There are two summer Art Fair Jackson Hole shows. One is in July and the other is in August (8/7-9/2015). Both are produced by the Art Association of Jackson Hole, WY. This review is for the July 10-12, 2015 show, but I would expect similar date for the August show. This show was established in 1965.
APPLICATION AND SHOW SETTING
You apply to this event on Zapp. The jury fee is $35 and 10X10 booth space is $395. The show is held in Miller Park, one block off the main street through Jackson. Set up is Thursday before the show, and overnight security is provided. There are assigned set up times. I was early, and because there was little going on in my area, they told me to go ahead and unload. Parking for set up and take down is around the perimeter of the park. You dolly to your site on paved walkways or grass. I dollied about 50’ on grass from the street. During the show, artists are asked to park at least 3 blocks away from the park. Jean didn’t have any problems finding parking for the Suburban.
There is a paid gate of $5 for non-association people. Entrances were at the north end and SW corner of the park. The Association sold beer, soft drinks and water at the entrances. There was a small food court in the center of the park. Booths were laid out so traffic passed all of the booths. Gaps left by no-shows were blocked off. Show hours were 10:00 am to 6:00 pm Friday and Saturday and 10:00 am to 4:00 pm on Sunday. There were public indoor accessible restrooms at the north end of the park and Porta-Pots and hand washing stations on the street. Other details for artists can be found at www.jhartfair.org.
GEOGRAPHY AND DEMOGRAPHICS
Jackson is 6,237’ above sea level in Jackson Hole valley. Mountain driving on two lane highways over passes and through canyons is required to reach Jackson. Flatlanders need to take precautions for altitude sickness. Jackson is the gateway for Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks, and the National Elk Refuge. Plan to spend some time here if you do the show. As with any mountain location in the west, the weather can vary from hot in the 90s, to cold in the 40’s. This year, Friday started off with a misty rain then a good rain from 11:00 am until 2:00 pm. Saturday and Sunday were sunny with scattered clouds and in the 70’s.
The population of Jackson is a little less than 10,000, but during the summer months the place is packed with tourists and summer residents. Traffic can be a crawl through town. Many super wealthy have homes in Jackson. One of the celebrities at the show Saturday and Sunday was Judge Judy and her husband. It is expensive to live in Jackson. There were no properties in the real estate magazine at the condo for sale under $1M. Gas was over $3/gallon ($2.69 at home) and $0.50 yogurt at home was $1.19 in Jackson. Condos generally rent for about $200/night, and motels with microwave and frig are higher. The key is to make reservations early as “rustic” accommodations can be found. A metal sculptor told me he had to pay $25/hour cash to get any contract “muscle” to help him set up and take down. Bears, moose, and elk are just some of the wild residents to be aware of.
THE SHOW
This is a very well planned and managed show by Art Association people who know what they are doing. The show is supported by the community, summer residents and tourists. There was a good mix of mediums and all of the work I saw was high quality. For leather there were four of us. One artist had leather hats and clothing, another had hand bags, a third had leather jewelry, and then there was me with my “1000 belts”, personal, K-9, and equine leather goods. The only complaint I heard was “there are too many photographers” from a photographer. Amenities were roaming booth sitters and a free continental breakfast all three mornings. Also, there was beer and pizza Friday after the show.
The only thing I disliked about the show was the difficulty in getting to the back of my booth with hand truck and ladder needed for opening and closing. Perimeter booths were very tight together because of the paid gate. Without an accommodating neighbor you have to exit though one of the entrances. Storage space behind booths was variable.
SALES AND ANALYSIS
Friday started off with rain until early afternoon, but it did not scare off the buyers. It was a good day for high-dollar sales. Saturday was a day of cranking out single but steady sales. Sunday was another nice day with the high-dollar people back.
My sales for the show were in the $5.5-$6K range. Individual sales ranged from a $3 bandana from a set of napkin rings to a $400 headstall (bridle without reins and bit) with my hand engraved silver on Friday during the rain (rich gals from east Texas and Louisiana like to bargain, but I was ready for them, LOL to the bank). Sunday’s high-dollar sales were for multiple items: $375 special order for 7 flasks for bride’s maids, $545 for two holsters, belt, silver buckle and suspenders, and other $100-$200 sales of belts plus something else. The rest of the time it was cranking out $20-$100 belts, dog leashes, billfolds and lots of napkin ring sales. My average sale was $97 which was above my normal in the high $60’s. My margin was 53% but I took a hit on housing costs as my reservation made in April was canceled six days before the show on 4th of July weekend. Reserving a condo for 5 nights late in the season when Jackson was 85% occupied cost me about $500 in added expense. You can read more about this fiasco in my blog: “Lesson Learned: Lodging Reservations for Shows”, 7/6/15. I will apply to this show next year, but then I may alternate it with Steamboat Springs, CO which is also a good show for me on the same weekend.
FUN STUFF
It was a ten hour drive to Jackson from Franktown, CO so we broke it up into two days. We both attended the University of Wyoming so there were lots of memories. We passed two of three areas where I mapped and studied jade deposits for my Ph.D. thesis. Jean’s roommate was girl from the Jackson area whose ranch she visited back then. On the way home we stayed overnight in Saratoga, WY and soaked in the hot springs. The next day we climbed Medicine Bow Peak (12,013) for the third time. With better housing arrangements next year, we would plan on hiking in the Tetons or Yellowstone.
