Eagerly I drove down I-55 through the corn fields of Illinois from Chicago. For someone who loves to be on the road I was nearly ecstatic to be seeing the country again and also anticipating seeing friends in St. Louis. As I pulled into St. Louis at 5:10 pm the skies opened up with heavy rain and the wind roared between the buildings. No art fair for me or anyone else that night.
vans lined up in the hotel parking lot ready for the next day
Luckily I was spotted by artist Amy Flynn and her partner Phil Crone as I was unloading my car so the evening wasn't lost as they invited me to join them for a drink and a lot of catching up on their art fair travels.
Phil and Amy
Cindy Lerick, executive director, is a seasoned event promoter, whose background includes organizing marathons where she has had to make many weather-related calls. She quickly assessed the weather and shut the show down for the night. More details on this on John Leben's post.
Saturday and Sunday both dawned to beautiful weather, perfect for an art fair.
Long time Operations Director Laura Miller
Commemorative posters with artwork by Jeffrey Cannon who has beautiful pastels, but I really want an original.
What is special about this event:
- they received around 1400 applications for 180 spaces
- the jury took three days to make their choices, assuring a fair look for all applicants
- they operate on a small budget and yet are generous to exhibitors, booth spaces looked to be about 15 x 15 with many generously sized corners. They could fit a lot more artists in and profit from it for their bottom line yet decline to do so. It was very comfortable for visitors as well as artists.
- the artist hospitality area was open to VIP's as well, with no one checking ID, a nice place to rest
- I know there were sponsors somewhere but obviously not intrusive as I never ran into their spaces
- children's activities looked varied but lively, in a huge parking lot far from artists booths
- lots of nice restaurants with outdoor eating areas so patrons could sit down, eat and drink and keep an eye on the show
I know more about photography than any other media so was interested to see who had been chosen. The photography in the show was quite good, most of the photographers still going to the darkroom, or its digital equivalent; studio work prevailed with interesting processes and fiber paper used by many. Especially loved the work of Chris Dahlquist, Randy Dana, Mark MacKinnon, Janet Woodcock and Michael Cole, and a pleasure to see the reappearance of Jill Bedford, who had left the business for a while.
Photographer Mark MacKinnon
Loved meeting some of AFI members
and contributors David Bjurstrom, Daryl Thetford, John Leben, Jack Brumbaugh, Michael Wommack, Ana Petercic, Paul Willsea, John Costin (looking for a new tent on the site after his experiences), Marina Terauds, Gregg Rasmussen, Terry Evans and so many of you other "lurkers." (You know who you are!)
Great to meet David Bjurstrom!
Greetings to all my old friends, such a treat to see and visit again with Tom McGurrin, Matthew Naftzger, Dawn Adams, Charles Gatewood (my date for the artist award breakfast-thanks, Charlie), Joachim Knill, Stephen Sebastian, Marian Steen (so sorry I couldn't stick around for your party), Scott and Kathrine Allen-Coleman, Andrew Shea, Aaron Hequembourg, Sally Bright, Mark & Julie Glocke, Mark Sudduth, Xavier Nuez, Michael Hamilton, Matthew Hatala.
Scott Coleman helps Scott Swezy move a new painting to replace the one he sold
Daryl Thetford makes the sale
Paul Willsea sends a piece of glass to a new home
Don't think Matthew Hatala could have gotten more people into his booth, do you?
Helen Gotlib wins the award for best hat ;)
Joe DeCamillis & Sally Bright
Artwork by Daniela Ovtcharov, Sam Stang and Nathan Grubich & Amanda St. Hilaire-Grubich
Would you like to be in this art fair next year? Best suggestion is to visit their site: culturalfestivals.com and examine the artist images there in your category and see where you can fit in and compete. Many thanks to Cindy Lerick for her hospitality and to all her Board who make this art fair one of the best in the nation.
Connie Mettler, operations director Laura Miller, artist Gilliam Kemper, artist Joe DeCamillis, director Cindy Lerick,
artist Marian Steen, Ann Geister, judge Sarah Rishel
Here's even more! My YouTube video -- please don't criticize the "production values"
