The Northern VA Fine Arts Festival has always been one of my favorites. I find that they nearly always deliver a knowledgeable and appreciative crowd. Although the spring weather has often brought storms with winds tunnels from the tall buildings, this year was definitely a wonderful exception with near perfect weather both days. I only saw about 60% of the show and I thought it looked well juried.
This year, with a donation of a piece of art valued at at least $500, I was invited to participate in the Preview event on Friday evening. Another group of artists was invited to set up mini-exhibits of their work for the preview. There were just less than 20 pieces in the live auction and the average winning bids seemed to be around $400. The donating artists had the option of splitting the bid 50/50 with GRACE or donating the bid entirely to GRACE. The event was very well attended by approximately 250 people and the food was fantastic.
In the past several years, this show has been challenged with new layouts, due to "growing pains" in the Town Center. However, it seems that construction near the site of the show is almost completed and, for one of the first times, there appeared to be no dead zones. With the exception of Library St., booths were set up only on one side of the street. This contributes to easy load-in and load-out as well as making it easier for the crowds to see the show and not missing exhibitors.
It was my observation that this was one of the better selling shows that I've attended in some time, with many customers carrying more than one purchase. I, personally, had my best show, anywhere, in five years, due to repeat sales to some good collectors. I do contemporary paintings in the $200-$5000 range.
I enjoyed finally meeting fellow AFI'er, Jim Parker, and his lovely wife, Karyn, who were my neighbors. I agree with Jim, that this may be a show that starts slower for newbies but picks up, so I hope they will give it a couple more years!
GRACE was challenged for funding this year, by the loss of some big sponsors, and were trying to be creative in recouping funds. But, I think most artists were not happy with their new (optional) fee of $100 to select their block (not space) assignment. This is a bad precedent to be setting for other shows, who already charge extra for electricity, corner booths and parking, etc. Instead, I think that booth or block preference should be rewarded to 1) award winners, 2) artists who donate to the Preview Party auction or the C-Note event and 3) artists who pay their booth fees promptly after receiving their invitation to the show.
There are so many wonderful restaurants in the Town Center, that I wish the show would have them provide us with sample menus for orders to go and perhaps coupons for the artists, in lieu of meager lunches.
Finally, there was never a lack of volunteers if you needed to take a break. I'm glad the weather cooperated to provide for a successful show this year in Reston.
Comments
Deborah, I just checked the guide to the show and see that you were at the far end of the show by the Parkway. Sounds like sales were off for most at that end. 75% of my sales were to one collector. Without him, my show would have been par with the other weak shows these past four years. I agree with you that there are always some artists doing much better than others at the show. Thanks for posting, as it is always helpful for others to see the range of feedback. One great review does not mean a great show.
I also see that I made a mistake when I wrote that Library St had two rows of booths, it was Explorer St., as Library St. had one row.
Sorry I missed you and TP, but hope to see you down the road.
Glad our friend Ginny did well, but there are some other views of the show that veer in a less rosy direction. We have done the show for a dozen or so years and it used to be such a sweet, easy weekend with sales that were usually in the top 4 of the year...always a favorite. The last couple of years have been a shadow of the old show and we are now doing about 25 percent of what we did years ago. Most of our shows in the recession dropped from 25 to 50 percent, but this one went off the cliff! Maybe it was our end of the show, but the crowd that walked by us seemed pretty lethargic and most around us did not do so well...many said they probably wouldn't go back. A volunteer came by on Saturday to survey the booths and we told here we were having a decent day, but nothing to write home about. She said that was what most artists were telling her. The one "hot" booth was the guy selling birdhouses...I am sure he was thrilled. And there are always a few artist having a great show almost anywhere you go.
We have some questions about the quality of the show these days. There were many fine artists there (like Ginny) but there were way more mediocre booths than there used to be...and yet so many really good artists didn't get accepted. We have never seen so many giclees of paintings on canvas most were not labeled as reproductions...one artist even reproduced the mat around a drawing and reproduced it on a canvas...very disturbing.
As usual, the show is a breeze to set up, the Hyatt is a convenient treat and the volunteers continue to be super, but for now sales are not strong enough to justify a return. We will lay off for awhile.
After rereading my own post, I realize I may have mislead readers about reference to the 13th year. This was MY 13th year in a row, exhibiting at the Northern VA Fine Art Festival. It was NOT the 13th year for this show, but rather, their 20th Anniversary!
Sorry, Larry, that you were not able to do the show but hope your wife is healing well.
Sounds like a good year to have done the show. They called me off the waiting list but I had to pass because of my wife's broken ankle.
Larry Berman
http://BermanGraphics.com
412-401-8100