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Hello all, I am looking for a 10x 10 white tent of any brand other than ez up. I can drive almost anywhere in the south and I am willing to pay for shipping and handeling if necessary. 

Really dont want to buy new, if you have any information, please let me know. 

with love,

an emerging artist and recent college graduate.

New promoter chosen

It was with great sadness that artists and art lovers learned in June that there would not be an art festival in La Quinta in March 2020 because of differences in viewpoints/missions between the La Quinta Foundation and the city of La Quinta. Learn more here.

But, hold on folks, a committee comprised of 4 city officials plus an artist; a previous fine art event director; a community services commissioner; a local stakeholder that has experience working with fine art event producers in La Quinta; and a longtime La Quinta resident with extensive knowledge of previous fine art events have made a choice: Paul Anderson, long time organizer of the Sausalito Arts Festival. 

Good news? Bad news? I'm so ambivalent on this issue. The total professionally run LQAF was a beacon for other events that wanted to host a quality event that included wonderful artists, a qualified buying public and benefits to the community. Can it be replicated? 

The rest of the story about Anderson and the negotiations to find a new organizer: https://www.desertsun.com/story/news/local/la-quinta/2019/08/06/la-quinta-city-council-selecting-promoter-of-new-signature-art-festival/1924298001/

Breckenridge CO, Main Street Art Festival 8/1-3/2019

First time exhibitor for this show. The show was held Thur-Sat as the Farmers Market had dibs on Sun. Weather was relatively good with occasional drizzle until Sat when it really rained for about 45 mins 2 hours before ending, this is a mountain show, rain happens!

Sales were slow in coming, some artists doing well on Thur and not on Fri, vice versa for this artist. Saturday was slow in coming. Main street in Breckenridge was crawling with visitors few of which made it to the end of the street where this event is held in Main Street Station. Breckenridge apparently has restrictions on signage and large banners were mostly on or near the show venue which was mostly rental apartments/hotel rooms some dining/coffee. Those that did make it there were largely lookers but many spent on art at most booths at all price points. My booth neighbor, a painter, sold 1 late Saturday.

Exhibitors had to park in any of two lots which were off site but within an 8-10 minute walk or you could wait for the free bus or trolley. Load-in occurred from at least two access points with many drive up spots. Organizers were well seasoned and organized for the arrival of artists. Few amenities; dial up booth sitting, donuts, coffee and water. Wide range of age groups; older group, for the most part, were out for a stroll, younger ones looking and middle agers doing most of the buying. Artists, as usual, were creative about ways to store around or near their booths. This, in my opinion, was an expensive show, $500 for the three days plus lodging anywhere near here is very high, I found a good Priceline deal about 14 miles away in Silverthorne/Dillon. Eating is also expensive, I went shopping at the local grocery.

Exhibitors beware; This is in the mountains! The higher elevation (9600') dehydrates you quickly and you have to adjust in general to the higher elevation. If you feel sick or light headed you are not drinking enough water! Coffee and tea do not count. Sun exposure is greater than the low lands, be sure to use sun screen, wear a hat and stay in the shade if possible.

50 years ago Park City, Utah, known as a great winter resort area, was a ghost town in the summer. This year the Kimball Art Festival held in the downtown streets celebrates its 50th anniversary. And what does Park City look like this August 2019? 

Think about this:

Last year, nearly 50,000 people attended the festival, and between their food, lodging and transportation needs, festival purchases and other expenses, the visitors left an economic impact of over $23 million.

A group of local artists wanted to change that ghost town feel in 1969 and their legacy continues to enrich the small community. The popularity of the event meant that a bigger organization needed to help the event grow. In 1976, Bill Kimball who ran a small art gallery, the Kimball Art Center, out of an old garage stepped up. To this day the non-profit Kimball Art Center organizes the event.  

Read the rest of the story here: https://www.deseretnews.com/article/900082032/50-years-ago-park-city-was-a-ghost-town-in-the-summer-heres-how-the-kimball-arts-festival-helped-change-that.html

I'll bet many of you can tell similar stories about other events around the country that are celebrating 50+ years. Which ones can you think of?

Whoo Hooo, I got my prize today or I should say Jean got my prize today. Thank you Connie for running pledge drive and thank you Debbie Stillman for the  silver necklace and earrings. Jean was thrilled. 

Although still doing a few shows, we're starting to sell off excess supplies. Too many details & prices to mention, but we have clear plastic sales bags, with handles, mostly 16x20; Clear plastic storage bags (4 mil), in 24x30, 24x40, 30x36. Most from Bagmart, new & in original packs. Also packing supplies, foam core, frames, glass, etc. In Lakeland, in central Florida. Good prices, willing to dicker a bit. Bill Sargent, 813-714-3614 or Ann Sargent, 813-714-3616.

August 16 & 17   

From the Chamber of Commerce:

• two days (a Friday and Saturday, giving you Sunday to enjoy being "up north")
• beautiful time of year for weather & tourism
• spacious booth spaces:  12x12

  

Flourish Trimline  10' X 10' Canopy for sale.

Absolutely LIKE NEW ! 

I do soft pastels only.  I do not do outdoor shows.

Comes with bags, directions, corner weights.

All in PERFECT CONDITION !

Asking $1100. OBO. I'll work with you.

Delivery is a possibility.

Call or text: 248-840-2205.

Thanks for looking.  

 As I set at a table across from Lake Michigan, munching a great breakfest bagel and reading The NY Times, I reflected on my time doing this show for the past 25 years.

You cannot beat the location.

South Haven is a Lakefront town about 35 miles above the Indiana border.

It is a big vacation destination for Chicago and northern Indiana folks.  Also nearby Kakamazoo claims this as their beach town.

It is held in tree-shrouded Stanley Johnson and can easily hold 150 artists plus room for their vans parked.

It is run by the local art center with great volunteer help.

It is always held around the July Fourth weekend, this year it was the weekend before it. Next year it will start on Saturday, Juky 4th.  It is a two day show.

When I first started doing it in the early nineties, this was a one day show.

We would do the Saugatuck show on Saturday and wander down groggily on Sunday to do South Haven.

Something about all those Golden Margaritas at the Hotel Butler Bar In Saugatuck would have a serious alcoholic effect on us. 

Remember folks, “effect” is a noun, “affect” is a verb.  I see lots of misuse of these two words.

English lesson is over, you all got “A” for attentiveness.

Back to SH.

In the day, many heavy hitters on the circuit would show up for this show.

Photographers like Galvo and Luciano would pull down heavy numbers here and then move on to Krasl and Ann Arbor.

Those day’s are long gone.

This is a nice mellow little show to do.

I would not say to do it if you have more than an eight hour ride.

Do not expect to make big numbers here, there are not enough buyers.

Art work that relates to Lake Michigan sells best here.

Forget modern art.

A big part of the crowd is beach-goers with kids and dogs in hand.

It is a pleasant walk in the park.

The Show committee tries real hard to help the artists. They have great volunteers and they are very artist-friendly.

That said, if you make $1500 of better, you are doing good.

If you are looking for a show to do while vacationing, this is a great one.

This show was last weekend, second weekend of July.

A two day show with Friday setup.

Held on the lake bluff in downtown St. Joseph.

200 exhibitors setup on both sides of the sidewalk, the show extends about eight city blocks.

Most can pull right into the curb and setup.  Pretty easy setup and teardown.

The Show has been going on more than 25 years and attracts a good crowd.  A lot of Chicago money here with a mix of Michiganders and folks from northern Indiana.

Pretty conservative and traditional sales for artwork.  New stuff does not play well here.

In my humble estimation, this is the best show for sales in Michigan for fine art.

I will take it over Arts n Apples, Birmingham, Ann Arbor or any other Lake Michigan coastal cities shows.

The middle class in Michigan has little disposable income.  They will spend it on good drinks and food but not so much on art.

Mainly small pieces out of the bins sell best here.

Every once and a while somebody hooks a big whake for a big sale.  But there are not enough of them around.

The Show is on Zapp and run by the art center.  Lots of volunteers to help everybody.  Free water, free Saturday breakfest, and plenty of booth sitters.

The one big disconnect with this show is the location of the artist lounge and snacks.  It is all the way at the south end of the show.  It is a long trek that most do not make if they are at the north end.  Even the middle.

That should be improved, Krasl are you listening?

This is not an easy show to get in.  Tough jurors and lots of competition.  But it is worth vying for.

This is the same weekend as Madison, Cain Park and Corn Hill and in some years, State College.

If you are waitlisted there are good chances of being called. Lots of people playing off one show from another.  Vets know what I mean.

I have gotten in more then 15 times over the last 25 years.  Most times this is a 5K-plus show for me.

But this year, all shows have been off by 30-40% in sales, that even includes Fort Worth.

People are holding back big time on art.  And this being felt industrywide, it is not just me.

So, I was not expecting to do nearly as well when I prepared for this show,luckily it turned out better.

I think it helped that I debuted three new images and one made me killer sales.

This year like most in the past was a mix of hot, humid July heat mixed with soothing cool air off the lake.

If you were in shade it was almost 15 degrees different.  

Temps were in the mid high eighties both days.

But hell, it is Michigan.  If you do not get it now, when do think you are going to get it.  This is not Florida.

FLASH.            FLASH.    TEQUILA. REPORT

I am sitting at a great restaurant in Saugatuck while writing this blog.

It is going to hit 87degrees plus today, good time to be inside with A/C.

Sorry for the folks suffering on the asphalts of Ann Arbor.

Anyways, this place is called the Southerner.  Located just out of the north side of downtown Saugatuck.

The place sits right on the river with awesome views.

I am at the bar facing 50 varieties of bourbon I could order.  They have an Evan Williams on the rocks for $4.  You can chase it with a $2 Hamms beer in a can.

Then eat the Nashville Hot Chicken sandwich on a big toasted homemade biscuit.  Chase it down with some tasty homemade baked beans. Sandwich for $8 and beans for $2.50.

Um, um, um. Life is good.  

If you go to Saugatuck, my home base for the summer, you gotta come here.  They are the berries.

OK, actually this was a bourbon and biscuit report.

Back to Krasl.

So Saturday was hot, humid with cooling lake effect breezes.  The crowd slowly built.

I started off with a $500 sale.  I was happy, considering the last two shows I did, I did not gross $3K total.

Sales came along regularly, mostly out of the bins.

People were buying everywhere. About 12:30 sales ground to a halt.

Til 6pm, show close, I did maybe another $500.

I was sleeping in my own bed, forty five minutes away.

Oh! I forgot to tell.  The show will put up artists for free with patrons here.  That can be a big saving.  More money for margaritas.

Sunday weather same as Saturday with a little more cloud cover, kept it a little cooler, then the fricking sun burned thru about noon, and it was hot, hot, hot.

Crowds were smaller and not buying as much.  Couple of artists hit home runs, but for most it was ho-hum.

Show ended at 5pm and I was home buy by 6:30.

A good time was had by all.

Oh, and my little dear retiring wife, Ellen, bought a Beamer, and we are flying at the speed of sound down the interstate.

Just kidding.

 It it accelerates way faster than my Ford van. 

God almighty.

Later gators.

September 21 & 22
Warrenville, Illinois
Presented By: Warrenville Park District 
50 Artists
Deadline: August 31

Application Fee: 0   Booth Fee: $65

• Artists may bring their own tent or rent a tent. 
• The crowds average 1900-2000 over the 2 day weekend.
• The artist's booth fees and expenses are low due to the support that is received from the City of Warrenville Hotel Motel Grants and the Park District passes this on to the artists. 

Marketing Plan:

Each year the arts are embraced by the Mayor and various City Officials with funding and advertising of the event. Social Media outlets, Newspaper ads, on-line festival websites, step-in the ground signs week of the event, posters, mailers, and digital advertising in both Daily Herald and Chicago Tribune are included in our marketing looking to bring you the customers you deserve.

 

New this year: 

Food Trucks are being added to bring a new aspect to the festival encouraging increased crowd traffic. Various categories of Monetary Prizes for the artists are added this year

 

Apply and More Information: http://www.warrenvilleparks.org

Contact: Ruth Brackmann, ruthb@warrenvilleparks.org (630) 393-727

In this summer of extreme heat, I was wondering how many of us have gone down in heatstroke over the years. It's been a challenge to stay cool this Summer and it doesn't look like it's going to stop anytime soon. I was in Des Moines where the heat index got to 111 degrees that weekend, and man, it was a challenge. I have a "frosty' cooler that I swear by. It's the Amazon cheaper version of the Yeti and it kept me hydrated and I have Ryobi fans also, but sometimes it's not enough. I have heard that if you have heatstroke or near heatstroke you are more susceptible. Not sure if that's true, but maybe I am just more aware of the signs now, so I know what to do. Anyway, if you have a good story, any great remedies or just some info we show know...Let's share it so everyone can stay safe.