stories of people purchasing art and gifting it or keep it guiltily for themselves. Thank you for bringing this wonderful event to our community!" - Kate Daniels, art patron
  • "Love the Midsummer Arts Faire (now Q-Fest). Plan my summer vacation so I can attend... Thank you to all the artist and craftsmen who come to Quincy."  - Art Patron
Questions? Contact Kayla Obert, info@artsfaire.org, 217-779-2285
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The Making of a Show Piece

     Somewhere along the line (right here on AFI!) I learned that jury images need to show a constistency. The pieces need to look like they are all from the same DNA, so to speak. Ever since hearing that, I have had a concern that my jury images are too dissimilar, and that someday I should make them more cohesive. 

So this month, “someday” arrived. I designed and built new statement pieces that are similar to another jury image. In the process of designing, I gave thought to my design and thought processes. Then I started to wonder if anyone else has a similar process. Here’s mine: 


http://sandyartparts.blogspot.com/2016/09/harmonious-blends-making-show-piece.html

It would be very interesting to hear from the rest of you, as to your creative process, as well as thought process when it comes to making a show piece. Please share!

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3 Days Left to apply: 68th Old Town Art Fair

June 10 & 11 be764667-c32f-4445-b7a3-3e56e8b8ee03.jpg         
Chicago, Illinois
Historic Old Town Triangle Landmark District
250 artists
Deadline: December 15
Application Fee: $40; Booth Fee: $625
 
WE NOW OFFER FRIDAY SET-UP!  For the first time, artists will have the option to set up Friday, June 9, 4pm-8pm.
 
07060b5e-9757-4bf5-a7d6-9b705f85d34d.jpg?width=350The Old Town Art Fair is a fine art show that takes place under a canopy of tree-lined streets in the landmarked historic district of Chicago's Old Town Triangle neighborhood.  A perennial favorite of artists and buyers alike,  Old Town's historic homes serve as the perfect backdrop for the artists' booths.  
 
Artists have made their way to Old Town since 1950 to show and sell their work to a singularly appreciative audience.  The Old Town Art Fair is presented by the not-for-profit Old Town Triangle Association.  Hundreds of volunteers team up with neighborhood residents to produce this exceptional show that is an all-volunteer endeavor.  All proceeds benefit the preservation of the historic character of the neighborhood, as well as art and cultural programs and local youth groups.
 
The 68th annual event promises to be one of the best ever!
  • Marketing efforts are already underway
  • Fully 40% of booth spaces are newly available each year
  • Music appropriate to the setting
  • Food and beverage options appropriate to the setting
  • Number of booths is limited to 250
  • Artist Gallery is maintained on website year-round
  • Active social media interaction before and during fair
All two and three-dimensional fine artists who meet the show's qualifications are encouraged to apply for this premier event.
 
Please visit Zapplication.org (https://www.zapplication.org/event-info.php?ID=5142) for details and to complete an application
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Learn more: www.OldTownTriangle.com 
 
P.S. Art patrons chose the Old Town Art Fair as the #1 Art Fair in the country in the 2015 & 2016 "Best Art Fairs" survey!
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Last Call for Artists: ArtFest Fort Myers

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February 4 & 5
Downtown Fort Myers, Florida
215 Artists
Option to participate in Opening Night - Feb. 3
Application Fee: $35; Booth Fee: $434

Apply to ArtFest Fort Myers -- Southwest Florida's premier art festival and largest weekend event. Creating an artwork-selling festival for artists is the focus of our year-round professional staff with 17 years of consistent management.

ArtFest Fort Myers takes place in Southwest Florida's largest metro area, featuring an international airport serving 8.4 million passengers.  Ever increasing residential and commercial construction, lots of new jobs and record-breaking domestic and international tourism are spurring an exciting community.

Your target audience of upscale and savvy art patrons grows everyday!

Apply now at ZAPPlication.org More information ArtFestFortMyers.com


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HOW WE PROMOTE FOR YOU
 
$175,000 Marketing Campaign 
that creates 7 million advertising impressions targeted to art buyers from Marco Island to Sarasota to W. Palm Beach:

  • TV - CBS affiliate: 240+ spots feature festival artists. Plus news coverage on all networks - pre festival and all weekend
  • Radio - 250 spots on top 5 stations
  • Daily Newspaper - 20 quarter-page full-color ads feature festival artists reach 85,000 readers a day
  • 10 Digital Billboards - feature festival artists
  • Mobile-friendly website; Artist Gallery linked to your website
  • Social media - Facebook, Paid Ads and Organic Postings
  • Tourist & Visitor Promotion with 21,000 ArtFest Fort Myers Magazines  distributed to 110 top hotels and travel centers.

WHAT MAKES ARTFEST FORT MYERS WEEKEND SPECIAL
 
Bringing the best-of-the best art to all, through a true community based, free to the public event, ArtFest's year-round professional staff has 17 years of consistent and dedicated management.
 
We know artists need an appropriate environment to showcase their artwork to create vigorous sales. ArtFest Fort Myers creates that environment along a wide boulevard with ease-for-patron flow of artist booths flanked by a beautiful riverfront park and yacht basin. New and cutting edge work is equally at home with more traditional work.

We also know artists need a supportive, income-appropriate audience in a broad age range to facilitate excellent sales. And that audience needs to stay at the festival for an extended period to encourage art buying. ArtFest Fort Myers creates this with:
  • loyal base of VIP's, patrons and sponsors who wait all year to purchase art at our festival
  •  upscale dining areas, including shaded table seating & ample food/beverage options
  • on-site arts related activities to keep the patrons engaged while they decide on more art purchases
ARTIST AMENITIES
  • Oversized booth spaces-3 feet between booths & behind-booth storage 
  • Easy Friday set-up with scheduled staggered drive-up access
  • Breakfast Saturday and Sunday
  • Indoor bathrooms; 24 hour security; Booth sitters; Discounted hotel rates
  • Easy communication with festival staff, pre/post festival and at the festival
  • Reserved artist parking with complimentary trolley transportation
Learn more:  www.ArtFestFortMyers.com 
Contact: Jeanne Seehaver, Associate Director, Jeanne.Seehaver@ArtFestFortMyers.com
Phone:  (239)768-3602
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February 18-20eaf1d253-1c59-41d6-8dea-5652661283f8.png
Jupiter, Florida
Presented by:  Palm Beach North Chamber of Commerce
300 Artists
Deadline:  September 16

Application Fee: $40/Booth Fee: $505

f25066f1-0ccf-4310-a9bb-73acb695bfb8.jpg?width=400Celebrating 32 years ArtiGras Fine Arts Festival has grown from a small, local art show to a nationally recognized fine arts festival attracting tens of thousands of art lovers and collectors.  

ArtiGras is a three-day ticketed event held on President's Day Weekend at Abacoa in Jupiter, Florida.

President's Day weekend is the busiest tourism weekend of the winter in south Florida. The shoppers descend from around the state as the snowbirds taking advantage of the beautiful weather and they love our art fair.

Produced by the Palm Beach North Chamber of Commerce, ArtiGras was recently named one of the top 50 fine art festivals in the country and features 300 juried artists along with artist demonstrations, Youth Art Competition, ArtiKids children's interact activity area, entertainment and more.

During ArtiGras, three of the judges from the jury panel will choose 14 award winners in the Fine Art Showcase and give out $16,000 worth of prizes.  

421a6594-a499-4c6d-a450-944cb680c624.jpgApply: www.zapplication.org
Learn more: www.artigras.org 
Contact:  Angelique Allen, angelique@pbnchamber.com
Phone:  (561)748-3955

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Find even more art fairs for your 2016/17 schedule: www.CallsforArtists.com
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November 4 & 5
Elmhurst, Illinois
Wilder Mansion
Fri. 4-9 pm; Sat. 10 am-4 pm
Sponsored by Elmhurst Park District
Presented by RGL Marketing for the Arts
Over 60 Artists & gourmet food vendors
Deadline: August 1

Holiday Market is located inside the stunning landmark Wilder Mansion which is completely renovated with over 9,000 square feet. The Mansion is located on the grounds of Wilder Park where the 21st Annual Art in the Park is in May, also the Elmhurst Art Museum, and the Lizzadro Museum of Lapidary Arts. Elmhurst City Centre shopping district is two blocks away. Elmhurst's residents are very involved with the Arts with a median income of $90,000 plus; new homes are valued at $900,000-$3 million dollars.


6th Annual Holiday Market includes one-of-a-kind arts, crafts, and seasonal gifts. Sixty vendors will be selling jewelry, fiber, glass, ceramics, paper, painting, mixed-media, home décor, holiday gifts, and gourmet food vendors. Many of the artist's work can be seen in galleries around the U.S. Holiday Market is considered the top Holiday Market in the Chicagoland area.

For more info: Roz Long, roz@rglmarketingforthearts.com
(630) 712-6541
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Uptown Art Fair, Minneapolis, MN, Aug. 5-7

Jury fee: $40; Booth fee: $550; 350 artists

Friday, 12-8; Saturday, 10-8; Sunday, 10-5 T

his was my first year at Uptown, and it was a long way for me to go for a single show (I live in Virginia). But it was a beautiful show, well-organized and structured, and I had a successful show, well worth my time and the expense.

I'm an oil painter, with pieces ranging from $100 to $4500. Many of my paintings are large. Not knowing anything about Minneapolis or the set-up of the show, I didn't know what to choose when the organizers asked for our location preference. I asked for a street location first, and ended up getting a location on the mall.

At first, I was bummed, but as the show played out, I was really glad that I ended up there. The street part of the show is on Hennepin Avenue, a busy street in the center of Uptown. I believe booths there were set up cheek to jowl, and I don't know if they faced the sidewalk or the street, which was closed to traffic. I do know that set-up on Hennepin was Friday morning, with the show opening Friday at noon. On the mall, set-up was Thursday afternoon.

The mall is a grassy strip between two one-way streets. Hennepin Avenue is at one end of the mall; the other ends at a road that circles a lake. I was near that end. Set-up was easy, storage was pretty much unlimited.

Registration is inside a building on Hennepin, and registration times are assigned. I was there early, and they did let me register early. The organizers were very nice, and had already helped me with a series of question.

Set-up on the mall was in shifts. The first shift, which included me, was for people who had tents on the grassy area between the two streets. I had a spot that ended up as a de facto corner, as I was beside a tree. I pulled up, and found that my neighbor had parked in the spot directly across from my van, so I'd have to haul my crap farther, and probably dolly. I decided to turn the van around, and at least get the back doors closer to my spot. My neighbor, seeing me do this, volunteered to trade spots with me, if I'd help her back up. I am a believer in omens and took Stephanie's generosity to be a good one.

Because of what I'd heard about vandalism at this show, I set up my tent but didn't put any of my art in it. I got my van out in time for the second shift, which was artists setting up booths in the street (where we had parked), facing the grassy strip.

Friday morning, I arrived early, set up my art and went off to find my parking spot in the Sons of Norway lot. I'd paid $55 for this; it was about a half a mile away. I am 60, am lazy and have bad knees, and while it was an OK walk in the morning, by 8 p.m., it felt like a long, long walk. My day started well with a couple who had found my art on the show's website (http://uptownartfair.com/), found me on the mall, came in and bought a $1,000 painting. Yay!

I sold four more paintings during the show and also got a commission, so it was a profitable weekend for me.

In spite of everything I'd heard about vandalism at the show, I decided to leave my work overnight. I spoke to painter friends who had done the show before. I spoke to police officers, who assured me that there were more officers on patrol, and showed me that they'd brought in huge lights to illuminate the mall.

I took my paintings off the outside walls, ziptied all my tent zippers, and then ziptied everything to uprights or stabars, and moved furniture to make it harder for someone to slip underneath. I had no problems, and heard of no problems. One officer said that the year that there had been the most vandalism was the year that a bridge collapsed, and all police were attending that disaster. Also he told me that he had approached the show organizers and helped them restructure the security plan.

On Saturday morning, I was able to get a very good parking space within dollying distance from my tent. Parking is a real problem with this show, and I felt like I'd been given a gift. I left my van there Saturday night, and took an Uber car to and from my Air B&B. This parking place was a real blessing when it came to take-down.

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Call for Artists: Belle Isle Art Fair

August 6 & 745063ea8-7b09-4f28-960a-fb9d09663b78.jpg?width=350
Detroit, Michigan
Presented by Integrity Shows
Deadline: May 15

Application fee: $25; Booth fee: $295-$590

We asked artists where they would like a new art fair - the number one answer?  Belle Isle.

Belle Isle is a beautiful Island Park in the Detroit River. Tens of thousands of people come out on summer weekends to enjoy the gardens, visit the aquarium, zoo and gardens. It's a location that feels inviting to city residents and suburbanites.

This August the island will host it's first Art Fair.

The show is near the entry bridge across from the stunning Scott Fountain.  There is ample parking.  As with other art fairs by Integrity Shows, artists are juried on a three year basis.  If you are accepted by the jury you are assured of acceptance annually and re-jury in the fourth year.  Of course you still need to apply on time and your work has to be relatively the same.  We believe that artists should be able to plan at least a part of their schedule.

A healthy advertising budget along with extensive marketing is sure to bring out art lovers.  We partner with local organizations to support the arts and to increase the shows visibility.  The fair is limited in artists to maximize your opportunity for success.

Website:  www.BelleIsleArtFair.com    
Contact:  Mark Loeb, mark@integrityshows.com
Phone:  (313)486-2666

Mark Loeb, Integrity Shows President, has been producing and consulting with events since 1982 in metro Detroit. Among the shows produced by Integrity Shows are Royal Oak Clay, Glass & Metal Show, Funky Ferndale Art Fair and Jazzin on Jefferson. 
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I would love to talk with artists that have been accepted to the annual art festivl.  Two years running i have buffed up my booth, taken what i believed to be amazing photos, wrote precise descriptions, and bam, rejected.  In the body of the rejection email KRASL made it clear that people are rejected often several years running, and please try again.   It baffles me.  Granted i work in wearable fiber and wonder often if that is a limiting factor.  

They do invite artists to attend the jury process, which is refreshing and rare... sadly i live 5 hours drive from there, and could not break away to be there for the jury.  I also wonder if that is a limiting factor.

If you have done the event, can we chat either on this blog or via email?

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Elkhart For the Love of Art Show

     The Elkhart For the Love of Art Show was held on March 12, 2016. This show is held in the Elkhart RV Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame is located not far from the Elkhart City limits. It is also right off of the I 80 Indiana Toll Road which makes it very visible to people coming from the toll road or from Michigan.

     The RV Hall of Fame sits in the center of a huge open area. There were signs along the road in Michigan and near the Hall of Fame announcing the art show. They weren't huge signs but if you were looking for the show the signs did tip you off that you were near the show. There was also one of those tall flags at the drive into the Hall of Fame to catch people's attention from the road. There was plenty of parking for shoppers close to the building as well.

     The Hall of Fame was a great building to use for the art show. Artists could actually drive right inside the building to load in their booth and art work. They did have to arrive early to do that but it would be well worth it if you work an art show all by yourself or have heavy equipment or art work. There was plenty of space for each booth. None of the booths looked small at all.

8869171459?profile=originalShireen Cline is the show's producer.  Shireen has been working so hard to put on a great show.  I have bumped into Shireen at several shows this past year.  She has been attending shows to observe what each show was doing to put on a good show.  Shireen is bubbly and energetic.  Her enthusiasm is infectious. 

     Shireen had about 50 top notch artists lined up for her show.  No category was top heavy.  There were several artists that were demonstrating their art work during the day.  One man was weaving the most beautiful Mexican rugs.  A glass blower was demonstrating how he blew glass pieces.  There was an artists drawing caricatures for shoppers. 

     AFI member Monica Langowski actually finished painting one of the cushions for the sofa above that Shireen is sitting on during the show.  I don't know how she did it.  I noticed the cushion was not finished as I visited her booth earlier in the day.  When I came back later it was done and Shireen posed for a photo on the sofa.  Monica told me that she was also chosen to display this sofa in one of the showcases in the Merchandice Mart in Chicago for the new Spring One of a Kind Show in April.  What a great opportunity that will be for her.

     8869171484?profile=originalShireen had 5 top decorative artists and 5 top functional artists chosen from all of the exhibiting artists.  Of those 10 one artist received a free booth in next year's show.  Shoppers also entered their names in a drawing when they arrived to the show. 

     There were several great door prizes for shoppers that were given away later in the day.  There was also a children's drawing.  One little girl won a free week at art camp from the Elkhart Art League. 

    Soft music was playing for the enjoyment of shoppers who needed a little break.  It was a great place for artists or shoppers to also take in a little lunch.  There was only one food booth at this show.  The food was not meant to overshadow the art at this show. 

     I did notice shoppers with packages as they left the hall.  I think the artists would have liked a larger crowd at this show.  I don't know why there weren't more.   It was a fairly warm Saturday for March.  I suppose people may have been taking advantage of the warm weather.  After talking with Shireen I know she tried to cover all the bases to get shoppers there.  She personally told me she spent quite a bit on advertising.  I even saw her at the Garage Sale Art Fair in Kalamazoo in February handing leaflets out for the show.  Sometimes shows take a few years to develop a following which may be the case here.  However, I do think this show is going to continue to build and get better with each year.

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      The opportunity was there for artists to have larger booths if they wanted them.  This hall was easily accessible for wheelchairs, too with no steps and wide walking aisles. 

      The artists all seemed very friendly and were more than happy to talk about their art work.  That added to the intimate atmosphere of the show.  Another nice thing about getting into this show is once you jury into this show you will always be invited back.  

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Call for Artists: 11th Annual "Woofstock"

8869172856?profile=originalMay 7
Atlanta, Georgia

Presented by Entercom
40 Artists
Deadline: March 30

Application fee: $30
Booth fee: $300

If you have pet themed art we think you'll love this outdoor event in the beautiful suburb of Suwannee in the Town Center, in Atlanta. This "Pet Party in the Park" caters to animal lovers, so we're looking for artists and crafters who have animal or pet themes. Pet owners are passionate and have high disposable income!

This year we are highlighting artisans who focus on animals. Do you have art that features animals or pets, or a product or craft item for a pet? If so we encourage you to apply for Woofstock!

 

Learn more about our party in the park: www.WoofstockATL.com

Apply right now: https://www.zapplication.org/event-info.php?ID=4844

Questions: Dave Demer, Dave.demer@Entercom.com, 404-238-9445

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I did better at Fort Myers than I expected to, although my expectation were quite low. Lots of low end prints, a few larger pieces, but mostly small stuff. I got lucky with the load-in, being at the Heitman end of the show. Got to the staging lot early, and checked in at Harborside. Found out where the artist parking was (about 3/4 mile down Monroe at the courthouse jury lot), and hightailed it back to the staging lot. Since I was toward the front of the numbers, they let me pull in with my trailer, dump our stuff and get out again.

When we got back to the booth, the volunteers had let our neighbors park their van and trailer in our two spots, so we had to wait a bit while the camper behind them finished and moved, so they could move. One key thing to note here is that booths are on the sides of the street, facing each other, so there is room to get vehicles in and out if one side loads and then the other. But the volunteers didn't have much experience in working this situation. I heard that the situation in the center of the show where the booths are back to back was extremely poorly managed.

Load-out was even easier, since people were able to use some of the surface lots near us. Again, in the center of the show, there is now a waterway, and a large grassy lot that you cannot bring vehicles on to. Very difficult to manage since there is only a narrow driving lane with no passing room.
8869167066?profile=originalSaturday 1 PM

We had good crowds on our end. Not a very high bag to customer ratio, lots of lookers, and sales were brisk from about 11AM to about 2PM. After the rain on Saturday, it cleared out. Artists started closing around 4, and I heard that the show told the Harborside section that the show was officially closed at 4:30 due to rain. We never got that word, but we closed up anyway. Sunday morning awards breakfast has been good in the past. We didn't attend, choosing to get some work done and sleep a bit longer. Congrats to the winners! Sales on Sunday were a bit better for me, but with the exception of a couple of larger pieces, about the same flurry of smaller matted multiples. (I'm a photographer).

8869166894?profile=originalSaturday 4PM

This is a show I'd like to love, but can't. Lots of out-of-towners, which is a double edged sword. The loading logistics here need work. The volunteers are all very pleasant, and like many shows, fairly untrained. The load-in captain at our end knew what he was doing, and it helped. Parking was far away, but the shuttles did run constantly. It worked for us a couple of times, and it was a ten minute walk otherwise. Never saw Sharon McAllister (the director) or Jeanne Seehaver (the hands). I always judge a show by how visible on the street the director and her staff are. They try to be artist friendly, and the twice daily email updates from Jeanne were extremely helpful.

I hope that is useful to those who didn't go. The Jesus imitator was a blip on the radar. The megaphone preachers were annoying as hell, but no more annoying than the elevator music guy across the street from him with the John Denver songs.

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8869170455?profile=original     The Garage Sale Art Fair was held February 27th.  I really look forward to this show every year.  It is great fun catching up with people and the deals are crazy good.  Usually I am there as a shopper.  This year I went with Connie to sell some of Norm's art fair equipment and his art work.  I have not helped her do a show in about ten years.  It was always fun being on the artist's side of the fence and I missed that.  It was really nice talking to the artists as we set up.

     So, three of us loaded up a cargo van, and I happened to be the only person with two good hands, and headed for Kalamazoo.  The load in was super easy.  We were able to park right next to one of the many entrances into the Kalamazoo County Expo Center.  So, the walk from the van to our booth was fairly short.  There wasn't any extra space around the booths for storage.  This event is held indoors and space is at a premium.  That wasn't a problem though because the van was not far away.  We were able to go back and forth all day to get things. 
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     The doors opened at 9:30 am on Saturday morning for customers.  The line was huge and stretched out for a long ways indoors.  People said it was huge outside, too.  When they let the crowds in the place was packed.  At about 12:30 I heard thy had already had 6,000 people come.  Shoppers want to get there early because the deals are so good.  By one o'clock I was already seeing a few booths had shut down and left because they had already sold out.  

     This show is produced Michael Kifer and Bonnie Blandford's Road Wife Productions LLC.  They do a great job.  They were always visible to take care of problems.  Even though Saturday is wild and crazy they were both in great moods and they stayed like that all day long.  On Friday night during set up they served cold bottled water and pizza.  Someone brought in the best brownies to share, too.  Then, on Saturday, to encourage shopper spending, they have a drawing.  About once an hour they draw a shopper's name and give them $20 in Garage Sale bucks to spend at the show.  About 2 pm Bonnie began making announcements from artists for further mark downs.  Poor Bonnie was getting these announcements fast and furiously.  She happily stayed on course and kept making announcements. 

8869170688?profile=original      Artists occasionally posted funny signs to grab the customer's attention.  This sign was on Alison Fox's table.  Alison came with a tons of things.  I walked by her booth about 2 in the afternoon and she was down to a few pieces. 

     This show had about 150 artists.  The artists were housed in to adjoining rooms.  There was food available to purchase from the concession stand in the building.  The food was not the highlight of the day and people were not there to eat but to shop. 
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      This artist with the pottery sells a lot of his inventory every year.  I have seen him before but this year he was determined to get rid of it all.  This was taken later in the day when most of his stuff was gone.

There are about 150 artists that get into this show.  Many artists apply hoping to get one of those spots.  I saw several AFI members there.  AFI member Joan Tweedell was not far from our booth.  I have read many of her show reviews over the years but hadn't met her.  She had some very pretty work with her.

8869171661?profile=originalMy iPhone usually takes crisp photos but I think it was taking a hiatus the day I was at the show.  I had to sharpen these photos.  Sorry about the blur. 

This really is a great show to get rid of your no longer wanted stock.  I have seen some strange items for sale at this show, too.  Last year someone was selling a microwave.  Every year there are a few strange items.  It is worth a try and you never know who may want that item you brought.  This show is a great way to kick off the new art show season.  See you there next year.

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