A little aside first.
Just got my acceptance from Columbus--this is a good sign for a great summer.
I be drinking red wine and writing real fine.
Usually, I take about three days to chew the words around in my head before I put them down in print. It is a method that works for me. I like to get it right the first time I put it down, I am not into a lot of rewrite. Which means you get, spontaneously, what comes off the top of my head.
SO HERE GOES
Gotta love Ft. Myers. This old southern gulf coast town has come a long way in the last 15 years.
I can remember back in 1985.
I was down there to pick up my brand new Newtons PortaCanopy booth. This was the forerunner to the Craft Hut.
Clyde Butcher, who is like the Ansel Adams of the Florida Everglades, had designed the first one, Newton made it for him and I bought the second one after Ray Doan. Or, at least that's the way I remember it.
The thing is, I had time to kill in downtown Ft. Myers then. Before I picked up my booth from Newton out by the airport off Highway 41.
Trouble was, I wanted some lunch there, and my choices were very limited. This was like a big cow town on the gulf. It was very quiet there. This was 1985.
Now, jump forward about 15-20 years later.
New mayor, new vision of what downtown could become.
Hey, Thomas Edison and Henry Ford figured out this town eons ago, about time the modern town fathers figured it out now.
I mean if Randy Wayne White is gonna have Doc Ford running around the area, there better be some serious places to drink tequila and eat good fish.
There are.
And, more.
Enter the Art Association headed by Sharon McCallister. They took a little old art show from small time to big time in lightning fast speed.
The show is in its 15th year. Running real strong with about 215 exhibitors. New Smyrna take note, you are half the size and have 260-plus exhibitors and half of them aint making their booth fees.
The show is downtown right on the river. Booths are all on the adjacent streets bordering the water. It is all on concrete, bring weights. It can be very windy, bring more weights, bring warm winter coats.
For most it is a two-day show with a Friday setup.
For the adventurous, there is a voluntary Friday nite preview,about 100 artists participate.
You get electricity. After all, this is in the city where Edison figured out the right filament to power a lightbulb.
Some people do very good on Friday night. Others, if nothing else, get to drink lots of exotic cocktails and tell old artshow war tales to each other.
The advance info about your booth is very detailed and organized. This is not their first rodeo.
You come in on staged times with ample setup parking. Overall, it is a very mellow affair.
Downtown Fort Myers is now a hotbed of booming restaurants and wine bars, and even--sky-bars. Edison would have a filament-orgasm if he could see this town now.
Lots of German and other European voices spoken here.
Then there are those familiar midwestern accents that we hear all summer in places like Columbus, Madison and Minneapolis. They all winter here, and they buy to decorate here or to adorn themselves here.
We had perfect weather. Just cool enough to keep them off the beaches and the golf courses and be downtown at the artshow.
I walked the show early both days. Gotta do my serious half hour walk to keep the old ticker healthy after my open heart surgery nearly three years ago.
This show was full of circuit heavyweights. I did not see much, or any buysell here. This is a very cany committee. They pay close attention and they know how to use and observe social media. Kudos to them.
One heavyweight I encountered was my old friend John Scanlan, a renowned Iowa photographer, who is a world traveler.
I was in Scanlan's booth. It has many paths. This guy knows how to make the most out of a double booth as anybody on the circuit.
I wryly observed the many slim passages past images of Norway, France, Italy and Seaside.
A lightbulb went on in my head.
I eyed John and said, "You should pull an Ikea moment here."
He said, "Nels, what the heck are you talking about, plus I am losing my concentration on this batch of Iowa Kettle Corn."
I said, "John, you need to print out a map of your booth for us, that shows where we are, and how we get to Sweden Row first, Italy next, and Finally france. Plus, you could show the secret shortcut door that gets you to the Kettle Corn ASAP."
He just looked at me with genuine Prairie bemusement. I think I have amused John for more than 30 years now.
Then whoa, I find out my neighbor is the amazing Kit from Colorado--Mr. Equistite cut/blown glass whose designs defy reality.
Kit is from Denver. He has been around 35 years, doesn't look a day over 29. Must be the ponytail.
This guy knows people. He charms them, he warms them, he sells them. He sells his personae way before he sells his art. He is a master. I took extensive notes during the weekend, it was like a crash course into advanced artshow sales. He is the master. And, he has very fine taste in tequila.
HEY THAT'S ALL KIT-ELICIOUS NELS, BUT WHAT HAPPENED AT THE ART SHOW.
Thought you would never ask.
Saturday started chilly and progressively got warmer--so did our sales.
It was very refreshing.
We saw many people carrying art in their hands. Many.
Some had multiple purchases. Some had to come back three times to get all their purchases.
It was a booming day. My Sunday morn interviews with artists revealed that many, and I mean many, did well over $2K that day. That is a good art show.
It was my best Saturday of the year so far.
We all celebrated Saturday night.
Ellen and I stayed at the Best Western just north across the downtown bridge. It had the only restaurant/bar on that side of the river.
We got the room for $89 plus tax. It was a show special.
The restaurant had a killer location right on the water. Also had a killer happy hour. Half off on everything. I got Bourbon Manhattens for $3.00 each. They had sweet seafood at sweet priced. This place is a steal. It is called the Three Fisherman. Book it, Dano!
I had spied a Thai/Sushi place right beside it.
We checked it out. It was so righteous, that we ate there two nights.
Cheap Sake, cheap Spring rolls, cheap fish, cheap curries. The place is a steal.
SUNDAY,SUNDAY.
We awoke with visions of a repeat of Saturday. For many, it was not the same--for a lucky few, they still killed them.
The day was a little warmer. We were warmed by a great free breakfast put on by the show. They did it on Saturday too. Awards were given, kudos were given and then we went out looking to repeat Saturday goals.
Overall, it was a different crowd.
More looky-lookys.
They were walking, not doing a lot of talking, and definitely not doing a lot of buying.
I made moola, but mostly very lowend.
Meanwhile my neighbor Kit killed them. So did the other three glass artists around me.
This area buys mostly very traditional, conservative, Florida-friendly art.
They are not cheap. They have moola and will spend it.
I wound up with my best show of the year--I was very happy. Gotta do a lot of restocking for Artigras.
Ellen and I were out of there by 6:15 (Show ended at 5PM) and stopped at the Anna Maria Oysterbar Restaurant off I-75 (Ellenton Exit) for more delicious seafood at a very low price.
Overall, this was a very strong show for most exhibitors.
Be aware, they get lots of apps, many apply, few are chosen. Them that gets in are Happy Campers.
Aloha, and Later Gators, Nels.
oth space selections are based on first-in-first-choice. The earlier you apply, the better chance you have to get your first space choice
Set in an old, tree lined park where booths line walkways surrounded by a tranquil, freshwater lake, Long's Park treats its guests to a virtual outdoor gallery of the best work being created. Fine dining, wines, craft beer and jazz music lend to the upscale feel and tone of this festival.
