Recently, I read a blog on AFI about the perils of:

1) Donating your works for charity.

2) Giving a piece of your work for raffle at the Art Fair you are attending.

3) Well, let's not enumerate on… the post was against GIVING AWAY your ART for any reason because it lowers its value.

Why? The jist of the post was that it’s BAD for BUSINESS!

Yes, I have the concept correct, unfortunately. Artists need to be savvy business women/men with cost sheets of realistic pricing, trend analyses, web maximization, facebook advertising, search engines that keep you in the forefront, gadgets that slip on your iPhone to scan credit cards... and on and on and on.

The theme of the post was ANATHEMA to me (nothing personal to whoever wrote it.) and I feel honor bound to represent artists to the best of my ability. While I’m polite to a fault, truthful about costs, and I’ll avoid conflict at all costs - I’ve never told anyone this before and am reluctant to now - that post forces me to take a very public stand:

Every show I find a way to give a piece of my work… to a charming child, a harassed mother, someone with a light pocketbook but the right eyes, a lovely aging beauty…

Isn’t the greatest gift an Artist can give ONE that is personal, rare and God-given: your own art? I think generosity is a civility I see and read about here on this blog daily.

So I am asking YOU.

I am the Director of Global Outreach for the Rainbird Foundation, a non-profit committed to the end of all forms of child abuse with no child left out. If you would like to participate in an act of generosity that would delight the recipient and contribute to the financial stability of this great organization, join me in contributing a piece of your art to them. I’ve never met a more deserving group of people, and their work will go far with our support!

IF THIS APPEALS TO YOU, FIND OUT MORE @: www.Rainbirdfoundation.org

OR CONTRIBUTE A PIECE OF YOUR WORK AND MAIL IT TO: RAINBIRD FOUNDATION, W311S7433 Arbor Drive, Mukwonago, WI 53149

Please, price your work. It will be sold in the Global web store.

Starting sometime early next year, I am looking to feature an artist a month in the store. If you are interested, write me at AFI.

With gratitude,

Linda

Join us live on Thursday, April 19 at 1 pm EST, as Connie speaks with Bonnie Blandford, a Michigan jeweler, and Carla Fox, an Oregon jeweler, as they talk about their experiences developing and running art shows for their peers in the art fair business.

Public Art Project on Tour in Basel, Manfred Kielnhofer

Shared by Austrian artist and designer Manfred Kielnhofer. The “Light Guards” project is further developed and become a ghost car touring in Basel art show during June 15 – 19 2011.

http://artobserved.com/2011/06/ao-on-site-art-fair-news-summary-and-final-photoset-art-42-basel-2011-in-closing/

Eccentric art was also at Basel, if not as dominant a presence as the traditional buys. Ghost Car by Kielnhofer was a large white van with hooded figures driving outside the fair, and the Bleifrei (which translates to Lead Free in German) Art Collective told Art Info: “Art is like Jesus; it died and it’s coming again.”

Manfred Kielnhofer, Ghost Car (2011) Basel, via Kielnhofer.com

The grim seeker after truth
Anyone wondering why these grim reaper style figures were seated on this white van - look no further than the latest installation from artist Manfred Kielnhofer. He is from Haslach an der Mühl, in the district of Rohrbach in Upper Austria, Austria, and is an artist and designer whose work usually centres around the human anatomy. His recent piece of art is the Ghost Car, which is a product of the developing ‘Light Guards’ project. This project surfaced from the theory that humankind has always been able to boast having guardians in different ways, in potential danger from only themselves. This idea intrigued the artist Kielnhofer, who approached it with his artwork, intertwining the theme of longing for security harboured by all humans. The Ghost Car portrays a sizely white van driving, seating sheet-covered figures. Perhaps this reflects individuality, exploration and recognition of current events in society, as it seems to interpret the theme by suggesting the hooded figures are looking to the drapes and car for protection as they are possibly ghosts, who are afraid of the life after death, and long for safekeeping.
By Alessia De Silva
http://austriantimes.at/news/Panorama/2011-08-06/35422/The_grim_seeker_after_truth
http://kielnhofer.com

Stories are Everywhere.

That’s the tag line for Blurb Mobile’s free app that allows you to create your own stories featuring all your personal media from a mobile device.

The catch?  That device must be an iPhone, iTouch, or iPad.  (based on Apple’s quarterly earnings, every family has at least one, right?)

So, if you have one, and you’re in the art biz, pay attention!  This easy-to-use, fun, and cool app can help you market your work.

Blurb Mobile lets you use photos and video  shot from your iPhone (or imported from another camera), sequenced ‘as you wish’ into a “My Story”, provides image editing, and you can add audio clips and/or text captions to each photo.  Director and producer of your very own short, media presentation.

So, how can it be used?

Imagination is the limit, but for example:  My wife and I travel to juried, outdoor art shows…it helps me instantly chronicle show attributes (crowd size, show venue, booth layout, quality and mix of work, etc.) More important I capture highlights of my wife’s work/tent, customer interactions, featured art, etc., then edit it right on the iPhone with the app and hand it to her for audio voice-overs of select images. This adds the personal artist touch and insight to some aspect of the event.  The Story can then be shared ‘real-time’ via email, twitter, facebook, to get the word out (like…”hey friends, I’m at a great art show right now in northeast Louisville…Saturday has been busy and I will be here all day Sunday…Come and check out booth 75!”)

Or…

• Send out a Story in your next email newsletter to keep existing customers informed and engaged on your schedule and new work
• Take a series of short video clips of a ‘painting-in-progress’, capturing the process and the inspirational elements
• Information on a new series of art classes offered

Of course, Blurb Mobile works beyond art stories, offering a way to…“instantly create and share from a social setting, travel location, a personal moment, or, an important event.”

I sent my 87 year old Mom a Story one early morning from my porch, cup of hot java in hand, birds humming, flowers blooming, sun rising…took some photos, voice recorded in some personal thoughts, then hit send and shared the moment with her instantly.  Too cool.  (…Ma, really, it’s there, just click on the little colored link!)

I don’t work for Apple or Blurb, and get zero for this endorsement…just passing along a tip that has worked for us.  I used the Free version for about a day to see how it worked and quickly found the $1.99 upgrade a no-brainer, adding greater media capacity…and the freedom to create better stories.  With the upgrade you get:

• Images:         Up to 15 images per story
• Audio Clips: 1 per image – 2 min per clip
• Video Clips: 3 per story – 30 sec per video
• Themes:       8 additional themes

Check out the details yourself at Blurb Mobile and iTunes App Store. Version 1.3 is now available.

There is no limit to the number of Stories you can create, but, alas…boring content is still boring content.  The app is cool…it just doesn’t promise all the Stories will be! 

The City of Ann Arbor seeks an artist, or artist collaborators to create artwork(s) for permanent inclusion in the southwest corner of the main lobby area of the Ann Arbor Justice Center (AAJC). Deadline for submissions of qualifications has been extended. Contact Aaron Seagraves, Public Art Administrator, for more information. $150K for public art inside Ann Arbor police-courts building lobby. Deadline is 09.01.11 - Ann%20Arbor%20Justice%20Center%20SOQ%20RFQ-797B.pdf.

2.  Guggenheim Grants for artists and scholars 

The John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation is offering unrestricted grant money to selected individuals who demonstrate advanced professional standing in the humanities annd creative arts (excluding performing arts). Fellowships will be granted to individuals who have demonstrated exceptional scholarship/research work or artistic ability. This fellowship is intended to provide time and unrestricted funds to individuals to focus on their projects. Deadline 9.15.11. Learn morehere.

3.  Director of Development - Ann Arbor Summer Festival

The Ann Arbor Summer Festival is seeking a creative and strategic-thinking individual to serve as its Director of Development to plan, manage and implement a comprehensive fundraising program. Details here.

4.  1708 Gallery seeks exhibition proposals for their 2012-2013 season.
National and international artists working in all mediums including, but not limited to, video and film, new media, installation, painting and social practices, and curators are encouraged to submit exhibition proposals. Current students are not eligible. Proposed work must have been created within the last three years. Please visit the exhibitions page of the gallery's website for more details. Deadline: 10.15.11. Gallery website.

5.  WDEE TV (budding local internet TV station) is looking for artists
who would like their art piece placed on the set of a talk show. You will be mentioned in the credits and during the show as that episode's art sponsor. Contact Lfriend@darkelfentertainment.com if interested.

6.  Calling all indie crafters and art makers!
We want you to be a vendor at Liberty Local - a hand made craft fair presented by the Ann Arbor Art Center. The Ann Arbor Art Center is currently accepting applications from artist vendors whose work embraces the indie spirit - unique, handmade and creative. View the rest of the listing on a3arts.org.

All these links come to you by way of the Cultural News from the Ann Arbor area Arts Alliance.

Do you "like" this post? Please, please click on the social media tabs -- Twitter, Facebook, Google & Like

Today is Independence Day. On AFI we celebrate our individualitiy every waking moment. I have been with vocal groups before but YOU ALL define the concept of a "think tank."

So I wondered about all I have read over the past months. Could we get it down to:

ONE THING WE EACH WOULD CHANGE ABOUT THE ART WORLD OR BEING ARTISTS?

(no repeats, except to add an inportant concept to the original)

How high could we go? Each person number your change.

I'll start.

1) I love creating. But I hate having to make enough money to keep the accountant happy. If I could change ONE THING I would improve the economy faster.

Hello all!

I have a couple of questions... I am new to the art show world. I had a small store front studio/gallery (of sorts) up until 2 weeks ago. I converted one of our empty bedrooms in to a nice, convenient studio, which has me very motivated!

I am trying to figure out ways to promote my art and to market myself. I don't want to sound 'over bearing,' cocky, conceited and such.... Anyone have any suggestions? I would greatly appreciate hearing from you!

Thank you all!

~Crystal

I recently came across the Art Fair Insiders site, as i am a gallery owner in Miami, Florida that is currently looking for some fresh, new work for a program we are working on at the Miami Airport. We are displaying art for sale in some of the various Premium VIP lounges. If you are an artist that might be interested, please email me with your email/phone/etc contact information, so that we can email you back with the basic rundown/information/program and specifics to get involved. We would love to locate some great new artwork.

kind regards,

Seth

info@sethjason.com

Well guys, sorry I haven't been posting or 'blogging' but alot has happened since my last post. The economy is making a come back but you have to 'evolve' your self and your work. If you have been on the art show circuit for along time, your stuff becomes 'tired' looking and  people that have seen you for 3 -5 years at the same shows start to see it too. Time to relook your work and think of ways to 'update' it. What? Do I hear that is what my work is and I'm not changing a thing? Well, as artists, we evolve every 5 to 7 years wether you want to or not, it just starts to happen in your work. Take a look at your work that you did 5 years ago and look at the stuff your churning out now...do you see the difference? So does the art festival goers.

So go ahead...go play with that idea that has been churning in your head and work it. See what happens....and let me know!

June 25
Elk Rapids, Michigan
Veteran's Memorial Park
10am-5pm
75 Artists
Deadline: April 1, 2011
 
Where is Elk Rapids?  Visit this link.
 
Elk Rapids is at the center of some of the most affluent real estate in northern Michigan, on the shores of Grand Traverse Bay, near Charlevoix and Harbor Springs.  This area has really blossomed with new homes, golf courses and galleries in the last ten years, making it a desired vacation second home location, for people from Chicago and Detroit.
 
The art fair is held in Veteran's Memorial Park, by Grand Traverse Bay in the heart of this charming harbor town.  Patrons can walk two short blocks where they will find restaurants, antique shops and art galleries.  Elk Rapids already attracts an art-loving clientele the year around.
 
The organizers have planned every detail including a reception (appetizers and wine) the night before for the artists and volunteers.  The next morning volunteers are on hand with golf carts at 5am to unload artists vans and help with setup.  Then the sun comes out and the people show up.  As they know this is a one-day show so it is "now or never."
 
Prize money:
     $1000 Best of show
     $600 Honorable Mention
     $125 Best Display
     $125 People's Choice
 
Space Fees:
     1 space, 1 artist $125
     1 space, 2 artists $175
     2 spaces, 1 artist  $250
 
Testimonials from artists:

--This was a terrific show, well organized, advertised, and well attended.  Glad to be in the show.
 
--My compliments to all involved.  The art presented was upscale.  Very well done.
 
--Thanks for selecting fine art (as opposed to crafts). It's very difficult to find art shows, and if you continue to keep a high standard and accept only fine art, you will get that reputation and buyers coming with the knowledge that it is an art show and they are prepared to spend accordingly.
 
For more information and to download an application visit: www.artrapids.org

Are you free on this date? What a wonderful place to spend a summer weekend, on the shores of Grand Traverse Bay, enjoying the hospitality of this artsy community.

**********************
Do you enjoy being kept up to date on the latest art fair happenings? Then subscribe to our news feed at this link: http://www.feedblitz.com/f/f.fbz?Sub=373715

Location:         

• New location between the Van Aken Shopping Center and Shaker Heights Country Club, just one mile from Hathaway Brown School
• High-visibility  paved surface in a busy shopping, dining and residential area with  ample, free parking, ATMs, restaurants and a gourmet grocery.

• Free Admission
• Live music by area bands 
• A variety of food and drink vendors
• Children's activities and entertainment
• Artist demonstrations

• Reduced rates at nearby hotel
• Sunday Breakfast Party
• Complimentary beverage
• Proximity to shops, restaurants, hotels and services
• Booth sitters
• Courteous, professional staff
• Show  limited to 150 artists, selling to an elite clientele, including the  loyal Hathaway Brown audience, the Shaker Arts Council's music festival  audience, and hundreds of area shoppers

What I won't do, darn it!

I've decided that I'm going to post one artist a day while here at the Fine Art Expo here in Scottsdale.  My photography is lousy, my writing is amateur, but I'd like to honor all my peeps who devote ten weeks of their lives to exhibit at this wonderful show, and have extended a helping hand to me with my endless questions.  Today, for my first victim, I chose Cynthia Downs-Apodaca, who was the first artist I met here last Monday during setup.  She is the first woman I have ever met who is more of a rock geek than I am, and once you see her jewelry, you can see why.  What first caught my eye were the opals, since opals are my favorite gemstone and I can spot one at a hundred yards across an art show.  The silver wire braiding that she does is so intricate, I don't think my photos can even come close to doing it justice:

She also has these fabulous pieces she calls Tidal Pools, and in this one, the bottom stone- an Australian boulder opal- actually has a teeny beach scene in it!  Talk about the intricacy in nature! 

I'm also impressed whenever I see a woman firing up an acetylene torch and power tools, as she was hard at work one evening, after the show had closed.  Look for her wearable minerals at cynthiadowns.com. 

Cynthia, sans goggles and mask:

I can truly say she rocks!

Hi, Im fairly new at the art fair scene and recently did my first art fair as far as Florida. I am very amazed at poeple who come out there and pretend to be making the art they are selling. I walked around and found a few artist that had work that I can get at home from one of my suppliers. I couldnt believe someone would have the guts to do that. A few of the other jewelers also noticed and it did get reported to the staff. The guy had actually taken the first place ribbon .but after finding out about him he was asked to leave and did not recieve the cash prize for it. I find the fault here was that they had one judge for 108 artists. It seems to me that one person cannot be an expert in all fields. I did suggest that to them at the end of the art show so perhaps they will learn from that.

     The show was not good for me,which I was sad about. However, after walking around and talking to the other artists I found out it was not good for them either. It was a smaller show and people said this year no one seems to be buying. For my first show out of Michigan it was a bummer. but the more I read on this web site that seems to be the risk we take as artists.  I guess Ill keep on creating and keep on going. 

I started Phoenix Rising Designs in 2004 after about 6 years of apprenticing and selling for other artists and designers. I have worked some really great art shows and one really muddy one. Seriously, shin deep in mud and sleeping in my van. The bathrooms weren't finished with walls between the toilets so... Anyway, I've done my share of moving around with my work! haha I am a wife and mother to one son and I homeschool him. I also fill in at a vintage clothing store and a bead store and teach classes at a wellness center on Gemstone Therapy.

I mentioned "people", right? Well those of you who have helped me in the past are free to add your stories as well. Rozee, we almost got stolen, remember? haha Brittany, you helped me for about 6 or 7 seasons and fell asleep with mud and rocks in your hair, right? My husband and son helped be run stuff to the van in pouring sheets of rain in Huron, Oh. Cambrey, how many lunches did we eat at that apple festival again? These are the silly, crazy, and (sick, right?) fun stories but I also have met some great people, had wonderful sales and fantastic times on circuit too.

I am currently working like crazy to add more wholesale accounts to my business. My styles are tribal and steampunk jewelry. I have an online store http://www.phoenixbartender.etsy.com/. Why "phoenix bartender"? Well I like the mythical creature and I've been a bartender since 2001 at night and an artist by day.

Rambling on...thank you for reading and thank you for adding my business to your "LIKE" list on facebook.

You are all welcome to join me at the NASGA sponsored annual sea glass festvial held in Hyannis, MA this upcoming weekend.

Here are the details:

North American Sea Glass Festival: October 9th & 10th

10am to 6pm on Saturday

10am to 5pm on Sunday

At the Cape Cod Resort and Conference Center in Hyannis, MA

$5:00 admission

over 50 sea glass artists, displays, lectures and a "Shard of the Year Award" with a first prize of $1000.00

My booth Sea Glass Jewelry by Danielle Renee' will be at booth #2. Please come by and say hello!

• The high booth prices
• Logistics of exhibiting in this huge city

Visit the website for more details: www.ContemporaryArtFairNYC.com

Questions? Richard Rothbard, producer, will be pleased to answer your email or phone calls (845-661-1221).

Absolutely Amazing Booth Fee

$390.00 10 x 10

· $535.00 10 x 15
· $780.00 10 x 20
visit website for complete details

americancraftshownyc.com | contemporaryartfairnyc.com

---

Artists working in the Adirondack Style. Furniture & Furnishings never before seen at any metro NYC show!

Live demonstrations & workshops

Sponsored by An American Craftsman Galleries Produced by American Art Marketing

• 69% of the attendees are artists, crafters, wanna-be artists and their spouses and children and friends. The artists are looking at what's being sold, what is relevant, what is new and are looking for ideas for techniques, materials, etc.
• 25% of the attendees are our "accidental" tourists; visiting the area, looking for something to do while on vacation, at a conference, etc. If it is a free event, it's a day out. Sometimes they're just there for the entertainment/music/food and the art festival is the side show.
• 1% are trying to sell the artists something - plexi card holders, advertising, web sites, etc.
  
• 5% of the attendees are actually looking for art.
  
• • most of them have a small budget and won't actually buy anything or will buy a small print or bowl or ornament
    
  • most of them don't have any room for more art
  • many of them will buy jewelry because they don't have any room for more art
    
  • some want to get a deal and want to bargain with you
    
  • and of those left...that actually know about art, want to know where you show your work, want to see your portfolio, discuss your inspiration, etc.
    
  • • only a few of them can make a decision [with their spouse] to buy something at that moment
    • even fewer have the means to do so.

• 100% of them are there to sell their work.