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I am an Artist first,not new to that.  A new Gallery owner,and a small one at that.

This week we were at the Amish Acres 50th Anniversary Arts & Crafts show. This morning Jacki Bilsborrow and I chatted about the fair. This is not a review of the fair ... or even a full coverage of the events. As Jacki and I were chatting, it occurred to me that our conversation would make a nice blog posting about the "other" payback we get from arts & crafts shows. Money is not the only value we receive from our participation--perhaps the greatest payback is to have our work "touch others and to be touched in return."

The transcript of our conversation is pasted below.  

  LOIS ANDERSON

I'd like red dot bumper sticker

  JACKI BILSBORROW

Lois, this is Jacki Bilsborrow. I am in here doing some work for Connie. I will pass all this on to her, ok?

  LOIS ANDERSON

Great.

Thank you very much.

  JACKI

I can't see that she will mind.

  LOIS

Jack...has anyone told you that you look just like Connie in the picture? LOL :-)

  JACKI

LOL, no, you are the first.

  LOIS

Have a wonderful day! :-)

 JACKI

You, too.

Enjoy this cooler weather.

  LOIS

Amen to that.

It was hotter than Hades at Amish Acres this week.

  JACKI

Hades in Amish country? Is that possible, lol.

  LOIS

Trust me ... they were dropping like flies.

  JACKI

I have had enough with all the heat. The Artists or the shoppers?

   LOIS

Both

  JACKI

Was that in Pennsylvania?

  LOIS

We lost several artists

No, Nappanee, Indiana

  JACKI

OH, I wanted to go to that one! I missed it!

  LOIS

One of the top 100 shows in the Nation and one of the top 100 Sunshine shows.  www.amishacres.com

  JACKI

Darn! I have been so busy I am missing all the shows.

  LOIS

No rest for the weary

  JACKI

That is true.

How were your sales?

  LOIS

Some days (90 + heat) not so good ... some days (70-78 degrees) very good

I do Religious Jewelry and Rosaries

  JACKI

That is good, at least you had some good times there.

Oh, I bet people like that.

  LOIS

Yes, and some very touching times from stories that were shared with me.

  JACKI

Oh I bet!

  LOIS

One girl who purchased a Pro-Life rosary was telling me that is very much a pro-life supporter.

Her mother was with her and said, "She was adopted."

I said, "Your birth mother loved you very much to carry you to term"

The girl said, "That is why I am buying this rosary."

With that the adoptive mother said,

  JACKI

And that is an unselfish act! Too many girls won't do that.

  LOIS

"Yes, I thank God for that birth mother ... or I would not have my beautiful daughter." She was crying.

Another lady came to tell me that her sister purchased one of my rosaries last year and then became ill will cancer.

   JACKI

Wow, you must really hear all kinds of stories.

  LOIS

Her sister said that the lady "Darlene" always had my rosary with her and was comforted by it."

Now the lady who was telling the story told me that now she has the rosary and it is hanging on a picture of her sister.

  JACKI

Your booth must become a sort of confessional.

  LOIS

Yes, I often have been told that I have a mission and not a sales booth.

  JACKI

I can see that.

  LOIS

I can think of no greater honor than to have my work touch people and have them comforted by it.

 JACKI

Do the Amish get out and attend the art show?

  LOIS

Yes, the entire families and they are LARGE families.

  JACKI

Your work does that probably way more than any other artist.

Yes they are.

  LOIS

Of course, they do not DO human images, but they look anyway.

  JACKI

I knew that.

Well, I wish I would have gotten to that show.

  LOIS

They are always so sweet and kind. At least the ones I have talked with.

I just had a thought, Jack. Would you mind if I posted our conversation as a blog to share with others?

  JACKI

Will you take it off so that it doesn't look like Connie was speaking?

  LOIS

Sure! LOL

  JACKI

And make me a Jacki, not a Jack. I do have some people shorten my name to Jack and it doesn't bother me at all.

lol

  LOIS

I'll change the name to Jacki

  JACKI

It is easy to miss the i

Sure, I will look for your blog.

  LOIS

Can I leave the picture of Connie so that my comment about about you looking like her makes sense?

  JACKI

I guess so, she probably wouldn't mind. People know she has people who work for her. I usually work under my own name but when I give out awards I do that under Connie's name.

  LOIS                                           

Cool. Thank you. I am off to blog.

  JACKI

If I talk to anyone under her name I always tell them I am not her.

Ok, have fun.

This was the first time exhibiting for me in Loring Park.The weather was great, sunny and around 80. 

It rained a bit in the morning the first day but then cleared up.  The attendance was pretty good...but certainly not crowded.  I had people bee-line into my booth from the center walkway to ask me questions and talked my head off all day to so many that passed by.  From that standpoint it was really fun.  The interest seemed to be there, but, alas, I didn't see anybody pulling out their wallet to make a purchase.  Yes there was the older crowd there that thought I was a museum, but there was money around too.  I also have never been to a show that had so many men attend, which I also thought would be good.

My sales were really disappointing.  I barely broke even, and only sold one "medium" priced piece that was undervalued, and two smaller items, and all were on Saturday.  Again, I had so much interest and was working my booth, and although I had incredible conversations with several hundred people and couples, most didn't pan out.

The location for the show is incredible and the promoters and layout is fantastic.  The weather was great, and the attitude was very upbeat.  My prices were exceptional and the traffic was pretty good.  However, at least for painting, there was not a lot for sales.  Other painters I spoke to were experiencing similar results.  Several artists next to me, photographers, fabrics, all stated that this show generated half of last year, which was down.  One featured artist (like myself BTW) said she did well.  Her art was really good, being 3-D lady figures that hang on the wall.  Her prices were excellent in my opinion (undervalued), but she was really happy as a first time exhibitor. 

So, what went wrong?  A week earlier in Bayfield, WI, I had a bang up show!  I figured since we were among an age group from 30-50, this show would be really good.  The reviews and comments from former artists all liked this show, so it appeared to be a must do.  All I can figure is that a bigger force is weighing down on this and many other art shows...meaning economic concerns.  Art is not a necessity, gas is. 

Loring Park show is on the same weekend as Powerhorn and Uptown, both in the Minneapolis area market.  I haven't heard how those went, but hope to see people chime in.  I spoke to artists that plan on doing a different venue next year, and to would like to find out how the other shows in Minneapolis went.  I am still undecided, as it may be too early to "judge". 

As for the quality of art, well, frankly being biased and high minded, I thought that there was a lot of OK art there, and quite a few "pork chop on a stick" vendors.  There were some really good artists there too.  A lot of variety, and I didn't see anything suspicious. 

I liked the show.  I met some really wonderful artists there, many being so helpful.  I come away with good feelings about that, but disappointed feelings for all the work I put into this show with such dismal results.

Again, others please chime in on this and other Minneapolis shows this weekend.

Has anyone ever used a digital picture frame in an outdoor show? I have successfully used one with indoor shows but have not been able to use one in outdoor shows because of the lighting--(too bright to the pictures). I was wondering if anyone knew of a box or screen or anything else I could use to fix this problem.

Thank you very much, Susan Parry

September 22 - new event!
Saxapahaw, North Carolina  
SaxArt River-Walk Juried Art Festival
10am-6pm
75 Artists
Deadline: August 15

The word is getting out about this up-and-coming little spot on the Haw River, Saxapahaw, NC, a historic mill village on the Haw River that is getting lots of attention these days.  A major remodeling of the old mill is underway and has resulted in a fabulous art gallery, a gourmet restaurant, a great coffeehouse, a pub and the newly opened Haw River Ball Room.

SaxArt River-Walk is a juried Art Festival planned for September 22, 2012, from 10am-6pm. 

Learn more about this show: saxapahawartists.com/resources

Applications are available by email from: saxart.riverwalk@gmail.com

or contacting: Suzanne Connors at (336)693-4606

There will be "Cash Prizes" and ONLY 75 artists will be selected to participate.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Find even more interesting events like this for your art fair schedule: www.CallsforArtists.com

OK, I didn't expect the doctor that bought everything at Chautauqua to follow me to Syracuse, but I was riding high on possibility and determined to end my trinket making days for good.

Last year's show (Downtown Syracuse at Columbus Circle)  was a disaster that I wrote about at the time. This year, when the apps came out, I e-mailed the chairwoman of the show to ask if the changes she promised last year had been implemented. They had. I have friends there. I like the show. I had a free weekend. I bit.

My failure to thrive had nothing to do with the committee. I was given a primo spot right off the main circle on a shaded street with a parking lot right behind me and the artist bathrooms right across the street. My 2 best show buds were a few spots away. Plenty of back space. A photographer on one side, jeweler on the other-great guys. What could go wrong?

The show runs Fri/Sat/Sun. I don't know why they do Friday except that it is downtown and they are counting on the office workers to spend their lunch hour shopping. That means you have 2 hours out of 8 with people on the streets. They are out to take a stroll and get festival food. Precious few are buying.I expected that. Saturday started with a downpour and flooded streets. You always get that at this show, not sure why. By noon we were pretty dried out and people started to come. Sunday was ungodly hot but there were customers. Most of the people who came into my booth did so to pet my Silkie Terrier, Oliver, who runs away from dog sitters so we bring him when we can.

This is just not my audience. Some people did extremely well, others tanked. I tanked. My sales paid for the booth fee, my hotel and lunch. Scary. I started to re-think the trinket thing, but then I looked at the printout of sales and saw that I sold mostly the new items that replaced the trinkets: specialty books and collage. OK then! I would have had to make dozens of trinkets to account for those sales. 

I think I am on the right track and, more importantly, I am enjoying this again. I spoke to several people who had decided the same thing, Enough pandering to the economy. Most people are OK. Those who had money probably still do. Our area - upstate NY - is rebounding nicely.  In fact, I spoke to quite a few that had raised their prices this year with good results. Go figure.

I've decided to concentrate on having lots of inventory for people to choose from which will bump up sales. I've had health issues that got in the way, but I'm rolling now.

No more trinkets, ever!

Next up: Chautauqua again. I will not expect the same miracle to hit twice. But I will be ready.

Anyone in Glencoe this weekend????  Please come say hi - Booth 4!

Deborah and Jay

DorLDor.com

Has anyone done any of the winter/spring shows at The Villages in Central Florida?  I participated in one in July (crazy hot - sales poor) but was told by other vendors and show staff to not judge the shows there by that particular one, which was way off.  I'll be doing another one in September (with much higher hopes), but am wondering about either a February or March one.  You have to apply months and months ahead.  This venue was highly recommended to me by other vendors, so just want to get the opinion of the others that have some experience with them before I make my decision.

check it out:  http://heartfirestudios.blogspot.com/

To further emphasize why it is important to leave others alone, I will talk about Sales Reps.  Apparantly some people think it is alarming that my website says "contact a Rep" or "if you don't sell it, I'll buy it back".  Yes I have a couple sales Rep, that is because I would rather give someone a cut to sell my stuff if it can save me from going to another show as this "art show" business has kept me on the road missing a good majority of life activites and personal relationships with many people.  I am hoping that a Sales Rep can keep the scars on my hands to 21 and counting to only that and not increasing it, from over working and loading in and out.  I can afford to give them a cut, since I am not paying for show fees and traveling expenses, etc.  It is a great avenue and I would suggest you try it.  And yes, I will buy back my art if you don't sell it, because I frickin need it.  It is one less piece I have to make.  There is always another show where I can use it.

If you go to the Atlantic Gift Mart twice a year, you will see a section for "handcrafted."  Many of these handcrafters/artist can be found in the area of "temporaries."  They want to have someone sell it in trade off for some freedom to be home with their children, friends,  lovedones, another job, volunteering, to give their body a break, etc.

It is very disheartening to see a bully use their friends and groom them to be part of their army.  That bully will love on you all day long.  It is called "grooming".  It is a form of manipulation and basically abuse at your expense.  Don't forget, these are the people that bullied your children in school.  I promise if you remove yourself from negative people, that space, is more likely to be filled with something better.  I promise you don't need them to continue breathing.  You have enough self esteem to do this and if you don't, just try and you will see, your life will become richer.

Sorry to the people that support good emails that I do not respond.  I have not much of a life from this business and the little bit I have can't be on these sites much to know what is going on.  I just want to say that if anyone supports my way of thinking, thank you and pass it on, add to it, speak up.  But if you can't speak up, that is okay because I know you are silently cheering the good on, in the background. 

I would rather use this wonderful site that this person used their intelligence, hard work, and knowledge on what she intented ir to be used for.....informative, helpful, uniting us, mking things a little easier, etc.  They did not create this for people to use for a witch hunt or as a podium for bullies compaigne against love and compassion.  Or for people who love to hear themselves talk and talk and talk and talk and talk and to take their disfuctions out on you.  If we can't afford therapy, then do self therapy.  Have enough self awareness to know why you do what you do.

This is a special message from Art Fair Calendar and Amdur Productions.

Call to Artists:

Amdur Productions proudly announces the launch of Gulfstream Art Festival, a new juried art festival taking place at The Village at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Florida on Saturday, November 10 and Sunday, November 11, 2012 from 11:00 AM to 10:00 PM.

The premier event will take place at The Village at Gulfstream Park, South Florida's newest outdoor shopping and entertainment destination.  The art festival will serve as a prelude to the Symphony in Lights which opens on Saturday, November 10.  This highly-anticipated annual event draws thousands of visitors to The Village at Gulfstream Park and will take place this year in conjunction with the new art festival.

100 artists will be juried into the inaugural event.  All applications must be received before midnight on Friday, August 10, 2012, for consideration in the Gulfstream Art Festival. 

The jury fee for the Gulfstream Art Festival is $25 and booth fees are $450 for a standard space, which includes electricity.

http://www.juriedartservices.com

We will be Glencoe this weekend - booth 4 (please stop by and say 'hi.') and we are going to try something new -- to put a sticker on our biz card or post card -- if someone says 'I'll be back' -- especially since we are booth 4.  

So, what would you suggest to put on our be back sticker for those who say 'I'll be back."  $5 off?  10% off?

Any suggestions would be most helpful.  We're going to make these tomorrow for this weekend's show -- so your prompt answers will be welcomed.

Thank you.

Sad to see Michelle lash out at others and basically blame artists for customers not buying her art.  And to think I defended this  Michelle when a customer came in complaining about Michelle's photography.  Saying they couldn't believe she took a picture of a dogwood flower she picked, stuck it on a remote part of a tree and decided to take several angle  pictures of it and sell it.  They then went on in reference to her many shots that were out of focus only to emphasize a small focus of a small image of nothing.  Boy this person went on to talk about how she then went on to mass produce copies of these images.  They seemed to be pissed because they overheard Michelle  relentlessly going on about artist, her award, the promoter, etc, etc in a negative way.  First of all I respect all photographers and appreciate the money investment and time involved including their artful wisdom  in purchasing the right frame to compliment their print.  I really do as that is so important.

Fist of all, Amy Amdur, decided to give an appararent inspiring artist of eight years old, the experience to give an artist an award.  Amy's empathy, passion, humbleness, hard working, hands on, etc, traits never cease to amaze me.  Though she is so successful, she has never let it go to her head, as she remains humble to inspire others, including an 8 year old boy.....never the need to fall in the ditch of snootiness, arrogance, or lack of empathy to artist or people of any financial status.  Could you image Amy Amdur's job, dealing with city quidelines, security, insurance, and endless unappreciative, cranky artists? First of all don't try and accuse me of being Amy's friend, sister, or cousin and making it look like that was the reason I was in the show.  Amy is equal to all.

The economy has changed, and though I love fine art, Amy is listening to her many customers who cannnot afford much and yet would like to purchase something.  She is apparantly a savy business women and instead of having the show so completely aimed at a particular income, she evidentally believes if she offers something for everyone, that the customers are more likely to show up.  First of all it is very grosse to assume you know if things are buy/sell.  If a person has variety, apparantely they are savy business people and want to offer something for everyone's taste.

I sort of had this hope that when people left high school, the bullies evolved into human beings and that their sheep developed their own thought, brain and compassion, but that isn't the case.  We are who we are from beginning to end....most of the time anyways. There will be many bully leaders and the sheep will follow.  Some how, some way there will always be many followers.  Degrees of Hitlers in many people and the sheep they command are always plentiful

In my post, their may be many grammar mistakes and mispellings, but its not worth my time to correct them as everyday is a race to create more art and purchase more bandaides for all the times the wire and beads cut my fingers.

God Bless to all of us hard working artist, fine crafters, hobbiest and hard workers in genereal, as I find you all worthy of a good, plentiful, lovely day.  I actually feel better overjoyed when I see you doing great at a show, even if you may be doing better than me.  To me, it is one less person to be worried for, not jealous of.  I value all of you for your efforts and for the fact that you are not sitting on your butt.  I'm not mad at Michelle as I have not been perfect in my life either, but instead say a prayer that she will do unto others as she would like done unto her.  

I asked on the artfairreview FB page if anyone else got notice from Taca, here's what I got back:

 Rick Steingress Unless things have changed they jury for the next year's show AT the show. It used to be that only 15% of spots rolled over and were open to application. If you applied for the first time that may be the problem. If you've been doing it and got juried out at the show...well that sucks.

This was my reply: 

Wow, this is another one that "lights me up." A grand screwing from a show organizer. Kentuck is the same way, 90% of the booths are "grandfathered" so if you apply you really are among a thousand people vying for 30 booths. It is unfair that they get away with that "lying by omission" thing. We should blackball these shows so that everyone becomes aware of these deceptive practices.

Is it possible to create a page in the group's facebook presence or on this blog that could alert artists to promoters' deceptive practices and ripoffs?

Hi Guys~

I just hung up the phone with Ellen,Nels' wife- The first day after surgery was a good day! Usually the first day is  a difficult day  a struggle, not for Nels...he is not up and walking yet, of course- but doing his breathing exercises and they knock him the hell out- to be expected!! Tomorrow they are hoping that he will leave intensive care to another floor....small steps, Nels, tiny steps. We all know this is not in his vocabulary, but when they tell him he may walk for five minutes, he wants to try for ten!! He is so goal oriented, as most of us are- we want a fast but healthy recovery for our "Mt. Veeder" wine and tequuila friend....and I will check back with his loving wife, my special friend, Ellen, tomorrow- and report back to his patient friends..you all .I will quote our special friend.... Aloha, Patti

Intrigued by what happens at a Zapplication sponsored conference in Chicago on September 6-7? Here's your chance to win a free conference registration - a $315 value. The event is not "about" zapp, it is about many facets of the art festival business with solid strategic information for all involved.

How to win:

• Tell us in the comments below why you want to attend, or email me with your reasons
• Contest opens today August 1 (10 am) and closes on August 10 (5 pm ET)
• Readers of this blog will choose who wins the prize
• Artists, show directors, staff, etc., are eligible to enter. Pretty much anyone art festival related is welcome to participate.
• Please note that registration is non-transferable. If you win the contest and are unable to attend the conference this year, you will forfeit your complimentary registration.

About the Arts Festival Conference:

Now in its fourth year, the Arts Festival Conference, presented by ZAPP®, features targeted professional and business development for artists and administrators in the arts festival field. This year's event takes place September 6-7, 2012, at the Avenue Crowne Plaza Downtown in Chicago, Illinois.

Not the competitive type? See the agenda and register now at bit.ly/zapp2012.

Be part of the dialogue! Join artists, show directors, festival staff, the ZAPP® team and more at the Fourth Annual Arts Festival Conference, September 6-7, 2012, in Chicago, IL. Visit bit.ly/zapp2012 for more details and to register today.

Hi all ~

I just got off the phone with Ellen Marshall, the wife of Nels Johnson. Nels had open heart surgery today- more work had to be done than expected...a QUADRUPLE bypass, instead of a single- a mitro  valve replacement, instead of a repair, and an additional repair on another valve. Of course, this means more recuperation time for our trooper, Nels. And this means more down time for Ellen, as well. He has clearly been given another chance at a healthy future with this surgery- although it is hard to see the forest through the trees right now for both of them. Ellen thanks everyone for your prayers and healing thoughts. Bob and I will post more good news as we receive it.

While everyone is entitled to their own opinions on what is good art and what isn't, there should be minimum standards to even be considered.  I know that quite a lot of art festivals  have specific criteria that they use when jurying different media.  

But, I would have to say that at least half of the people attending art festivals have no idea what they are looking at.  

I attended the Buffalo Grove Invitational  Fine Art Festival on July 21st.  Much has been written about this art festival and some of the posts are still on this website.  This is what was on the website for this festival-----

"This year’s festival will feature a wonderfully chosen, juried group of approximately 150 artists"

I guess that the Invitational part means that any and all artists are invited to send in their app fee to this show.

One person claimed that the promoter was trying to satisfy all price points at this festival.  I don't have a problem with that although most artists these days have already figured out that this economy begs for a variety of price points within a booth.  

But when questionable art is allowed into a festival that is billed as Fine Art, I do have a problem.  To me, this is false advertising.   This is a public that is Wal-martized, Pottery Barned and West Elmed to the nth degree and having questionable art at a festival  exacerbates the problem.  If a person cannot recognize quality they won't be willing to pay for it.  

I saw art at this festival that I also saw at a festival where the booths were inexpensive yard art, toe rings, soap and candles and tie-dyed t-shirts.  Not exactly what is considered fine art.