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The Stars and Stripes Art Fair is a new event that celebrates the images and people that make this country great.  All mediums are accepted.  Our focus in on positive imagery, work that shows what we can accomplish by working together.  Images of natural beauty and decorative and functional art that helps to beautify our homes and lives.

The event joins the established Stars and Stripes Festival as it moves to Freedom Hill County Park, a large special event park and entertainment center.  With free admission, free parking and free entertainment the past attendance at this event has been over 100,000 people.

The art section will be away from the music stages, in a prime spot near the entrance.  This section closes at 7pm with fencing and security.  The art fair portion is produced by Integrity Shows.  Integrity focuses on one of a kind art shows designed to generate sales.  We have a three year jury process so if you are accepted this year, you are automatically accepted in future years as long as you apply by deadline.

For this event we are offering a 25% discount to veterans and members of the US
Military, as well as their spouses.  Please check the appropriate box and send proof with your application.

For more info and application: www.MichiganArtShow.com

You may also contact Mary Strope at:

I did the Magic city show this weekend . Sales very poor and Sunday non existent because of rain. So glad I and many others left before the pouring rain hit at about Noon. Funny, The city called the show early on but the event did not.I was back home in Atlanta just before that hard rain came in.

Vandals, came through on Friday night and hit two inside rows of tents on both sides of the park. They put 6 inch cuts on the sides of many tents. I was so thankful that I escaped any of this but felt so badly for the others.

Sales were poor for most if at all. Well, another one to cross off the list. Too bad as this used to be a great selling show but in B'ham's case it is the economy that has hit this area.

Rumor has it that this show will be going to zapp soon. Since I have done the show, I thought I'd give my opinion on it for anyone who may stumble upon it on zapp.

Let me preface this by saying that this show has always been a craft show and the jury standards for it have been lackluster. They allow "merchant" booths, meaning that shop owners on Main St. are allowed to buy space so there is buy/sell at the show. I've been doing the show for 5 years or so because it is not a very far drive from home and Franklin, TN is the wealthiest county in TN. This used to be one of my top 5 shows of the year, that is, when the locals and the Nashville crowd came to it.

The show has gotten gradually and dramatically worse as far as quality of work goes over the past few years. I and others have put our 2 cents in with the show promoter (which as we all know does a lot of good - NOT!). I hope going to zapp changes things for them for the better, however, I believe it will be too little too late.

It is quite a shame though, there is a lot of money in Franklin. The problem is when you start seeing 4 booths of wooden pens, 3 booths of puppets (which are imported from China), a bunch of merchants w/"sale" signs selling sunglasses & shoes, and pvc projectile toys, well....surely you see where this is going. Needless to say, the locals who are from Franklin and have the money to support the arts could care less about it so they don't come (now that the show has become a glorified flea market). They are not attracting the sophisticated buyers they used to from the downtown Nashville area. Instead, the people coming to it are from out in the sticks and are not there to buy or shop. I'm not sure if they cut their advertising budget or have changed who they are advertising to. One restaurant owner I spoke with told me that the locals who normally shop on Main St. avoid it during the show because it has gotten a reputation for not having a quality of work that is worth any serious buyers coming down there for.

The show has usually been pretty good about giving their awards (which BTW is a nice gesture, but you won't get much money out of) to the quality artists that are set up there. Sadly though, this year, to add insult to injury I noticed that a reputable and talented painter I know did not receive an award, while someone putting together pre-purchased beads to spell names did. A fine art photographer who sells originals didn't receive an award, but a graphic artist selling giclee prints did.

In summary, should you decide to try the show, do so knowing these things, keep your expectations low, and I hope you get lucky. I certainly wouldn't travel any great distance to do it unless you need a filler on the way to somewhere else.

Hi Friends.....Here is my review of The Main Street Festival in Franklin, TN.  It is a good review and one caveat...I was awarded first place, so I might be a bit biased and still very thrilled; this is my first first place award ever. 

I arrrived Friday evening and checked in with show director, Rene Evans and her staff.  They are all very nice people and very helpful.  We had to wait until 10pm to begin setting up unless the cars were moved from the area where the booth was.  The police were closing the streets at 10 and I got lucky and my booth area was clear by 9, so I started setting up.  The weather was not good.  It was pouring down rain the entire time I set up.  It took longer than normal, due to the rain, but I got it all done and went to the hotel to dry out and get some much needed rest.

I overslept a bit on Saturday due to the short night and being so worn out, but managed to get to the show about an hour before it opened to finish the finer details in the booth.  Saturday's weather was horrible.  It poured down rain all morning and into the afternoon.  Fortunately, there was no wind, just constant rain.  Naturally, the crowds were very light in the morning, but the best part was the serious buyers were there.  Parkas and umbrellas in tow, the people who love art and the festival still came and were shopping.  I had very good sales on Saturday despite the rain.  I thanked each person who came in to my booth for being out in the weather and many of them bought.  There were several empty spaces where artists had not set up and in some ways I can't blame them and in other ways I think they lost out on the good buying crowd on Saturday.  The rain slowed down in the afternoon and eventually stopped about two hours before show closing.  The crowd picked up and everything got more lively. 

Sunday was much better weather, no rain and pleasant.  The crowd was totally different.  It was a crowd of after church people, families and lookie loos!  Very, very big crowd on Sunday.  This festival is well attended when the weather is good, there is no doubt about that.  Unfortuantely, the Sunday crowd was more conservative and not nearly as many buyers as on Saturday.  I sold one piece on Sunday. 

Jurying....This show is a mixture of art and craft.  There was some beautiful fine art there, some very nice crafts and of course, obvious buy/sell and some things that I would not jury into a show.  I am not sure what thier goal is during the jurying process, but I felt they did a pretty good job of it, with a few things that I wouldn't jury in, but maybe there is more to that than I know.  (There may be exceptions made for local businesses/artisans, I got that vibe, and that's totally ok with me!)  

I had very nice neighbors at this show, they couldn't have been better or more helpful.  The show director is very involved and was my booth sitter on 2 occasions.  I felt that this show is well organized and well ran.  My sales at this show were good and after all expenses made a modest "paycheck" profit.  I think if Saturay had not been so rainy I could have made more.  I did have a few pieces that got wet and needed repair, so they were not out.  I think if they were out, they likely would have sold too, making my sales total better.  Overall, I am pleased with this show and feel it was worth it.  Having won first place in the show, I am automaticly in next year and I will do the show again.  I will give this show a solid A in terms of organization, staff, attendance, sales and overall artist experience.  I encourage anyone who is thinking about doing Main Street Festival to apply for it and if accepted, by all means do this show!!!!!!!         

September 7 & 8
September 14 & 15
Chicago, Illinois
Intersection of Broadway and Belmont
Sat. 10am-6pm; Sun. 10am-5pm
175 Artists
New deadline: May 15

Please note: Due to a date change by the Chicago Cubs this show has been moved one week later. The deadline has also changed to accommodate the schedule. 

The Lakeview East Festival of the Arts is Chicago's premier fine art and fine craft festival showcasing over 170 juried artists.  Lakeview is located on the north side of Chicago, near Wrigley Field, north Halsted and Lincoln Park in a very diverse, culturally rich community with unique boutique stores, cafes and restaurants.

The Lakeview East Chamber of Commerce has hosted this event for the past seven years.  More than 40,000 attendees are expected to attend this year's festival.  The festival is set on Broadway Avenue just north of Belmont Avenue.

This festival has a strong marketing and media plan and hosts an annual artist reception.  Other amenities include artist reserved parking, Saturday night Artist Party, and a full breakfast served Saturday and Sunday.

Checks payable to:  Lakeview East Chamber of Commerce

This event is run by EM Events, founded by Erin Melloy in  1995 as an event planning company. Today, it is our pleasure to work closely with some of Chicagoland's most innovative and creative communities and organizations to produce premier art festivals of distinction.

This Oscar talking to God. It may not make any sense and may not be clear English, it is just my mind talking and typing.

I do not know what to expect this year since I change my body work a bit. My first show is Cottonwood Art Fair and last One of a Kind Chicago. Waiting for the Sugar Creek, Bucktown Art Fair, La Plaza and Historic Shaw. My high of the preseason was that I got into Lakefront Arts Festival Milwaukee. I am hoping to apply to more shows for the fall. Also I am planing to start early March 2014.

Read post by Nels and Munks. They both have great points and Bless both of them. The truth is they have the courage to express what we feel but we are afraid to express.

This last Xmas my knee staring to give me problems. In last few months I drain both knees at least three times. My right knee is getting roaster combo injections and it starting feeling better. After cottonwood  I will see how they feel. The pain is not pleasant at time but I am grateful to be able to walk.

What is my point you may ask God? There are people that want you do well but most people want you to fail. Do not ask why but it is just an observation. I got to the point that want everybody to do well and more important to be able to meet all obligations in life. If I see you at the show just said hi. If you want we can always can go out for friendly dinner. When I travel to a show I am only going with you God. Eating dinner alone sucks. If God let me meet a friendly female do not think the wrong thing. Last year I learn not ask where you are staying or to smile because Oh my God..... One thing for sure I got divorce and I have not interest in dating any artist. So do not worry about that. If I see a friendly male artist lets us have dinner and not I not in that side of the fence neither. Eating dinner alone sucks and talking to God to myself is bit CRAZY at times.

If you want to be fellow artist want to talk politics do not expect me to change my mind. I very in the middle and more Democrat than conservative. I like to able to choose. Some people do not believe in that. Do not talk to me about you, God and the church. I almost became a priest but after looking at the church, ......well .....

Last time I check God can only help you if you help yourself. Buy the lottery ticket if you want God to help you win the lottery.

I am sure I got more things in my mind but what is the point to express them. You do not care other than God wants us to be good, at least that what my faith believe.

So, God if you let me meet fellow artist let them be friendly and I wish you the best. God let me see my friends I will like to talk about life not about the art that we sale. God let friends have the smarts to tell me if I am doing something wrong so I can improve. The only company I have is you God. God you also knows that so bad that Devil does not want me in hell because I will exile him from hell. So do not think I am stupid.

The best thing about starting a new season is that you are full of hope and joy. That I am grateful that can still walk. I am grateful that can hope to move my work. The only thing I ask God today that he help me to sale my work and be able to meet my obligations. I did my part God, I produce new work and apply the best two advice from my friends to my work. Best thing Armando who gave some advice in the One of Kind Show will be the neighbor at the first show of the season.

At this point I will be 46 very soon GOD. I just want a simple quiet life and no worry where my next meal will come from. And God because I want I simple life it does mean I want to be poor and the other ways you may think. I want you know that appreciate all the lessons in life  and every single bad experience. That I only hate some people because they want to hurt me. I do not want anything bad to happen to them I just do not want them to be in my life.

Please God this is the only prayer you get from me. You know that gave all the tools in life and is my choice to use them wisely. I just want you let me have profit year and meet my obligations because is in your hands now because I had done my part. I almost forgot help the fellow artist to have good sales because I do not want negative feed back when you are helping me to have a great show after great show because I already did my part and will keep doing my part in our agreement.

To you all my fellow artist I wish you the best and be happy because the fellow artist next to you may become homeless or very poor in many nasty ways or some many other bad things that can happen to him that you may not know. For all you please do you part to improve your life and do not make other people life more difficult. The rest is up to you GOD.

September 21 & 22  
Marine on St. Croix, Minnesota
Historic rivertown on the St. Croix River
10am-5pm
175 Artists and Craftspeople
Deadline: May 1

Award winning, well established show with quality art and craft.

• Beautiful setting outdoors
• easy set-up, no pets
• Fall leaf looking ten minutes north of Stillwater, 40 min. from Minneapolis
• All profits go to our Public Safety Department
• Extensive advertising of the art fair is planned this year

This is an outdoor event that has the reputation of being an outstanding art fair.  It is always held the 3rd weekend of September, the peak of our fall colors tourist season.  Marine on St. Croix is located in Northern Washington County, eleven miles north of Stillwater and seventeen miles south of Taylors Falls on Highway 95 at County Road 4. 

For more info: www.marineonstcroix.org/artfairdetails.shtm  

(651)433-3636

Email: marineartfair@midconetwork.com  

First off, I am still pulling arrows out of my back from this recent post.

The torrent of responses, some of them nasty, on Facebook--was amusing.  I have been thru worse like the "Fish on the fence episode three years ago."

That said.  The most important thing I did was I effected (not affected) change.

I felt photography was getting the raw end of that deal thru their statements in their prospectus.

(Sorry, Mr. Slade a prospectus is a prospectus whether or not you get it on Zapp).

I just want to make three nice observations.

First.  I think Christie Kelly, the new director of the show did a class act.

She listened, she set things straight.  That's all I was hoping for.

I did not see any of the rest of you really step up and point out the unfairness of their ORIGINAL STATED POLICY about eligible photos.

Some people on Facebook said I was a bully, using my blog to browbeat poor Miss or Mrs. Kelly.

All I did was point out some obvious things that were not in sync with the rest of the circuit.

Christie Kelly has a great future.  Better than I can say for many directors who you can't talk to let alone get a word in.  She is a class act.

Secondly, I have always stood forward in letting anybody and everybody know that I feel all 2-D artists should be allowed to sell reproductions of their work.  You will get no quarrel from me.

Interestingly, Va. Beach like many shows says no repros for painters and the like--then of course, they go and sell repro posters of their former shows.

I know.  You will justify them by saying, "It is a fund-raiser."  Guess what?  When I show up to sell, it is also a fund-raiiser--its called the Nels Johnson Fund-raiser to Make Enough Money to Pay the Monthly Mortgage.

Thirdly, and this goes out especially to the little bully snips who like to downgrade us photographers.  I especially love the ones who don't make a living on the street and try to apply museum standards to the street.

If you think it is easy to make big bucks, let alone, a living, out there as a digital photographer--then jump right on in.

The waters are muddied and bloodied from all the ones I have seen come and go over 37 years.  And guess what?  I am still standing tall, shooting my own visions and marketing them.

I would like to see how many of you can jump in, get in really good shows and then make money.  Guess what?  Many are called and few are chosen.

So, the bottom line was, I had the balls to make note of a serious problem--and effected change.  Guess what?  I did it.  Which is more than most of you who sit on pretty chairs do on SOCIAL MEDIA but don't really make anything happen.

That's all folks, this is my Fu........day and I am out of here.  Playing golf tomorrow.  Sleeping good tonight, because I made something happen.

My winter plan last year was to do 7 Florida shows, most of them in South Florida (2 in Naples, one in Bonita, one in Ft Myers, Las Olas and Coconut Grove) with the only exception being Winter Park. Winter Park delivered with very good sales, but the other 6 shows were terrible. This winter I stayed away from South Florida and did only three shows (Gasparilla, Winter Park and Mainsail), all in the middle of Florida in metropolitan areas not affected so much by the tourists and the snowbirds. I earned more money at these three shows this year than I did at seven shows last year.

Mainsail was the weakest of the three generating only $2000 in sales. Those sales were especially disappointing because my wife and I flew home to Michigan for a month between Winter Park and Mainsail, creating more travel expenses than if the shows were all back to back.

The show is laid out in a large grassy park next to the waterfront. Each space is outlined in white chalk with a wooden sign in front of it showing the booth number. Spaces are about 12x12, laid out back to back. One odd thing about the show is that the committee does not reveal your booth number until you arrive at check in. I guess, that way, you can't complain in advance about where they put your booth.

Check in started at 1pm on the dot on Friday afternoon and artists were not allowed to start setting up until after checking in (indeed, no one knew where their booth would be anyway). Artists were told that all the set up would have to be done before 6pm because the park would be shut down at that time. I'm not sure if that rule was enforced because we finished before 6pm and got out of there before the deadline.

Some shows (like Gasparilla) have a super-organized set-up procedure where every artist has an assigned set-up time when they are allowed to bring their stuff into the art fair grounds. Not so at Mainsail. Once we got our packet and knew where our booth would be, we just streamed into the park willy nilly looking for our spot. I actually prefer this kind of arrangement because it depends on the artists themselves to work out where to park their vans and trailers to unload and set up. I saw little of the art fair committee during setup. No art fair police directing traffic and enforcing rules. Artists worked with each other to make room and accommodate each other. Load out on Sunday afternoon was handled the same way, letting the artists work out their own schedule and drive their vehicles into the grounds whenever they were ready. I like it when the committee recognizes that us artists are adults and can work things out among each other.

Weather forecast for the week-end was a little threatening with 40-50% rain being forecast for both days. Remarkably, the only rain during the show was a slight sprinkle on Sunday that some artists may not even have noticed. So, the weather held off until 7pm on Sunday, just as I was closing the door on my trailer after packing up. Some artists were still packing up at that time, and probably got wet, but we drove back to the hotel under a mild, but steady rainfall.

Just about all my sales were small ones, for unframed pieces. My biggest sale was $200. This was not a crowd that was buying big ticket items. As usual, sales varied among the artists, but I didn't hear of any big winners. This is a conservative crowd mostly out to look, not buy. 

I like the setting for the show and the ease of setup and break down. Although my sales were a little disappointing, they were much better at Mainsail than at all 6 of the South Florida shows I did last year. If I can schedule this show without the airfare and the hassle of parking my rig somewhere for a month, I'd do it again. I just wish the committee could come up with some ideas for getting some bigger spenders to come out for the show.

Congratulations to Nels Johnson and many thanks for all the good laughs as he spelled out "The Grand Scheme Finally Revealed -- Everybody gets Rich, even Barry Bernstein ... "

Nels and Barry -- great partners all along the way ... 

I just returned from one of my most favorite places on earth to exhibit. We had a fantastic turn-out, sales were up 50% over any of the previous years sales figures and the event appears to finally have found it's "place".

I was all excited on Thursday's set-up, finally a tiny room that could barely hold 9 exhibitors with spaces 6' deep by 13' finally laid-out to fall in the ADA complaint category, and I was thankful on many fronts.

The main being that I suffer from a type of claustrophobia where I can't be blocked up against a wall (such as when people gather around me not realizing that is what they did and I have no way out) and/or exits being cluster blocked.

Friday morning, I had the final merchandise and last minute items I was wheeling into our booth, still outside and this weirdo comes up, slaps me on the shoulder just enough to unbalance me and makes an inane comment and I think to myself - who on earth would do such a thing when I am obviously wheeling a large cart full of items in the pouring down rain...what type of unthinking person would do such a thing? And then as I get under cover (it was raining heavily) and wheeled into the room, I find the same weirdoes wife was "set-up" on the open side of our booth, her items thrown on top of our fixtures that had been covered with sheets the night before, spread out all over the floor and literally blocking the main entrance (there was only about 6 feet from the doors to our booth.)

I was shocked that the coordinator would do such a thing - move this person that was scheduled to be outside - inside, it was not the coordinators job to accommodate someone that did not come prepared at the expense of everyone else. I realize I may sound hard-nosed about this, however I had just spent $600 on brand new fixtures for this show specific, and had a professional display. not some thrown together stuff looking like what you would find at a flea market. She had plastic shoe boxes full of her stuff, splayed out on the floor, on one side of the entrance, and a pegged board on the other ready to "bite" people in the ankles. I tried to speak to the coordinator of the safety issues involved and she wouldn't listen to me, claiming that she saw no problem with any of this...the whole time..me thinking what on earth? You just gave the prime location (since it was the main entrance) to a clueless and shoeless yahoo (yes she was) blocking the main entrance, you put someone who was not even remotely professional in a room with 9 that were professionals, setting a "tone" to the room that we were all a bunch of less-thens all because this party didn't come prepared for the weather.

While I realize the coordinator was trying to be accommodating, the issues were this:

1. the coordinator made one party's problem everyone elses' rather than explaining pre-show that IF you are outside, please be prepared for all types of weather. Moving them indoors at the last minute was an insult in such a small venue to all of us who are professional and prepared.

2. the room instantly became non-ADA-compliant.

3. because the main entrance was not able to be accessed comfortably or exited without stepping side-ways, the room was now a dangerous area for anyone entering or trying to exit.

I realized upon discussion with the coordinator that she didn't understand that what "appeared" to be space was necessary for safety reasons alone not just ADA compliance. It was not space to "fill-up". So, I proceeded to suffer a mild claustrophic panic attack the two days of the show. The other two exits were equally blocked on and off throughout the day due to other exhibitors setting up their booths causing clusters to form in front of the other two exits. It was painful, I have spent two nights crying myself to sleep knowing that I was in a situation that I had within seconds lost control over, for all the time I spent guaranteeing I wouldn't suffer an attack which is so rare, because of my diligence it's been 4 years since the last time. Because I don't realize until after the fact that I am in panic mode...I am so upset that people saw this in me not realizing that is what was happening to me. I couldn't settle down the whole time, constantly afraid someone was a) going to get injured, trip or fall or b) a situation was going to rise that I was not going to be able to leave when I needed to.

Just a word to all of you - PLEASE - if your set-up is ADA compliant you are also most likely set-up to meet the standards of the fire marshall. There is a very simple test to perform to see if your own area is ADA compliant that I used to do when I worked corporate that I continue to do now. Many times I am told by those that aren't aware - you have all this "space" in your booth and it's so comfortable not realizing I sometimes spend countless hours working out those details to make sure I am ADA compliant. That means I accommodate wheelchairs, strollers and similar situations because of it.

Here is how to do it: always have a yardstick with you if you aren't of the type to graph out your space ahead of time, or know the traffic pattern of the aisles until you arrive. Hold the yardstick with each end in each hand with your arms down to your sides forming an "A" and walk through your booth. If you touch one side of the yardstick to any surface, the other side needs to be free. If you strike both sides of the yardstick, the area is too narrow and not ADA compliant. Also, if you pass your yardstick over any items that are below your hands, those items are a low-hazard and need to be raised up above the level of your hands/yardstick or you have created a "tripping" hazard.

I can guarantee that if you set-up your space to be ADA compliant you will see customers you have never seen before enter your booth, people with canes, wheelchairs, etc and don't think for one second they aren't there to shop, however they won't come into "your" space if you haven't accommodated them.

Perhaps writing this helps me get over what happened because I am upset with myself for getting upset - but panic attacks are real - and when it didn't need to have happened, and created a dangerous situation for everyone...well...I am struggling still. If the coordinator had information to help her make better, wiser decisions I wouldn't be writing this, but she didn't, and unfortunately she wasn't willing to "hear" what was critical to everyone's comfort all because she thought she had to accommodate ONE person that was clueless.

June 14-23    
Detroit, Michigan
Along the Detroit River Walk
15 Artists
Deadline: May 10

Detroit River ArtScape is starting early this year!  ArtScape will open on June 14th and will run through the Detroit River Days Festival,  June 21st-23rd.  This national competition is open to all artists with an interest in exhibiting art of any medium along the Detroit riverfront.  In its second year, 15 artists will be selected to showcase their large, weather-worthy pieces, and win cash prizes of more than $15,000.

The purpose of the event is to promote arts and culture in Detroit and to showcase the Detroit riverfront as well as to promote the Arts to the Metro Detroit community and specifically to the 100,000 plus people who attend the River Days Festival.

By: Anton Anderssen for ArtScape 2012

Please note:

• This year, ArtScape will be hosted solely outdoors, along the Detroit River Walk.
• We are looking for large, eye-catching pieces that will have impact on the appearance of the riverfront.
• To accommodate the scale of works we are seeking, we will provide over-sized display areas for each artist.  This can vary based on the size and orientation of the installation.  Prior experience in outdoor installations is recommended.
• There will be opportunities for promotion and sale of your work through our multi-faceted PR campaign.  You cannot be in the Metro Detroit area during River Days without hearing about our festival many times a day, through many media outlets.
• The grounds of the festival will be well guarded by 24-hour security.
• Display spaces will be well lit for nighttime viewing, and each artist will be provided an electrical source as well as a table and two chairs for their comfort.
• The diverse atmosphere of Detroit River Days will draw attention to works of art from all over the state and tri-county area as well as our friends from Canada.

During the week prior to River Days, artists will have an opportunity to be interviewed by members of the media and possibly be featured in Key Media outlets, including print, radio and television.  We encourage you to apply early; think BIG and send us images that capture the essence of your efforts!

Of special note: Application fee $20. If you are one of the 15 chosen you will be paid $600 to exhibit and be eligible for $15,000 in cash prizes.

Well, I just cancelled buying my booth space at Va. Beach this year.

It seems the newbie director there has been swayed by the powers-that-be who absolutely hate photography to make a new rule or two about our medium this year.

Her new rule--editions can only be limited to 100. Mind you, previously there and most places, editions have been 250.

Oh gee, I guess we have to cheat and renumber all our editions to the new number--are you frigging nuts!

Then, it gets better.  The director decrees that no photos will be allowed in the show if they are giclees.

Gee, I wonder where photographers who make images from digital files are supposed to print them.

I mean, are we somehow, mysteriously supposed to soak our digital file in stone-cut oatmeal and then print them in chemical trays.  Hold the cinnamon (It lowers blood pressure, but also lowers contrast in photos( I made that up)).

I mean what has this girl been smoking.  Who is she listening to.

Two things are going to happen--neither good.

One, they will ignore enforcing the rules and look like further num-nuts.

Two.  Fewer good people are going to apply.  Which probably the little old craggy women-painters who run that show will cackle in delight.  They hate photos, we make more money than them.  Digital-Envy.

Wait til I get a 18 megapixel.  I will pull that baby out and wave it in their faces every chance I get.

Call me "Nels-Jack-Flash."

I posted these two stories as part of a thread that Geoff Coe started about the dismal show he had in Jacksonville last weekend. Geoff asked me to start a new blog to share the "inspiring" stories so more people might have an opportunity to read them. These are copied from the original blog: 

1. "I did this show last year and it was exactly the same as Geoff described: Rain on Saturday, beautiful Sunday and nobody came out. I may have done $100 for the weekend. But on my way back to Atlanta I stopped to photograph the Okefanokee Swamp and I made an image that has been by far my best seller. It was even purchased for the permanent collection at the Museum of Contemporary Art of Georgia. If I hadn't done the show I would have missed out on thousands of $ of sales of this one photograph. 

So you never know."

2. "Geoff, Here's another example of "you never know" that happened just today. Last spring I met a woman at a show who was looking for photographs to decorate her husband's new office that was still being built. She wouldn't commit to anything until the office was finished and she could see the photographs in the office to make sure they worked. Delay after delay stretched out to almost a year but I stayed in touch with her with an occasional email. Finally she called me the other day to schedule a "viewing" at the office some images she had selected from my website to consider. I walked out this afternoon with an order for 11 large framed images for over $4K. My largest one-time sale ever.

So a below average show at the time was actually one of my best. Actual sales at a show is not always an accurate indicator of the success of the show."

The point of these stories is that a bad show is not always what it seems at the time. Anybody else have similar experiences to share?

This is my second year doing shows. I am based in the Milwaukee area. I have decided to branch out and try some shows in Door County this year. However, now that I have gotten into a few of them, I am stumped at figuring out where to stay economically. Does anyone have any ideas? I may end up borrowing a tent and camping for $20/night, even though that seems like a bit more trouble than just sleeping in my car in the Walmart parking lot for free. Unfortunately, these art shows all fall on holidays where the motel rates are higher to begin with. 

St. Petersburg, FL - April 20 & 21 - Mainsail Art Festival

Dean A. Porter, director emeritus of the University of Notre Dame Snite Museum of Art and himself a painter chose the 50 artists who received the $50,000 in awards. The $10,000 Best in Show award went to painter, Richard Currier.

This is my third time jurying the show," Porter said. "I spent about five hours reviewing the artists on the Mainsail website before I came and started a quality rating from 1 to 10. Very few were below 7. I visited Richard's booth twice and there was such a high quality to every painting.

                                    Richard Currier's abstract seascape - Best in Show

Award of Excellence – $1,500

Scott Coulter    Oil/Acrylic
Scott Hartley    Watercolors
Jeff Eckert    Graphics
Candiss Cole-Footitt & Roger Footitt    Fibers
William Kwamena-Poh    Watercolors
David Erdman    Sculptor
Jan Wang    Oil/Acrylic
Dawn Adams    Oil/Acrylic
Duncan McClellan    Glass
Jon Smith    Oil/Acrylic

Award of Distinction – $1000

Ummarid Eitharong    Mixed Media
Billie Barthelemy    Fibers
Leslie Bevis    Oil/Acrylic
Rocky Bridges    Mixed Media
Dale Lewis    Wood
Richard J. Auger    Photography
Ana Aguerrevere    Oil/Acrylic
Emily Barnes    Oil/Acrylic
Marc and Sara Aune    Jewelry
John Mascoll    Wood
David Gordon    Oil/Acrylic
Robert S. Wilson    Oil/Acrylic
Paul Jeselskis    Ceramics
Katherine Mathisen    Ceramics
Gail Markiewicz    Ceramics

Award of Merit – $500

Sue Archer    Watercolors
Randall Smith    Mixed Media
Sandra Matasick    Jewelry
Ellie Diez-Massaro    Mixed Media
Pam Fox    Jewelry
Mel Fleck    Graphics
Chas Rowe    Oil/Acrylic
Maija Baynes    Oil/Acrylic
Lawrence Packard    Graphics
John Bayalis    Watercolors
Andy Handwork    Graphics
Lilian Delgado    Oil/Acrylic
Dave Bruner    Graphics
Richard Miranda    Jewelry
Linda McAdams    Mixed Media
Erica Hall    Graphics
Charles Parkhill    Sculpture
Michael Weber    Watercolors
Russell Yerkes    Watercolors
Susan Gott    Glass

Purchase Awards – $200

Cheryl Mackey Smith    Ceramics    ARTicles Gallery by Leslie Curran
Marc and Sara Aune    Jewelry    Douglas C. Buchan & Associates
Marvin Bower    Fibers    Anthony J. LaSpada, P.A.
Patricia Karnes    Jewelry    Lazzara Family Partnership
Patricia Karnes    Jewelry    Lazzara Oil Company
Gail Markiewicz    Ceramics    Fred & Monika MacFawn
Dustin Cole    Sculpture    The Mahaffey Company
William Kidd    Ceramics    Shapiro’s Gallery
Jon Smith    Oil & Acrylic    Wells, Houser & Schatzel, P.A.
Lilian Delgado    Oil & Acrylic    West Coast Florida Cadillac Dealers

More about Mainsail:

http://blogs.tampabay.com/things-to-do/visualarts/painter-takes-best-in-show-at-38th-annual-mainsail-arts-festival/2116514

Thursday, April 25, 2 pm ET

Making the sale and making it easy for you and your buyer

Talking about:

• terminals, wireless & wired
• iPhones
• iPads & tablets
• PayPal
• PCI compliance & fees
• merchant support
• pay-as-you go processing
• monthly charges
• and getting the biggest bang for your buck

Steven Ballan, vice-president of 1st National Payment Solutions, one of the pioneers in providing merchant accounts to non-bricks and mortar merchants, lays out the current "best practices" and answers questions about making smart choices in your credit card processing options.

In light of the continuing discussion about credit card processing we'll speak with a merchant provider who has been in the business many years. 1st National stepped out years ago to provide services to artists and they have a long history in the business.

You can help make this podcast better by posting your questions below in the comments and also by calling in to the show: (805) 243-1338

October 12 & 13
Houston, Texas

Fall in Houston, the weather cools and Houstonians celebrate at the Bayou City Art

photograph by Syd Moen

Festival  Downtown. The festival surrounds the historic Houston City Hall and is  set against the dramatic skyline of the nation's fourth largest city.

1. Bayou City Art Festival Downtown has a demonstrated history in strong sales for artists.
2. National  studies show Houstonians consistently have twice the  discretionary  income that workers in similar industries have around the  country.
3. With  a median household income of over $50,000 and an  income growth since  2000 of 13.1% as reported in Kiplingers.com, Houston  has been ranked  the Number 1 city in the U.S. in which to live, work  and play in July  of 2008.
                   

There is plenty of money in them hills and cities of Texas--unlike Florida where the economy generally sucks for most artists at the shows.

I had killer shows at the Woodlands Show (just north of Houston) and then Main Street Fort Worth, last weekend.

The Woodlands is a very monied, conservative and traditional in what they buy.

The show is mostly along a waterway with artists booths backed into a hill with about 20 feet of pavement in front of your booth for customers.

Setup can be tedious, but everybody gets in there.  Also at teardown, you have the option of coming in on Monday morn, which I did--piece of cake!

This is very well-run show, I give the promoters and their staff high "A's" for all their work.  They could not have been more helpful.

A lot of artists with high end work, think $1000 and above, were not as happy as me.  I killed them.  It was my first time going there.  I did so well, it left me kind of thin for FT. Worth (Hereafter known as FW).

I had two days to kill before FW, so I stayed in Austin for the first time.  I shot Bluebonnets and Longhorns in the hills and then shot great urban treasures in town.  Found some new winners.

Ate my butt off, it will be interesting to see how much I weigh in at Ybor when I get home on Wed.  Left weighing 180, hope to not be over 185.

I will weigh in with a Wino/Tequila Report at a later date.

On to FW.

This is a major show.  Hard to get into, but you can make serious moola if you are chosen.

I have lucked out and been juried in four out of the last six years.  I put this show in my top three in the nation.

My setup started off rugged.

I showed up early on Wed. to set up, show starts on Thurs.  Got my packet, went back to the van and my left rear tire was flat to the rim.

Drove on it anyway, around four blocks got situated in front of the booth and called AAA.

They came, changed the flat, then told me that two of my tire studs were stripped.  Could only reattach six out of eight lug nuts.

I found a Firestone south of downtown, bought a new tire and they told me they would get new studs from Napa.  Five hours later (I have not got anything set up or unloaded yet) Napa, three times, brought the wrong size studs.  Pissed off and late, I left.

Got back to the show around 4 pm and could not get my van anywhere near the booth.  At this point the temps were around 87 degrees.  We all knew a serious cold front was coming in that night.  Winds were already clocking at a steady 15-20 mph, whipping down Main Street between the super tall buildings.

I did the only sensible thing.  Went to my hotel, took a good nap and woke up and went out to dinner at the Capital Grille.

I knew I would have to setup, probably in wind and rain and heavy winds the following morn.

Sure enough.  I woke up at 4:30 AM ready to go setup.  

Murphy's Law struck again.  It went from peaceful to a roaring rain, complete with thunder and lightning and hard gusting winds.  OH, and the temperature dropped down into the mid-thirties.

I did the sensible thing.  Went back to sleep for another hour.  Woke up, it had stopped raining but it was frigging cold.  Also very windy.

So naturally, I put on every warm piece of clothing and drove down to set up at 5:30 AM.

My fingers were totally numb within one hour. 

It took me 3 hours just to get the booth up inside their tents.  I got it stocked with an hour to spare, went back to the hotel, took a scalding shower, and an hour later I was finally getting some feeling back in my fingers.

Reluctantly, we all opened up at 10 AM per show rules--and then proceeded to freeze to death.

On Thursday, if you made $500 you were one of the lucky ones.

I called Ellen and told her I would gladly teardown now and come home.

Luckily I did not.

Luckily, I killed them, major killed them.  So did a lot of other artists.

Not everybody did so well.  It was more of a lowend crowd this year with like sales.  The cheap sneakers out-numbered the $500 cowboy boots.  Very strange.

I got to hang out with my old photography compadre every morn at the Marriot breakfest cafe.

Naturally, we dissed every photographer in the circuit except Alan Klug and Mark MacKinnon who were sitting with us.  The minute they left, we started working them over too.  It is a tradition the two of us  look forward to, everytime we can meet in FW.

Out of this episode came a great blog idea about getting "Moe-ed".  This happened a lot in the late 80's and early 90's. I will write about it at a later date.

I have to save some of my ammo, I can't blow my whole wad in one blog like I used to.

I have lots more to say, but I am worn out, am in Lafayette,LA tonight.  Shooting in Cajan country tomorrow, then Seaside area on Wed. and getting home that night.

Late date, can't wait.

Oh, BTW, Saint Louis--here I come.  Oh sweet mama.

Aloha, Nels.

:  The original post of this story, and a substantial number of the comments that followed it, contained a one-paragraph reference to damage that occurred when a photographer's vehicle hit another artist's tent. 

The photographer contacted me by phone today to present his side of the story, which included some information that I was not aware of at the time. And he felt that I was unfairly painting him as a bad guy.

Although we disagree on whether it was appropriate for me to mention the incident at all, given that I was not in the vicinity when it occurred, the one point on which we do agree is that--whatever happened in the heat of the moment--eventually, the right thing is being done, and the issue is being amicably resolved through the parties' respective insurance companies. 

I took notes as he spoke.  And I offered to post a comment on his behalf presenting his side of the story and explaining his point of view.  He declined, not wishing to provoke another round of commentary. 

Many of you know I was a journalist long before Al Gore, or whoever it was, invented the Internet.  In the world of traditional print media, even today, reporters are taught to check their reporting with (at least) two sources before filing their story.  And although there are no such rules in the blogosphere, my instincts are always to do just that. 

Truth be told, I had the thought to try to get in touch with this photographer as I wrote that paragraph...and didn't do it.  And he deserved that. For that failure, I apologize.

So:  What to do to make this good?  As I promised the photographer I would do, I spoke at length with Connie Mettler (publisher of this site). She left it up to me. 

In figuring that out, I stepped back to look at the big picture--what was the point of writing the show review in the first place?  And that one's easy: I had found, on AFI and elsewhere, a decidedly mixed bag of opinions on this show.  And I felt that it was, and is, important to keep on the record that this show, for whatever reason, didn't give the vast majority of its participants a fair shot at success. 

So I'm not going to delete the thread.  I HAVE removed my account of the collision from the thread.  And, to address the issue of fairness, I HAVE deleted comments that mention the collision, or the photographer. To give everyone who posted a chance to read this update, I am going to leave it up for awhile.  At some future point, I'll delete the update so that all that remains is the post itself.

I understand that this may not be popular.  But I think it's the right thing to do.  If you disagree, you are welcome to text-message me and tell me.  (Please do not start another thread.) But just so we're all clear: The decision is mine, and mine alone.  Not Connie's.

Dismal attendance and sales at the so-called "Jacksonville" art festival, which drew 'way fewer than 2000 browsers, most from the immediate neighborhood. Although the festival was promoted by "the Shoppes at Avondale", the show itself was held in Boone Park, a pretty park in the Avondale neighborhood which unfortunately was some blocks' distance from the shops.  Very little signage to lure patrons from the surrounding streets, and no major arterial close enough to the show to afford visibility. Not that, in this 1920s-era neighborhood, it would have been easy to accommodate outsider parking, anyway.

The weather can't be an excuse.  Granted, it rained most of the day on Saturday; hardly anyone attended, and you couldn't blame them.  But Sunday was nice show weather--cool and partly cloudy--and most the folks I spoke with on Sunday had planned to come the day before, had the weather not been bad.

One fine artist near me--and I DO mean fine!--sold a single $4 notecard in two days. The jeweler next to me barely made (under $200) booth expenses, and said she "got price resistance all weekend." The photographer next to me sold about the same, and is retiring from the business.  The painter who won "best in show" sold a $7500 painting, but as one artist commented, " Good for him!  And that's probably more than the rest of us put together."

The organizers did a great job communicating before the show. But that's where communication ended, pretty much--they didn't even come by and thank us for attending, let alone ask how things were going.

Although there were some schlocky booths at the show, there were also some really superb artists and fine craftspersons, whose time and talents were largely wasted this weekend. And that's a shame. Based on the level of pre-show communication, I certainly expected better. 

You have been warned. :-(