shows (83)

After Expo report! Home at last...

April 5...Somewhere on I-10 in Texas

When you begin describing a life-changing experience, it is difficult to put it into words that don’t sound trite or hackneyed.

During the initial rush to start tearing down at 6:30 on Sunday, it was easy to keep focused on the task at hand and not dwell on the fact that we had formed close friendships and would be saying goodbye.  But Monday morning, as I walked through the tent for a final check, I was bawling like a calf.  After three months of living, working, sharing, and playing with other artists, you become really close. These are the people that I want to be around: a genuine, creative, caring, sharing community.  I have never been a part of one like this; the closest thing was college, but that wasn’t the same.  Here, as adults who are pursuing their dreams and fulfilling who they want to be, there was little animosity or jealousy.  Framer Dude and I were accepted and embraced, and he became an integral part of this family- something he didn’t expect.  As the one left-brained, pragmatic, problem solver amidst a sea of right-brained artists, he became the go-to guy for anything and everything.  From manning the grill and cafe, to building frames and easels, to helping set up and tear down weekend shows, to trouble shooting RV and auto difficulties, there was perhaps four days out of seventy that he had nothing to do.  I have to admit, in January, I was worried that he’d be bored silly in the middle of the desert.  But now, he’s anticipating coming back next year to our new friends.  The drive just sucks.


I think you get back what you put into life, once you find where you’re supposed to be and what you’re supposed to do.  I explored creative avenues and pulled off several new paintings, tried new approaches that didn’t work, and learned about focusing (not easy with ADHD). We have preconceived notions of whom we become friends with. Though we come from all over the country from all walks of life, we found common ground with each other and shared the joys of selling and the hard times; we shared knowledge, critiques, trust, aggravations, poker games, recipes, meals, and happy hours.  My daily walking partner, Shalah, a sculptor of magnificent spiritual pieces and her sister Karen, are ranchers from Colorado whose down-to-earth frankness is similar to my own New York attitude, without my accent (which always tickled Travis from Utah). I found an adopted mother and father in Jeanne and Travis, and an older sister in Cynthia that I love to shop with. Fountain Steve, our RV neighbor, missed his family up in Oregon terribly, and found a place with us many nights.  Kaleidoscope Steve and Framer Dude became buddies and were constantly trading wit.  Marlon and Terri somehow encouraged anti-religion Framer Dude to go to church with them.   They’re going to have their work cut out for themselves next year. 

 

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Framer Dude and Marlon

 

I know this is also supposed to report on the economics of the show as well.  Judy, Judi and Dennis do an amazing job promoting the Expo, no easy task when there’s already one other ten-week show going on at the same time (Celebration) and which has a prime location right off the 101.  But the patrons who came always remarked on the atmosphere at Expo- welcoming and approachable.  Some artists did exceptionally well; some did not. The economy is still being felt in Arizona, but Scottsdale and the surrounding neighborhoods of Carefree and Cave Creek are second- and third-home communities.  Canadians make up a large part of the art-buying, and Canada’s economy is still strong. 


But the rewards went far beyond financial.  I learned how full time artists work, since that’s something I’ve never experienced neither here in my isolated little part of the world nor, for that matter, anywhere else.   Art tends to be an isolated venture, and it’s up to each artist to find solidarity among other artists, if they need that.  I was brought up in a family that treated art as something that (fill in the adjective here) people did and was not taken seriously as a career.  This trip to Arizona showed me professional, responsible artists that make it work.  It is possible to have a career as an artist, and it’s a lot of work.  But I’ve worked hard at other jobs that I didn’t like, so why waste my time on that?  When I do my marketing, networking, creating, it doesn’t feel like work.  It feels like what I’m supposed to do, and I’m glad I’m here to report on that and share with all of you.  I will have the silly pictures coming soon, since we not only work hard, we play hard too!!

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Call for Artists: 6th Annual Art Rapids!

8871855301?profile=originalJune 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:8871855875?profile=original
     $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.

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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

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Arizona Fine Art Expo is winding down...

...and how do I feel?  A metaphorical picture says a thousand words:

Before Expo:

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After Expo:

 

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Same brush.  A #7 red sable filbert.  We both worked out tails off.  For those of you who have been wondering what in tarnation happened to me, I promise there will be full reports coming.  Once I park my watongus in the sand of Pensacola's Gulf beaches next week and have two margaritas in hand, I will have the full Expo digest.  But, in short, it has been the most productive three months of my young career as a full-time artist, I've met fellow artists who have become good friends, and I will be bawling my eyes out when I leave.  

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Before I forget, notes from the road that I took and had no real internet access. (who really has the patience to blog on a Droid? Not me)...if you’re ever traveling in an RV on I 10 through LA and TX, there’s a terrific rest area just east of the stateline in Slidell, LA.  It’s the Welcome Center available to both east and west bound travelers, set off the interstate, and although it says no overnight parking, the security guard directed us to an RV campground area, separate from the big rigs, where they had a dump station and water pumps available free.  Despite the fact it was 23 degrees that night and we had no gas for the genie for heat, we slept very well.  It’s all about layering.  It reminded me of the show I did in Cape Coral last January, when it was sleeting and dropped to 30 at night.  We had just gotten the RV, and checking out the heater was not on the list of priorities.  Who needs to worry about heat on an RV when you live in Florida, right? 

Today we were able to venture out for pleasure, namely the Carefree Fine Art and Wine Festival, and enjoy this absolutely perfect weather that the Phoenix area has to offer this time of year.  The civil engineers/ city planners of Carefree have built a spectacularly beautiful town in Carefree.  I am enchanted by a town that does not have those horrible strip mall billboard store advertisements that seem to line every street in America, and concrete laid everywhere.  The goal of this city's planning was to blend with the natural desert landscape, and they show what can be done with a little careful planning, more focus on aesthetics, and less on the almighty dollar.  And a lot of buckos, too.  Framer Dude was a little annoyed that we couldn't see what was in each shopping plaza as we passed, or even if it was a shopping plaza, and I suppose I see his point from the driver's seat of a ginormous dually in a town really geared for Porsches and Mini coopers.   But it is a town that is a pleasure to explore, even if we had to turn around once or twice to find the Target to get our wireless adapter.  But I digress...

Thunderbird, from what I've heard, is a family-oriented operation that puts on top-notch festivals, and there was great quality art at this show.  There seemed to be a good balance of mediums, and in fact, seemed light on jewelry, probably because it was all very high end.  I got to meet a few artists who will be exhibiting at the Expo next week, who were taking in a last weekend show before settling down for 10 weeks under the tents behind me.  I am really looking forward to this Expo, and confident in Judy, Judi, and Dennis' abilities to attract the buying patrons.  I must admit I have a few worries that I am not Southwest enough.  But I guess that's the normal jitters when one ventures outside one's comfort zone.  From what I've been reading in the AFI discussions, FL's shows have been losing ground for a while, so if I ( as a fairly newcomer to the business) was able to make some profit in FL, then anywhere else will seem like gravy.  Right? No?  I hear about the artists who did shows in the glory days of the 90's and sold out their inventory, had 5 figure shows, and I can't even wrap my mind around that...

This is an enormous setup that goes on here that even Framer Dude the Pragmatic was impressed by.  The 2D artists' booths occupy probably close to 2 1/2 acres under the tent, and I can't fathom the work that goes into putting that puppy up.  Then, there is an outdoor sculpture garden of about half an acre, which includes a Koi pond and specimen plants.  I can't wait to see it all come together.  We've met and broken bread (ok, cracked a beer with) some artists doing double duty and helping to erect this exhibit, and everyone is as nice as can be, which once again makes me glad to have chosen this profession (actually, it chose me).   What's also super sweet is that my booth is only 200 dollying feet away from our RV (and bed)! 

Tomorrow, I bust out the paints and start some sketching for new ideas.  I love the desert and the cactus; it's so different than where I'm from, I'm getting a much needed kick in the pants to try something new!  I just have to be careful when I back up while taking pictures: I almost sat on one of these.8871850065?profile=original

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Post from January 10, 5 pm after switching driving...

Well, days and 875 miles into the road trip and Framer Dude and I haven’t killed each other yet, that’s a good sign.  But we have 1,200 miles left, 800 miles of it just through Texas alone, so there’s a lot of tread left on these tires, so to speak. 

I hate interstates.  They take the fun out of a road trip, but for the sake of expediency, they’re a necessary evil.  Coming home I will do secondary routes.  There’s so much out here to see and I don’t want to become cynical, too “been there, done that”, too old in the mind.  That’s one thing that is vastly different between my road trips in my teens and now, and I touched on that in my last post.  I had Tom Petty’s Full Moon Fever album (HA!! I just showed my age!!) playing as I left Louisiana and blasted into Beaufort, TX.   I reminisced that I had first bought the cassette tape for a road trip when I was 18 and taking a road trip on I 90 west with my college buddy Warren, when I was the only one in my dorm with a car (my great-aunt’s 71 Maverick, 3 on the tree, no heat, no ac, no power brakes or steering, and a gas gauge that worked intermittently).  We would get a hair up our butt to just “go west” into cow country out of Albany, NY to see what there was to see.  I still remember that sense of adventure, the excitement and we and maybe a few other clueless 18 year old piled into my car and headed west.   No particular destination, just wanted to see what was around the next bend.

I miss that feeling.  Sure, I’m excited as a little painter can be, going to the expo across the country, quitting a 40K steady job to do it, how much more ballsy can you be?  But I want to be that adventurous kid again.  I want to wonder what’s around the next bend, be wide eyed at the mystery and beauty of it all.  I don’t want to be a staid middle ager reluctant to leave the security of my GPS and next clean pair of socks.  Going on a road trip used to mean you definitely weren’t going out there to be sure there was a Walmart within 10 miles.  I know my fellow RV’ers out there know what I mean, and most of us artists too, because that’s what we do- create from a place that inspires us, and try to pass that along. 

But for the moment, time is of the essence, and here I am on on I 10 weaving my artmobile through Houston’s rush hour traffic. I am always a little awed by the sweeping concrete overpasses that crisscross each other around cities, I suppose in the same way that Edward Hopper was when he painted his cityscapes.  There is a kind of industrial beauty that Art Deco was fascinated with.  I may try my hand at painting one of them if I ever get bored of rocks.  I guess if you think about it, the overpasses are a kind of rock...maybe.

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...that this is where you are supposed to be?  For the past couple of years, I've toyed with the idea of attending a workshop for a week, and hopefully be able to choose someone who is a good teacher and a good artist.  Now, here, it appears my search has been fulfilled, because I am surrounded daily by hard at work artists.  The energy here is amazing, intense and positive.  Other artists echo my sentiment; they accomplish more work in the ten weeks here than the rest of the year.  I've truly missed the old art school feeling I remember of pulling all nighters and the determination to create, create, create.  I have even found the courage to plunge into a stylistic change which has been lurking in the back of my mind as I've found myself a bit bored with the photo-realism I'm known for.  It seems as soon as Framer Dude and I crossed the AZ border, the name Georgia O'Keeffe  rose, unbidden, into the forefront of my mind.  Now, I have been somewhat familiar with her work most of my adult life.  But when I did a Google search the other night on her images, her work resonated within me for the first time. Aha,  I thought to myself, THIS is where abstraction meets realism !  I'm not going to say I understand abstract art or "get " it all the time;  I'm not too proud to say that I still don't really get Pollock.  But seeing Georgia's realistic intimate landscapes (as I have come to call mine) and her consequent progressions into abstractions of the same subject, I see what she's trying to say.  It's a catharsis of sorts.

I have met artists here at the peaks of their careers, and they are generous in  sharing their acquired knowledge and providing constructive critiques.  Understand, I have worked in near solitude for the past 10 years, where productive interaction with fellow artists was brief, few and far between.  I couldn't have chosen a better workshop, and paid less, since this is a ten week gig, plus there is the opportunity to make sales.  I broke the ice today and sold 2 (small) pieces, with a strong bite from her friend on a much larger piece.  Here, the artists have a silly little dance that they all do to celebrate each other's sales (after the celebrant patron has left the vicinity, of course.).  I will be inducted tomorrow morning.

Did I mention our Happy Hour?  Every day, at 5, a metal artist sounds his gong, and many of us who have been hard at work all day rush to gather at one artist's booth, who takes his role as master artist seriously and master of happy hour very graciously.  Framer Dude is in awe of him.  He is the consummate successful professional artist who is able to enjoy life to the fullest and is utterly gracious.  As Dude stated last night, "He cranks out a %$#^&!@ painting a week, gets paid $%^@& good $$$, and %$#&!  parties at night!  Why can't you be him?"  Or something like that,  I didn't hear the rest of it, I pushed him off the log into the fire. (Dude was between his fourth and fifth Jack so he didn't feel the third degree burns til this morning)  Anyway...patrons sometimes mingle with the artists during this very informal setting, and they get a kick out of hanging with us.  I have met some terrific artists who are terrific people also, and for a relative newbie like me, it's a brilliant view of what one can accomplish in the short-term, as well as long-term for life goals.

Anyhow, I just know that this is where I am supposed to be right now, and quitting my 40K a year job in FL was just a part of it.  All my pics are on the Mac right now, so I'll share them later.

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Cutting down on traveling, are you too?

Well, I traveled long and hard this year and I think I will be staying closer to home with all the traveling expenses and all.....to make a long story short, I added the expenses and what I netted.....That was alot of traveling and work to only make a few hundred dollars a show! So I decided to stay closer to home and try the smaller shows in my area plus it was taking a toll on my health. I'm getting very creative on where and how I'm displaying my work and extending my subject manner to things I haven't painted in years. It seems to be working or the economy is starting to pick up...slowly but surely.

I ask you fellow artists, what have you been doing to keep on going?

 

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Laguna Beach Art Affair?

Has anyone done this 9 week show?  I can think of worse ways to spend June, July, and August (in Florida)...but is this a good fine art venue?  One artist told me to avoid the Sawdust festival, as it tended towards crafts, and thought maybe Art Affair only allowed CA residents, but I don't see anything on the eligibility indicating that.  My board would fit perfectly next to my tent :)
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Announcing the Florida Keys Art Guild!

Hello, I would like to announce the website (with a few tweaks to come :) of the Florida Keys Art Guild.

We have been in exsistence for 10 years now and have recruited some new blood to bring the Guild into the 21st Century.

I would like to say a few things about the Guild which I hope will educate all who are interested.

We are a collective of hard working individuals who strive to bring the best artist from all around the county to our beautiful Florida Keys.

  • We are painters(of all media types), photographers, sculptors, jewelers, mixed-media artist, glass blowers,woodworkers, potters, fabric artist and many, many more.
  • We are staff artists.
  • We are not an artists club.
  • We are a Guild: a union of men and women in the same craft or trade.
  • We jury artist based on a collective of different individuals who strive to bring high quality arts and crafts to the buying public.
  • We don't fix prices or mandate pricing structure at our art shows.
  • We need you. As more and more artist join our ranks, the bigger and stronger we become.

An advocate is:

  • One who pleads the cause of another
  • One who defends or maintains a cause
  • One who supports or promotes the interest of others

The Florida Keys Art Guild is your advocate.

In closing, we are here to support artists of all walks. How about taking a walk with us.

Thank you.

Joey R. Smith (Large Format Photographer)

Show Chairmen

www.floridakeysartguild.com

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Community Affairs mid week gulf coast shows.

'I am considering doing the Community Affairs mid week shows in February on the gulf coast. The entry fee seems pricey for the show. I am coming down to Fl in February from Atlanta, will do Mt Dora and looking for another show.Did not even bother to apply to the bigger Fl shows as many friends had a tough time with sales last year..

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Introduction to Phoenix Rising Designs

Ok I decided to add this as a way of introducing myself and let you know what Phoenix Rising Designs is and the people behind it!

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.

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Great Lakes Lighthouse Festival Report

Althought geared as a Festival dedicated to raising funds to help preserve and restore our nation's lighthouses, it is also a great art, craft, photographer's and author's dream. There is something for everyone from stain glass to collector's wines, from crocheted works to wood arts, from traditional photography to photography on pottery, glass, and handmade jewelry that was just exquisite.

Being a photographer and fiber artist, I had lots of pictures, watercolor paintings and handwoven baskets for sale. Although I didn't make a ton of cash, I don't think I did too poorly for my first venue as a vendor. I'm taking into account that I was also working the show as their Official Photographer (I also sold CD's containing pictures of the entire 4-day show, plus events) so I was doing double duty, not to mention taking photos at all the dinners. Let's just say that some of those dinners were simply outrageous with fundraising gimmicks, like shaving one gentleman's head while he was dressed in a squaredancing dress (for that the GLLF raised over $1,000). The weather was just fantastic, not too hot and not too cold with plenty of sunshine. I did generate a lot of questions with my ribbon regarding Patron for the Artfair Insiders! Hopefully, more people will visit to see what it's al about and join.

Some of the vendors did great while others did not so hot, but again, it depended on presentation, how affiable the sellers were to the public and how willing they were to ask questions or just chat. Sometimes those chat sessions turned into "sell" sessions. I sold quite a bit of my photo's that way and they were ones that didn't have a lighthouse in the bunch!

Looking forward to doing it again next year and will have a lot more items geared to what I noticed sold and didn't sell. I'll also be making a return visit as their Official Photographer! So I really had a win-win situation.

Hope that if you didn't get to be there this year, you'll be there next year.

Terri at the Drake's Nest in Ossineke, MI

Site: www.drakesneststudio.com

Blog: www.drakesneststudio.wordpress.com

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Well, I am a dichroic glass jewelry artist who work in CO during the summer and lives in Florida the rest of the time. I spent 4 months in CO this summer and the last show I did was the Boulder Fall Festival on Pearl Street Mall in downtown Boulder. They hold several others show there; one which I
did in July. They also have a Boulder Creek Festival a few blocks away from this site which is very
successful as well Memorial Day weekend in May.

The Fall Festival is a bit more than an arts/craft show as it includes entertainment all weekend, lots of kids activities and about 40 artists/vendors. It is juried and includes electricity with the $225 booth fee. This mall is a street turned into a walking mall with lots of restaurants, boutiques, art/crafts shops, and very special shops catering to just about anything. It is well known and well attended however, the tourists are mostly gone with fall coming on and school started. This was the third show
I did in Boulder and it was the slowest of the three. I would still do it again for a fill in since I live in
CO til that last weekend before I come back to Florida.

The promoter, Downtown Boulder, Inc. is well seasoned for this type of event and are good about
taking water around to the artists all day. They also provide scones and juice in the morning to get
you going. It is easy to set up/tear down as you can drive on the mall to get close to your booth.
The hours are long on Saturday since you can only set up Saturday AM but the show runs from 11 am to 10pm Saturday and 11am to 6pm Sunday. Parking is free on the weekends downtown and lots of
it .
Take care.
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From Passion to Survival - why we do art shows

I've always thought that there are two types of people who do art shows, and probably many that fall in between. Most are those that are creative and can take advantage of the concept of art shows by using that creativity to earn a living and support a family. And there are people that cant deal with the real work world and don't get along well with others. Its relative easy to tell which type that is when you're set up next to someone you either get along or don't get along with.

I became interested in photography in the early 1970’s and found that I had an innate understanding and love of the medium. I carried a camera everywhere and took pictures every day. It became an obsession. I spent a few weeks one summer on Monhegan Island (Maine) and ran into a woman who was selling her etchings. She had them spread out on a bench in front of the restaurant where most of the people ate. Intrigued by the concept of selling artwork, the following summer I brought a few boxes of my own matted photographs and the sales paid for my summer vacation. That same woman told me about a few shows in New York City that she had been exhibiting at. I made some calls and got the applications and I once I did my first show I was hooked.

Back then everything was low tech. There were no professional looking displays, everything was hand made. My first display was built with 1x2’s and pegboard with clear plastic thrown over the top if it rained.

There were no uniform bodies of work and no jury slide photographers to photograph them. Those specialties didn't exist yet. And it was relatively easy to get accepted to almost every show you applied to. You learned about shows by word of mouth from other artists, and once I learned about Sunshine Artist Magazine, I would pour over it from cover to cover looking for shows to apply to. I moved from doing mall shows to outdoor shows where you could earn more money in two days outside than for a week in a mall where you spent most of your time reading books and eating.

Once I started doing art shows on a regular basis, I became part of a "family" of artists. Friendships developed and we looked forward to seeing the same people from show to show, maybe sharing breakfast or dinner with them and you watched each others family change and children grow up. Doing art shows was a fun way of earning a living.

Technology started to affect the art show business, as it did everything else in our world. Displays began to look more professional. Bodies of work became tighter. Shows started getting more competitive. Even vehicles became more suited for transporting art.

Things were good through the end of the 1990’s. Some artists consider 9/11/2001 as the date things began to slide downhill because people cut back on non essential spending. But if you think about it, change was inevitable. Art shows became more about the money than about the art. Baby boomers were starting to age, they were the artists and the buyers of the artwork. The Internet had a substantial affect as people began to make purchases on line. You could find all sizes of art at very low prices at the big box stores. Costs related to art shows began to rise as sales dropped and artists began to earn less money. Then the move to online applications happened and the number of people applying to shows increased making it more difficult to get into shows where they would earn less money.

For some, the move from 35mm jury slides to digital jury images and the online application system became the reason or blame for the downhill trend. Better quality images of your art were now within reach of everyone, not just those artists who had hired a professional jury slide photographer in the past. With higher quality images being prepared by more and more artists, it was inevitable that applications would become more competitive.

So where will it end? Shows are no longer fun to do and artists no longer are able to make the money they did in the past. And that's where I'm going to end this essay.



Larry Berman
Digital J u r y Services
http://BermanGraphics.com
412-401-8100
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Kentucky Shows 2010 part 3

I am finally home after my 'tour' of shows in Kentucky. And what a tour it was! I thought Florida was hot but boy, it was sweltering. I never show in the heat and try to avoid it, usually Kentucky is tolerable but not so this time. My last show was Francisco's Farm in Midway College. I heard it was a great show and now I know why. Set-up on Friday was unbearable with the weather blistering. I took my time and usually a 3 hour set-up took me almost 6 hours, resting and drinking plenty of water. I loved the fact that this was the most orginized show I have ever done. They greet you with a 'team' of volunteers that help you load your stuff in carts and while you go park your car, your stuff is already at your spot..that was great but one thing is they unloaded it in the middle of my space so I had to move everything to get it out of the way in order to build my tent. The property was beautiful, my kind of show, sitting amongst horses under trees! Nice. After set-up they had a nice artist dinner in the college cafeteria by the local cafe' chef which consisted of chicken, and all the sides but nothing for a vegetarian that also has lactose issues. Eating is so difficult to do when I travel. So back to my hotel I went to pass out and head back in the morning. The next day it was even hotter! The news and newspapers where telling everybody to stay inside so you can guess that it was slow. But still, the art was all top draw, always had a volunteer to help me out. The next day was not so hot but it still was blasting. I had a little run of sales and even meet the original promoter of the show which turned out great for me, I got into the gallery he owns here in Lexington so everything happens for a reason.All in all, it was an A plus show in a D minus economy. I will definitly be back next year. This is my new favorite show (sorry Ocala, but I still love you too!). Everyone hang in there. This economy will pick up soon. Don't give up and keep treading the hampster wheel!
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Siesta Fiesta

Another in the long list of Howard Allen events. Well advertised. Hige crowds. Lots of dogs of all sizes. Beachy atmosphere and casual feel but few people parting with their money. In my section, beachy sayings on wood sold well as did the inepensive jewelry. Did see some floral arrangements and garden art going by but very few bags were evident. No one really raved about their sales. Weather was warm with a nice breeze both days. Threat of rain vanished as the day went on Sunday. Sunday was cloudier than Saturday but in the low 80's none the less. Well managed show but I need a more upscale buyer than attended the show.

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San Diego Artwalk

I tried to get this note posted months ago about the San Diego Artwalk, which takes place in late April. Yes, Connie is right about their publicity, etc., but there is a downside to this show. I talked to two of the directors at the Peoria NAIA conference last Sept. I had a lot of questions to ask about the show, because I wanted to apply to it; it's near where I grew up.According to the directors, they get about 1,000 applicants for about 300 booth locations; previously accepted artists get precedence in acceptance over new applicants; previously exhibiting artists get preferential booth placements over first-time artists; the main street on which the festival takes place doesn't hold all of the booths, so overflow goes onto side streets, which doesn't get near the foot traffic of the main drag; and - the kicker - first time accepted artists usually get the side streets. In my opinion, you have to lose money the first year or two until you move up to the main traffic flow - if you have a product that sells. Take a close look at the images posted by the previous artists and the images posted by the show about the festival itself. If you think your work fits into this world, go for it. Enjoy San Diego in the spring, it can be quite lovely, with warm weather, lots of flowers, moderate temps and few, if any storms. Or, just fly out there and have a real vacation without doing any shows!Mike Stipek
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