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This was the first time I did the North Virginia Fine Arts Festival. Judy Christian already did a short report on the show. I will try to give a bit more detail and my experience at the show.

The show is set up along the streets in a high end outdoor mall type setting with high rise condos along the street and town homes near by. There maybe homes within walking distance I am not sure. Reston is a rich suburban area out side of DC and near Dulles airport. I don't usually like to do suburban areas for my contemporary work but with the reputation of this show and after doing shows around DC for the past 3 years clients of mine encourage me to try it.

Set up is on Friday. The show is extremely organized. When you arrive you should have already printed out your load in pass and then you can drive up to your assigned street entrance. You are met by someone who walkie talkies into the festival grounds to find out if there is room for you to get to your spot. They are good about keeping everything clear. If you have an oversized vehicle they give you a pass for the oversize parking lot assigned for artists. You can check in at your leisure at this point. My area was an easy area to get to so I was able to go right in and park across from my booth. I am sure it isn't this way for those along the main street, but there was plenty of room for the artists to park their vehicles near their booth and set up with out having to move right away. I had been warned about the wind at Reston. There are a lot of tall building in this area and it creates wind. Lots of it. Reports of wind were 4mph that day but setting up the booth we had to be careful. It really helped being able to have the truck right there so we didn't have work blow down while setting up. I used extra weights. I was a corner booth and there was always a decent breeze and sometimes big gusts. Most of the booths are on one side of the street. There is a small area of the show that has booths on both sides. I was set up along a new street for the show. It was off the main strip and looped around the park. I had a ton of room behind the booth. Depending on planters and what business was behind you may be able to blow out and store work. Not much room on either side of the booths though.

The show treats the artists very well. Before the show you can call or email them and they are beyond helpful answering any questions and working with you to help make it a good experience for you. During set up I had a few patrons pre checking the show work. The patrons were excited about the show. They seem to wait for this show and they know that the art at this show is top notch. They seemed disappointed that the show wouldn't be open Friday night, I guess they use to do that. This year they had a fund raiser event that the artists were invited to. The event was very nicely done. I didn't see a lot of artists there but I only stayed for about 20 minutes. Nice spread of food and drinks but not enough for a meal. So I ran off to one of the many many excellent restaurants in the area. The show also offered a good deal at the Hyatt right at the show. Great hotel. It was a treat. I believe they had breakfast for the artists but I was all about room service, so I don't know what they served. On Saturday night they had an awards party and again possibly dinner but the restaurants had amazing happy hours for food and drink so I did that instead:)

Saturday the weather looked iffy. Possible thunderstorms but most likely in the afternoon. The weather held out until 5pm when staff came around and closed the show and it poured. Everyone scattered. Saturday was a great day though. Like others have mentioned the crowds were not huge. Especially off the main strip. I do originals only, large scale abstracts. Usually my client will walk an entire show if they are looking for work like this. So for me I don't think it mattered too much that I was not on the main strip. I am sure for people with lower price points under $1000 they would need more traffic. Along the main strip around the stores the crowds were good. I went a couple times back to my hotel and noticed a BIG difference with the crowds both Saturday and Sunday. Around noon the park held two dance recitals with speakers for music. This was across from my booth. When I saw it being set up and the dancers arrived I was not happy. I have to say it was done well. The first dance group had nice soft music, they didn't play it too loud and it was not too distracting. It lasted for about 10 minutes. An hour later they had a group of ballerinas in beautiful eye catching costumes. Again the music was at an appropriate level and a nice back drop. The second group of dancers were so pretty that even I had to go watch. This group did stop the people in their tracks and they watched the dance and missed the art. It only lasted for about 10 minutes and after both performances the audience would walk the loop around the park. Staff did check with us to make sure the music was not a problem. Over all it was a nice add to the show if you need to have those type things. Sales on Saturday were great. By noon two pieces were gone. One of them the couple had come down from their high-rise condo saw the piece and bought it with out even looking through the entire booth or walking the show. They were worried to walk the rest of the show first because they were familiar with this show and knew work moved fast. This is one of the reasons patrons were there on Friday. They wanted first pick. Price not an issue in this area. Not everyone at the show is qualified buyers but the majority are. The ages ranged from young professionals to retired. Since our work is big we have to deliver. Many sales were walk able with the new propanel cart I just got. (this thing is awesome). Also in my area clients could drive up very close to the booth and load up.

Sunday the weather was up in the air again but it held out great. The show opened at 10am. I was alone at the booth since my partner had to do deliveries from Saturday. A suggestion for anyone who has to deliver in the DC area, do it Sunday morning. Traffic can be crazy in DC but Sunday mornings the roads are clear. So I was alone but it didn't matter no one was there until after 11 am. I find it rarely is necessary to open a show before 11 am on a Sunday but maybe that is because I am not a morning person. Crowds were light in my area for most of the day. The buying frenzy didn't feel as strong but my booth was down a lot of work so the presentation wasn't as strong. There were still a lot of good sales happening for large scale work though on Sunday.

Break down, the block captain was great. She came and talked with each of us to discuss load out strategies. The rules are NO breaking down of any kind before 5pm. Then break down get a pass then get in line. My booth and the booth next to me were able to park our cars with in 50 feet of our booths in the afternoon. So we let the block captain know we would dolly out and we would be out before the start time of 6pm allowing cars to come in. Both of us were out by 5:30 pm and drove by the line up and it was LONG. I am so glad we were able to dolly out. I am not sure how load out went for everyone else.

I really like this show. I would love to be invited back and I was happy with my location. It had a lot of perks even though it wasn't on the main strip. I was close to the Arts Center where they had the artist amenities, think clean real bathrooms. I am a sucker for close clean real bathrooms. Water was brought around to us or you could just go to headquarters and get what you needed along with snacks. I was also in front of a CVS, ice and cold beer whenever I wanted. The volunteers and staff of this show are amazing. The director of the show came and meet us and asked us what she could do if anything. She really wanted feedback. She lives on site and knows the show well. On Sunday I arrived to a messy booth with all the wind and rain. I use to bring a broom to all my shows but realized that almost every artist brings a broom. There is no reason to have 200 brooms at a show and most artists are willing to share. So I have since ditched my broom. Well I guess all the other artists around me have done the same because I couldn't find one. A volunteer came up in the morning and asked if they could get me anything and I told them yes a broom. A few minutes later they arrived with one, waited for me to use it and continued along the street to see if anyone else needed it. There were booth sitters all over the place. If you had a question of any kind they had the answer or would get the answer to you asap. Great show to do if the DC area is your market.

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AffordableArtsLogoAugust 30
Littleton, Colorado
Denver Metro area
10 am - 4 pm
130 Artists
Deadline: May 28

NEWS: The Affordable Arts Festival is now ranked #36 

in the country by the ArtFair Sourcebook!

 

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Since its inaugural show in 2012, the Affordable Arts Festival (AAF) has created quite a buzz in both the art commun-ity and the art buyers in the Denver area which is evident with crowds that have grown each of the last 3 years. 
With 130 artists from more than a dozen states attending the event in 2014, the artists and buyers once again found out how much fun it can be to have such a buying frenzy at an arts festival.  Why the frenzy?  
 
Because every piece of art is priced at $100 or less.  
 
We invite you to get the whole story on our website:
www.AffordableArtsFestival.com

 

Consider these items:
  • 1845.jpgOver 60,000 vehicles drive by the show 
  • location daily and the show is advertised on 2 LED screens on that street for weeks leading up to the event.
  • In 2014 several artists' booths were almost empty within 3 hours and we had artists who had over $10,000 in sales and one who hit $20,000 (remember the show is only 6 hours long!)
  • With TV (CBS4 is a sponsor), radio and print ads plus extensive PR, social media, online promotions and more than $30,000 in total advertising, this is a well publicized event.
  • The director, Jim DeLutes, a former art show artist and the director of the successful Downtown Denver Arts Festival brings his expertise to this event.
  • Application fee is $30-Booth fee is $195 (15x15 booth space) and you have the option to set up on Saturday
  • Application is available on:  www.Zapplication.org
The Festival benefits the Arapahoe Community College Foundation.  AAF has partnered with the Arapahoe Community college to host the show on their campus and in return the proceeds from the admission fees ($5) go to support students, especially their art school. 

Get more information and see our galleries of last year's artists at:  www.AffordableArtsFestival.com  

Jim Delutes: Director  (303)330-8237

~~~~~~~~~

Find more art festivals looking for you:  www.CallsforArtists.com

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PRIZES FOR PLEDGES! Karma rules!

8869159693?profile=originalHere we go again! ArtFairCalendar.com and ArtFairInsiders.com's shameless promotion asking for your help in keeping these useful sites alive and well. From May 17-June 1 we are asking for donations to our 6th Annual Pledge Drive

We give  you helpful information all year, we bring buyers to the art fairs and we help improve the nation's art fairs.

Did you like any of the podcasts, the videos, the friends you met here and then later at a show, the useful tips on tents, shows, security, earning a living, etc.? Sure hope so! If you did and you donate a little $$ you'll be entered in our prize drawings also. You win and we win!

8869160454?profile=originalLook at these prizes:

 & 30 more ... goods and services specifically helpful to your art career

Click here to learn more

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A Tale of Two Cities

The following should be taken with a very large grain of salt. Better yet maybe an entire salt block because my impressions couldn't come from a place of less experience. I'm about to report on the first two art fairs that I've ever done.

I got my initiation in Greenville SC at Artisphere, weekend before last. Greenville has a beautiful and vibrant downtown and booths are set up in a long line down both sides of picturesque Main Street. This set up made for an easy load in (even for a novice) and it made every artist's booth visible and easily accessible. No one got overlooked.

Almost to the point of embarrassment we were made to feel special. Greenville's mayor came by and we got into a long chat. Other city officials introduced themselves as did members of the event Board. We were thanked repeatedly for coming and there was clearly the attitude that Artisphere is an important and classy event that the city takes seriously. So do the patrons.

Last year's attendance was estimated at 95,000 and this year it couldn't have been fewer. The crowd was energetic and genuinely engaged. People asked serious questions and seemed excited about art. They came to buy and buy they did, across the price range. I was told by a member of the Board that a wood sculptor had sold several pieces each priced at $15,000. My neighbor glass blower sold several large pieces at $2200 and many smaller. I make unglazed raku vessels priced from $175 to $600.00 and I sold 32 pieces, many at the high end.

It was a terrific show from beginning to end. Beautiful art and an enthusiastic, generous crowd. I wrote a note to Liz Rundorf the Program Director and told her that my only complaint was that she had set the expectation bar way too high.

Boy was I right. A threat of rain hung over Broad Ripple Art Fair in Indianapolis this past weekend, which almost certainly kept attendance down. I'm guessing it was well below last year's 15,000, but even if there were more it wouldn't have mattered. This was not a crowd, it seemed to me, interested in or intent on buying fine art.

I set up for an optional pre-event cocktail party showing Friday night for art center supporters and dignitaries. This was billed as an opportunity for party guests to get a first look at the art and a first chance to buy. We were told before the event that 200 guests were expected at the party (which seemed like a low number), and during the two hour showing we counted 30 people who walked by our booth. Most of that 30 strolled by without even a sideways glance at the art.

About the art-- this event is described as a fine art and craft fair but it seemed heavy on the craft (pens, wrist bands, yard art) and those few who did buy seemed oriented in that direction. A local potter told me, kindly, that my work did not belong at the event because it was too far into the fine art category.

My neighbors were a metal sculptor, a wood turner/sculptor, and a watercolorist, all of whom did beautiful work. Exceptional work. The painter sold nothing, the metal sculptor sold nothing, the wood turner sold a few low end pieces, and I sold two pots. That's two.

For the most part people shuffled by, zombie-like. Many didn't look into the booths. I wondered for a time if my booth was situated in a difficult spot, near the corner of a square formation. Was it that people turned the corner and tended not to see me? Maybe, but that didn't explain the painter or the sculptors. I got my beautiful wife to pretend to be a shopper in my booth. She was wearing this flowing skirt and she gets attention anyhow but she could have taken the skirt off and it wouldn't have helped. I could have butchered a live steer in the tent and those few people who might have turned their heads in my direction would have blinked once between handfuls of popcorn and ambled on.

In the context of poor attendance, too many booths, and horrific sales, it seems beside the point to say that set up was a bit difficult (cart in) and that none of the welcome and care for the artists so obvious at Artisphere was evident here. Sometime Saturday morning when you just knew that this wasn't going to go well, I stopped caring about those things. I just started to think about expenses.

There were a few saving graces. We got to know Michael the wood guy and his wife and had a blast with them and helped each other through. He's been in this business for 30 years and he taught me a lot in two days that I'll take with me down the road. He said this was one of his worst shows ever and that he would not be back. Ditto the painter, a 15 year veteran. Their opinions I would not take with a grain of salt.

Then there was a great beer truck by Broad Ripple Brewery. Their IPA eased the pain and made my booth neighbor, a funny guy anyhow, seem hysterically so. And I bought a cool knife with a mammoth tooth handle from a fellow artist, thereby blowing almost half of my meager income. My wife suggested that I put the knife in a place that, while anatomically possible I suppose, would be somewhat painful. I declined.

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June 27 & 28 483eae17-47b9-4561-bba1-b7a53679ec76.jpg
New London, Connecticut
Presented by Jaden Events
Mitchell College Campus
100 Artists
Deadline: May 31       
 
Application fee: $20; Booth fee: $207/$350
 

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The Thames River Art & Craft Show is excited to be bringing some very talented exhibitors to Southeastern Connecticut. 
 
Our goal is to provide a premiere art and craft show to Southern New England, a boon to the regional art and craft industries, and to enhance the cultural landscape of New London.
 
Location: The 2015 Thames River Art & Craft Show will be held on the Mitchell College campus, with an beautiful view of the Thames river as a backdrop. We will be offering both indoor and outdoor spaces. 
 
New London is home to several lighthouses as well as historic districts. Nearby towns include affluent Old Lyme, Mystic and Stonington, as well as suburban communities and a thriving arts scene. 
 
Marketing Plan: We are and will be doing extended social media marketing and internet advertising, as well as paid advertising in local print publications and radio and distributing flyers and posters across Connecticut and Rhode Island.
 
One of our major attractions is the quality of the venue and the great food that will be available. We will be treating our exhibitors and members of the local civic and arts community to a reception at a local establishment on Saturday evening after the show. We have also partnered with several local hotels to provide reduced rates for the exhibitors.
 
Phone: (860)514-5037
 
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Reston VA Show, a short report

Two things:

1. Beautiful show, great work, great presentation, great food, great looking crowd,

in a sophisticated area (DC). Perfect. Show committee did a wonderful job here. Everything was great.

2. Sales. Not. 

The customers that I had all told me the same thing---they WALKED from their condo to the show!

This show was too good to not be visited by people from the greater DC area- where were they?

 For a $500 booth fee, $50 jury fee, hotel costs, etc, for a beautiful show in a densely populated area- where was everyone?  Other shows draw customers from a distance, easily. I am used to seeing customers at shows who drove 1-2-hours to get there.

Exhibiting artists were from several states. The work was tops. For all of the energy that went into presenting this show, what happened to getting the attendance?

Judy

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October 9-112033eebd-8f3d-4e49-9189-5ce1ad7eeb15.jpg
Patagonia, Arizona
Presented by: The Town of Patagonia
and the Patagonia Area Business Association
Town Park, Downtown Patagonia
Fri. 11am-5pm; Sat. & Sun. 10am-5pm
100 Artists
Deadline: June 12
 
Recognized as one of the finest, best attended art festivals in Arizona, the Patagonia Fall Festival is now accepting applications from artists, sculptors, weavers, potters, jewelry makers, crafters, and food and beverage vendors.
 
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Patagonia is located on scenic route 82 between Sonoita and Nogales, about one hour from Tucson and three hours from Phoenix.  
 
Twenty-seven years ago the Town of Patagonia held its first fall festival here in the mountains of Southeast Arizona. Since then, the Festival has continued to showcase extraordinary talent and artistry.

Now the festival attracts more than 15,000 visitors to our lovely tree-shaded park in the center of town.  This festive three day weekend is presented by the Town of Patagonia and the Patagonia Area Business Association.



We'd love to have you join us in our lovely town for this exciting weekend that draws tourists and plenty of "second home owners."
Phone:  (520)345-4172
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A Message To The Art Show Thief

The best compliment you can give me is to pay me for my art not steal it. I am flattered that you were so enamored with my painting. However you are not Thomas Crown just as I am not Monet. I am a living, breathing artist who makes his living from my talent selling my oil paintings.

I have a suspicion I know who you are but I am not positive therefore I did not go to the trouble of reporting the theft. I thought long and hard about reporting the theft to the police as I sat in the rain on Sat during the show. As the rain fell no customers came out and the weather became worse. Therefore the show was canceled and I lost my booth fee, hotel expense, travel expense etc. So to make matters worse I lost more than just the painting.

I do thank you for zipping my tent wall back down the way I had it so the other paintings I had hanging on that outside wall did not get destroyed by the rain. You get to enjoy the painting hanging on your wall while I continue to paint more and hopefully I can make up for the lost revenue and the feeling of security when I leave my art overnight at shows in the future.

Keep this in mind you low life scum! The talented artist you see at the art festivals in towns around the country have a passion to create and are people who pour their passion into the work they create. We are not wealthy we are talented men and women who choose to live life on our terms. The artists I have meet through the years are not selfish people. We do not take from others rather we create to share our vision and talent with people who appreciate our talents. We sell our unique works so that we can continue to create more. We work hard there is no steady pay check, we sell our work to pay our bills, feed our family and provide shelter so we can continue to live our dream!

My guess is you have a job and have bills to pay. How would you feel if you worked hard then your employer complimented you for your hard work but did not pay you for your effort?  Enjoy the painting you have my website address from the back of the painting so you can probably find the address to my studio if you want to steal more. I promise you if I am in the studio when you come to add to your collection I won’t call the police! I am an artist who is a strong supporter of the 2nd amendment.

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3a442abe-fe99-43c3-bb17-facb0f0ec7dd.jpgSeptember 26 & 27
Chicago, Illinois
Presented by Edgewater Artists in Motion
Over 100 Artists

Deadline: June 1

 

Edgewater is a lakefront community area on the North Side of Chicago. Our event got its start during the economic downturn when residents of the area decided to fill our empty storefronts with art. This simple activity turned the neighborhood around as the storefronts soon filled up again with new tenants, leaving no room to display the art.


Building on this economic activity, in 2013 the Edgewater Fall Art Fair was started. In its first year it drew about 5000 people and was described by 48th Ward Alderman Harry Osterman and many attendees as "phenomenal."
 

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Last year we hosted 100 artists and great sales for many of our exhibitors. In 2015 we are extending the fair another block, bringing the beer garden onto the street. We have an extensive marketing push to make the fair a "must attend" Chicago event. 
Expect:
  • an eclectic mix of fine art and fine craft 
  • local performing artists and area musicians
  • beer garden and local food court

Spaces are $150/corner space additional


This is your chance to be part of a newer event where the community is eager for a successful show that will show off their cool neighborhood. Spend a beautiful fall weekend in Edgewater with us.
 

For more information: EdgewaterArtists.com
Questions: Dorothy Mason, edgewaterartists@gmail.com

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Find more art fairs looking for artists: www.CallsforArtists.com
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3 Men: Why I Sing the Blues

A few weeks ago Percy Sledge died, an artist whose work was stolen by many and he never received the royalties. His most famous song was "When a Man Loved a Woman," what producer Jerry Wexler called "a holy love hymn." This song was the part of the soundtrack of many lives. 

His obituary: http://www.theguardian.com/music/2015/apr/15/percy-sledge

The song:

It was on the airways when I met Norm Darwish and it was our song, and you know what that means.

8869160678?profile=originalNorm Darwish my husband of nearly 40 years (I know you guys don't really think we were married), died on May 9. He was cantankerous, a curmudgeon, outrageous and a fine photographer. He was a meticulous craftsman in the darkroom. He loved me. We earned our living at art fairs from 1978-2006, when he lost his will to create because of chronic depression. If you can't create you just make products. Products were not his goal.

Thanks to all of you who have said such kind words about his body of work, ethereal and luminous -- cute kids, landscapes, still lifes, creative studio work and lots of nudes -- as he loved women. At a show director's conference a few years ago I was "outed", not as an artist's partner, not as a show director, but as the art.

He'd beaten back prostate cancer for 20 years but this winter it reappeared with no good end in sight. He was able to end his days at home with his daughters and grandsons at his side. Lucky man.

His obituary: http://wtvbam.com/blogs/obituaries-blog-wtvb/67/obituary-norm-darwish/

As I write this today I'm streaming Sirius radio's B. B. King's Bluesville, as we lost B.B. yesterday. Luckily I got to see him at the Wiltern in LA a few years ago. B. B. toured his entire life, he was in the bus. That evening he could hardly walk, but he sat on that stage and leaned out toward us and took us all in. He loved his audience and we loved him back.

We loved Percy, we loved B.B and Norm, a singer in his youth, is hopefully joining them today. 

B.B.'s "Why I Sing the Blues":

To celebrate Norm's life we're hosting an open house at our home on Sunday, July 19, and you are invited to join us, whether you knew Norm or not. It will be a gathering of people who are brave, resilient and ready to take on life on its own terms -- you road warriors. 

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Artisphere Winners ~ 2015

The winners of the 11th Annual Artisphere event held in Greenville, S.C., presented by T.D.Bank and featuring G.E.'s Artist Row were announced recently with $15,000 in awards going to artists.

There were 121 artists represented from all across the country and these are the winners:

G.E. Artist, Best of Show: Robert Farrell (metalworks)

2nd Place: Danielle & Christopher Merzatta (jewelry/precious)

3rd Place: Patricia Kessler (painting/watercolor)

4 Honorable Merit Awards: Richard Wilson (drawing/pastels), Chris Coffey (photography), Hallie Gillett (painting/watercolor) and Tara Locklear (jewelry/semi precious).

The Hainsworth Sinkler Boyd Mayor's Choice Award winner's are: Erin & Jason Hall (ceramics) and the new Cherry Bekaert People's Choice Award, determined by festival patrons is Sarah Mandell (jewelry/ semi precious)

For more information about the artists, visit www.artisphere.us

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July 25 & 26 Artaffair Logo
Belleville, Michigan
Presented by the Belleville Area Council for the Arts 
Sat. 11am-6pm, Sun. 11am-5pm
75 Artists 
Deadline: May 15

Booth Fee:  $125

The Belleville Area Council for the Arts presents the annual Artaffair On Main, during the last weekend in July.  Nestled on the shores of picturesque Belleville Lake, quaint tree-lined Downtown Belleville provides the perfect venue for a Late July fine art, contemporary craft and live music extravaganza.

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Are you an Artist?  Would you like to join us?  Belleville is located in the heart of "art fair territory", adjacent to Ann Arbor and conveniently timed for the weekend after the Ann Arbor Fairs. Why not stick around in this beautiful area of Michigan and spend the weekend in our historic downtown?   
 
New this year:
  • NEW HOURS: Saturday 11-6, Sunday 11-5
  • NEW Early Bird Discount - receive $25 off your booth fee of $125, if you are accepted and paid in full by March 31st
  • NEW Cash Awards for "Best in Show", 1st, 2nd and 3rd place awarded 

Artaffair On Main is a juried show, therefore, we ask that only the highest quality handcrafted items be submitted.  No commercial or manufactured item will be allowed.  In order to maintain a balanced show, the number of exhibitors participating in each category will be limited so that we can provide maximum appeal to the visitors.
Please remember: Artaffair on Main DOES NOT provide electricity for Artisans.

Applications are now available at ArtaffairOnMain.org

For more info or questions, artists can call us at 734-697-8123 or email us at showmanager@artaffaironmain.org
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Where have all the painters gone?

From an email I recently received:

I just wanted to give you some feedback on some of the recent shows that I have been to.  Yesterday I went to the Nashville show and there is so little painting and fine art.  I specifically went there to find a painting and I counted about 5 people. The previous week I went to Franklin Tennessee ready to buy and nothing.  Why are there not more original painters?  I am so tired of looking at all photography.  Anyone can take a picture and frame it, but it takes real talent to paint.  I would like to see more original art.

We have lived here for 10 years.  We are originally from the Chicago area. I do see that there are lots more fine art shows in the midwest and Florida, but the drive is just too far. I miss all the great art in the Chicago area and suburbs! ... I do wish that more of the promoters would put more fine art dealers in their show.

Thank you.

Gail 

Lebanon, TN

Why isn't this solid customer finding paintings at the shows? Can you help explain it?

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October 3 & 43d561472-efd1-40b0-af46-d5ebbea96ecc.jpg?width=150
Williamsburg, Virginia
An Occasion for the Arts (NFP organization)
145 Artists 
Deadline:  May 22

An Occasion For The Arts (AOFTA) is held each year on the first weekend of October on the streets of historic downtown Williamsburg. Artist's booths line the streets of Duke of Gloucester and Boundary in the center of Colonial Williamsburg and on the edge of the campus of William & Mary, a popular destination for people from around the world.

Since it's debut on October 5, 1969, An Occasion for the Arts has focused squarely on the arts.  The goal from the start has been to "invite a number of artists of accomplishment to show their work in this attempt to present to the public a spectrum of two and three dimensional expression."
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The event  is supported entirely by a volunteer, non-profit organization and dozens of volunteers who work diligently to make the show a success. The revenue from this event is used solely to expand the arts in the community and encourage students to pursue careers in the arts. This competitive juried art show brings together the work of talented fine artists and Tidewater patrons who love it.

Each year, our ambition is to be the best show we can for those exhibiting with us, and our commitment to our exhibitors is to balance the show in a way that showcases your work as unique and provides the potential for sales.

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Testimonials:

"It was my best show of the year! I had a lot of traffic, wonderful people and great sales.  Sold a lot of new work and big paintings."

"This was a killer show for us.  People started buying from us at 9am and never stopped until 5pm.  It was the same both days.  The entire atmosphere was perfect-the weather helped too."

Web site:  www.aofta.org 
Contact: Leo Charette: email: artists@aofta.org
Phone: (757)565-7585
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Presented by the Art Colony Assn.  ~~~~~~   300 Artists
Application fee: $35; Booth fee: $500-$1500



* Ranked consistently in Sunshine Artist's 200 Best List's Top 10

* Juried fine art and fine craft by 300 national and international Artists
* Representing work in 18 media categories
* Demonstrated history of strong sales for Artists
* Aggressive media campaign highlighting Artists

Questions: Bronwyn Lauder, artist@bayoucityartfestival.com, 281-571-3102
 
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Find more art fairs looking for you! www.CallsforArtists.com
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I REMEMBER NORM DARWISH

I just heard about Norm Darwish passing on to that great, eternal art show in the sky.

He was Connie's husband.  They were notables on the art circuit during the "Golden Age of Art Festivals."

I thought I would raise a great glass to him and write some kind remembrances.

I know a lot of you are relatively new to our game.  I can't blame you because you don't know about some of the "notables" on the circuit back in the late 70's, thru the glorious 80's and even into the ending 90's.

So I thought I would give ya a little history lesson with some fond memories thrown in about them.

And Norm, and Connie, were solidly in that mix.

In 1978, I was just a brash new face on the circuit.  Fresh back from Hawaii, where I was in the Army and also started doing my first art shows there.

So, from my naive perspective, I thought if you could smoke good Hawaiian pakalolo all day (Mary Jane), suck down Olympia beers and make $300 a day at a show--you were a hot shit.

So I came back to Florida and started doing my 36-shows-a-year thing.  Basically, I was grinding it out, barely making a paycheck, and trying to get something cohesive going in my body of work.

In 1983, I got into my first big art show--Winter Park.  It was a whole other world I had never been a part of.

I remember walking down the sidewalk and going by the fried dough booth.  At 11 AM they already had dollar bills stacked sky-high in their booth.

A little further down I ran into this booth filled with hand-tinted black and white photos.  Some were comical, some were almost obscene, some were very romantic.  They were all entrancing.

There was this cohesive vision of soft, luminous light permeating through every figure in every image.  It was a world I had never seen before.

And sitting on a chair was this enigmatic person with piercing silver eyes and he was wearing a headband, not like a hippie, but more like some mystical creature from the far east.

It was Norm Darwish.

Beside him was this bab-a-licious, comely blonde, his wife, Connie Mettler.

Right away I thought, "Lucky guy.  Some day I want to grow up just like him and have a beauty like that beside me."

Norm did not suffer fools well.  Maybe a better way of putting it, is that if he wasn't really interested in talking to you, he would ignore you.  He would be almost pretending that he was deaf.

And that is how he reacted to me the first time I met him.

Hell, maybe it was because I was wearing hot pink Converse sneakers and wearing an Aloha shirt filled with pink flamingos. Maybe my eyes looked a little too happy, maybe stoned, and I had this big shit-eating grin on my face.

I was smitten--with his work.

I said to myself, "Now that is a cohesive body of work--and so is his wife."

I walked on and saw some of the other biggies of that era at this show.  There were the Brunos, whose son Chris is now a biggie on the circuit.  There were Jim and Robin Wallace, there was Bill Coleman and trusty sidekick, Carl.  There was Emerson with his radiant smile.  There was Alan Klug.

These guys all got into the big shows on a regular basis.  They made mucho moola.  It was the Golden Age of Art Shows and if you had a cohesive body of work and got into the big shows--you made serious money.

Back then, the Florida shows dominated the scene for top ten shows.  You had the Grove, you had Las Olas Museum show, you had Winter Park, even Gasparilla.

You could catch a good buzz off the residue from hundred dollar bills back the.  It was the Miami Vice era, and the vice was everywhere.

So, I first saw Norm there.

As years progressed, I would run into him three to fours times a year.  Sometimes we were both grinding it out, trying to make a paycheck at the second tier shows.

I never was able to have long conversation with him.  He would look right through me with those intense Lebanese eyes and say a few words and then be gone.  He never smiled at me.

But I loved his work.  he had a great command of symmetry and light with just the right colors thrown in.  He was a maverick, like me, he went his own way and found a way to make it successful.

One of the funniest things I ever got to do to Norm happened at the Crosby Gardens show in Toledo.

At that time I was doing a  humorous body of work that include penguins and flamingos.

I had bought four life-sized plastic penguins at Fast Buck Freddies in Key West.  I even gave them names.  Glen, Ben, Swen and Ed.  I also had my flock of plastic flamingos.

So at the show, while Norm was off somewhere from his booth, I set up the penguins and flamingos all around the front of his booth, and took and old "Best of Show" ribbon I had  and put it on the front of his booth.

When he came back to his booth and saw all this, he did not even crack a smile.  He clearly was not amused by it.  I loved it of course and laughed my ass off.

After that, he talked even less to me.  If I got five words out of him, instead of ten, I was doing good.

I kept admiring him through the rest of years and got to be good friends with Connie.

So I am raising a toast to him now.  There are not many more left on the circuit from that Golden era, but they should be remembered.  They paved the way for a lot of the success that this  business has provided.

Aloha, Norm.

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Prescott fine art and wine show

Wrote a review of show and thought it was fair under the circumstances. I have never seen so many dogs at a show in the 25 + years of doing shows and I think from observation made this weekend dog walkers don't buy. Not one dog walker came in my booth. I like dogs but the stones around the square are rough. I saw maybe 10 people on the grass. Rained at setup, sat was cold, Sunday was sunny but not real warm. I told myself would not go back when barely made booth fee in 2012 but thought maybe it would be better. Nope it was not. I live in Prescott and this the only show I would do. Not anymore. Buy/sell was there but there was some excellent art. Public does not know difference. Had some women walk in booth and tell me my work was over priced so I told her for you maybe. Tear down was smooth and MAG volunteers did a great job controlling traffic would I return NO if you are coming from a distance. 100+ miles find another show unless you have dog art. I saw more dogs in strollers than I saw kids in strollers Then they had wine for sale and there were more people drinking than walking art show
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8869159696?profile=originalJune 19-21
Alpine, Wyoming

Presented by Alpine Solstice Events
Nordic Inn Park Grounds
50 Artists
Deadline: May 20

Application Fee:  $25

Booth Fee:  $250 for 10'x10'

The Alpine Solstice is a juried art event to showcase fine handmade original artwork in the categories of:  Drawing & Painting, Ceramics, Sculpture, Jewelry, Photography and Fiber.  The categories are general and subject to juror approval.  This event is located on the park grounds of the Nordic Inn, a 5-star restaurant with exquisite indoor and outdoor seating residing at the base of majestic Fairy Peak and overlooking the scenic Snake River.  The event is held in a grass area near the main road measuring 300'x200' and will contain up to 50 booth spaces.  

Alpine Junction is located 35 miles southwest of Jackson Hole on US Hwy 26. It is a mountain town with approximately 800 residents.  There are 3 rivers that converge at this point and flow into Palisades Reservoir adjacent to the town.  The river valleys are surrounded by majestic snow capped peaks covered with spruce, pine and aspen stands.  Alpine is a visitor-friendly destination with ample restaurants, hotels, motels, and camping, fishing, hiking, rafting, horseback riding amenities.

Testimonial:

"Although the Alpine show was in it's first year, we decided to take a chance on it.  The low numbers of attendees was discouraging, until we noticed the very high percentage of those that did attend purchased.  Mark took VERY Good care of us artists.  Easiest set up of our summer circuit!  Lunches provided, and quickest tear down!  We will certainly be returning.  Thanks again. TJ and Lori Thompson

Apply:  www.Zapplication.org/event-info_php?ID=4040 

Website:  www.alpinesolstice.com

Contact:  Mark Marino, alpinesolsticeart@gmail.com

Phone:  (307)413-9911

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Norm Darwish Passed Away

Just off the phone with Connie. Norm Darwish passed away last night from his third occurrence of prostate cancer. He was first diagnosed 20 years ago and twice over that time it had gone into remission.

Connie's address if you want to send a card:

Connie Mettler
298 West Chicago St.
Coldwater, MI 49036

Norm was one of the top photographers on the art show circuit, specializing in hand painted black and white photography. You can see his work on the web site: http://normdarwish.com

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I've also attached a few pictures of Norm that I've taken. The first is Norm and Connie with fellow photographer Chris Maher in Chris' booth and the second is Norm working on his original hand colored photos behind his booth at the Cain Park Art Festival.

Larry Berman
http://BermanGraphics.com
412-401-8100

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