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?
