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The show was held on July 10......the people at the show ranged largely from 55 to 80 years old....most came to watch the bands which included the Kids from Wisconsin....who were excellent...and everybody including me loved the 1930's retro number.

The program barely mentioned the art and was all about the bands.

Most of the crowd just brought their chairs watched the bands and did not walk around and look at the art. It was a hot day. I am guessing but I suspect that the crowd were contributers to the college.

One DAVEY......out of 5......I would not do this show again.

Well, my inlaws are on their way back to AZ, but that is NOT why I'm doing a happy dance . I am going to be the "Official" Photographer for the Great Lakes Lighthouse Festival Oct. 7-11th in Alpena, Michigan! Last year I did a bit of a photography gig for the Great Lakes Lighthouse Festival Museum and this year have been asked to be the official photographer for them and making an historical CD for them. I will have a booth at which I will be offering not only my photographs of lighthouses and the like for sale, but will be offering a CD of the Festival itself, for those who sign up and pay for the CD. A portion of the proceeds will be going to benefit the Lighthouse Festival Museum and to the lighthouse preservations funds. I'm hoping that there will be a lot of interest in the CD's and photos. If all goes according to plan, I will be doing this photography gig every year, so wish me luck!

My studio renovations are just about complete and I'll hope to be in there working by the fall. My dear hubby says it may even be earlier than that. We have a little bit of the ceiling to finish, trim between floor and walls and install cabinets, book cases and the like and I'll be ready to go. We did finish installing the wood laminate flooring and I have hung curtains so it has a semi finished look to it.

I may post some pictures of the semifinished studio - we will be adding more cabinets as our finances allow in the future. At some point, I will even have a long arm to help with my art.

Have a great day all!

Terri at the Drake's Nest in Ossineke, MI where Giant River Otter play on my pond.

webpage: http://www.drakesneststudios.com

blog: http://www.drakesneststudios.wordpress.com

It was my first year of going there, either as an exhibitor or visitor; so I didn’t know what to expect. I am a photographer and I am fairly local – about an hour’s drive from my studio in Greenville, SC. So I planned to
commute each day and not have the hotel expense and also be able to replenish
whatever I sold. I purchased a
double booth and had all walls filled with subjects from the Carolinas. I didn’t know what price points to
focus on; so I had $50 items in bins up to $1300 items on the wall.

You can apply to exhibit in “Arts Park” or on the street or you can apply to both for an additional fee. I was in Arts Park; which I found out afterwards was merely a parking lot instead of on the street. Everyone that had been there before is now "in the street" because Arts Park only gets about 1/4 of the traffic that is in the street.

The fair is promoted as a city party or street festival; as apposed to an art show. Conseqently it was not surprising to find 95% of the patrons with a beer
glass in their hand. There were so
many they must have been issuing them at the entrance (and every block
thereafter). Patrons were civil
during the day; but after dark the scene became much more festive. Arts Park had a scheduled closing of
8PM every night while the booths in the street had an official closing of 10PM
(because most people in attendance were in the street after 8PM – and
continuing until 2AM). Yet Arts
Park had access to electiricty (for lights) but the street artists did not. Go figure.

Arts Park had 1 porta-john and a block down the street there were about 8 more. However all were padlocked at closing and you could not get into one again after closing or until the opening the next day. So if you stayed open
late or you came in early, there was no toilet available. Further I heard many artists on the
street that stated their booths had been used for a toilet. Gee would that have
anything to do with the porta-johns being padlocked? You’d think after 33 years we could learn from past issues.

This was a three day show (Friday – Sunday). Setup was to begin at 8PM on Thursday. And you could not get past the barricades (2 blocks from the festival) until after that time. I arrived about 7PM and I managed to
talk my way through the barricade as I explained that my booth was just “right
there”. Yet about 7:30PM I was
asked to remove my vehicle as another artist complained that I had received
preferential treatment; even though I was not going to unload until “the
whistle sounded”. Most
exhibitors from past years stated that they had always been allowed to begin
setup earlier; at least by 6PM so this year everyone had to set up in the dark
– no exceptions.

The weather seemed to be the hottest days of the year (90’s). And for this higher altitude, that is very hot. In my
hometown just one hour away it was 100 every day. Wind was nonexistent; so fans were a life saver.

This festival is advertised as having 300,000 attendees Yet Friday was so slow and traffic was so thin and sales were almost nil (across the board within my view). I actually zeroed until the 8PM close, then made two small sales as I was shutting down my tent. Saturday started with a bang as I was made three sales
before the 10AM opening and it continued right until about 1PM. By that time I had about $1800 for the
first three hours. Then the heat
came and absolutely killed any buying energy there could have been. I did have sporatic interest and
frequently thought I had some more sales, but none came. Sunday was just dead. I didn’t see the early morning visitors
that I had seen on Saturday and then it got hot quickly and it was almost
painful by 1PM. By mid afternoon
we see serious storm clouds brewing and we receive a pending severe weather
alert and we hurriedly secure our goods.
By the time the rains ended it was near closing and the day was
gone. So without any travel expenses
to speak of I made the event semi worthwhile. I still have several people I’m working with on big
purchases, so it could actually end up being a great showing for me. But without any additional sales
forthcoming, I would rather spend more travel money and go to a proven show.

Of all the artists that I saw or spoke to the average seemed to be just enough sales to cover the booth fees and perhaps “some’ of their travel expenses. I did not speak
to another artist who stated that he/she would travel to do the show again.

I know some other AFI members attended. So hopefully they can expand on these comments.

I have a question regarding the entries that are shown in the Art Fair Calendar and it relates to where the info comes from, what causes it to be shown, etc.

Specifically, Huffman Productions has four shows in the Midwest and have been fairly highly rated in the past. They have Omaha, Shakopee, Chicago and Sioux Falls. At the present time, one of the shows (Sioux Falls) is scheduled for Oct. and the other three in Nov. All the shows are called "Autumn Festival - An Arts and Crafts Affair".

My question is what would cause the Shakopee, MN show in Nov. to be listed in the calendar but none of the other three are? Does that mean it is vastly better or larger than the others? I'm especially interested in why the show in Ohaha on Nov. 4,5, 6 & 7 would not be listed.

I suppose all this is pretty trivial on my part. However, if a show isn't listed because there is some problem or negative aspect to it, then maybe it's a show I would want to avoid. I just don't know how to intrepret this and would appreciate knowing a little more about the process.

Thanks to anyone who can help with this.

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Appleton Art in the Park has a well established show and it should ,,, this was the 50th annual event. This years show was marked with some new features. But not exactly what the organizers were planning. Art in the Park ended up being "Art in the Street, surrounding the Park." Because of high amounts of rain, the show needed to move the event off the grass. On Friday, we received an important email from Art in the Park, explaining the at the entire show could not use the park. I am sure they had to scramble to figure our a new layout for all the artists.

Not knowing what to expect, I decided to arrive extra early on Sunday morning to the show. I got there at 5:30 a.m. About half the artists had put tents up on Saturday evening. To my surprise there were a number of artists already working on their booths, at 5:30 a.m. The park had standing water in spots and much of the grass was "spongy". There is no way they could have had the show in the park.

I found my booth location on the street. I was able to drive my car right up to my spot and unload. (Always a good thing) The layout was arranged on four streets that formed a square, around the park. This resulted in a very good traffic flow for shoppers.

By 8:30, I was all set up and ready to go. And just in time, as the crowds started to show up. I was not sure how the flow of traffic was going to develop. But quickly it turned into a counter-clockwise flow.

Most shoppers and artists liked the new arrangement. Although it was quickly put together. I and many others prefer being on the street, to being on grass. My only suggestion would be to move the food vendors to one of the side streets, instead of being part of the regular flow around the park.

The weather was perfect. My neighbors were happy. My sales were up, from last year: 24%. Once and a while the art-gods do pay attention. Thanks to the Appleton Art Center for pulling the show together. It was an exciting way to mark you 50th Anniversary.

So the weather forecast for Friday was for scattered thunderstorms, high winds and a heat index of 100 degrees, but who wouldn't want to be in Ann Arbor? This was my 32nd annual trip to view the art and see friends. I arrived at 10:30 am and left at 9 pm with much disappointment because I had run out of time to do both. Since my husband I no longer participate in art fairs this is my annual chance to see old friends and their new work and to be stopped in my tracks at the new artists who show up for this annual blockbuster of an art fair.

Was I alone on the streets? Hardly. It was not body to body as in some times past but the parking lots were full and the shuttles had full seats. A great place to start is at the intersection of North University and State Street, really the heart of the event. From there you can explore the State Street show and the Guild show on State as well head right to the Street Fair.

My mission:

• buy art
• see friends
• introduce Kristina Jones from the Great Lakes Art Fair to artists
• take photos for my websites and pass out cards for these sites
• Around 3 pm meet up with Jon Witz from Arts, Beats & Eats to visit even more artists

Too many jobs!

This famous painter from the Des Moines area finds other ways to get through the hot day






Mixed Media artist Rick Hall from Arkansas






My favorite story of the day: Michigan Jewelers Charlene and Helmut Goral were celebrating their 40th appearance at the show as well as their 40th wedding anniversary. In 1970 after making $800 in Ann Arbor they went back to E. Lansing with all their earnings and decided to use their colossal windfall to have a party to remember so they got married. They said many of their friends were barefoot and wore flowers in their hair.

Jon Hecker (who also had celebrated his first art fair by getting married, about 20 years ago) shows off a new body of work created by his partner, Patricia.



Joachim Knill (photographer/painter/mixed media) and winner of Best of Show at Cherry Creek this year exhibiting at the Street Fair. Joachim is just one of a bunch of artists at the show who have moved to Hannibal, MO, where property is cheap. He told me he just bought the jail for a new gallery.




And you know there were the happy shoppers, laden with goods!

Unfortunately a storm came through around 6 pm, effectively closing the show. I took shelter with my friend Larry Humphrey in his very tall and very strong Craft Hut whose legs had been drilled into the pavement. As we stood in the booth we could hear the blowing wind and the rain pounding the canopy outside you could hear crashing. After a while it got to be too much for me and I ran for an indoor shelter. Larry survived well but not his neighbors, the potters from the Yourist Gallery.

After an interval I knew I had to find Nels Johnson but his space was almost a mile away (it seemed) so I took a cab from South U. to Main Street and his booth was closed. I investigated at the fine restaurant behind the booth (I knew he would have made friends there) and they told he had stopped for a drink, grabbed his backpack and departed because of the subsequent tornado warnings. Luckily his booth helper (or what photographer Don Ament calls his "booth bitch") was nearby and was an old friend of mine from Detroit days, Sharon Pellar, so I had company for dinner.

Sadly I had to leave without accomplishing all my missions and have to wait another year for this most perfect rite of summer.

Hello again to all my old friends -- it was so great seeing you: David Bigelow, Jim Eaton, Ray Hartl, Shary Brown, Larry Oliverson, Mamie Joe, Bonnie Blandford, Jan Kaulins, Toni & Jay Mann, Berry Davis & Colette Fortin, Beth Crowder, Leslie Emery, Chia Haruta, Ron & Judy Lederer, Kathleen Weir-West, Candiss Cole, Lynn Corrie, Angelo Fico, Andy Shea, Howard Silverblatt, Skip & Linda Steinworth, Larry Hughes, Rishar Miranda, Skip Ennis, Scott Hartley and so many more. Sorry I missed you Kathy Eaton, let's get together, and Barry Bernstein, but I heard a strange story about you...misbehaving again!

Food report: lunch at Jamaican diner on Thayer near the Bell Tower; dinner at Chinese restaurant on Main...neither done at leisure, because honestly eating takes a back seat to the art fair -- I needed to be on the streets. Will I see you there next year?

October 15-17
Rock Financial Showplace
Novi, Michigan
200 artists
Deadline: August 2

• Art fairs are always looking for ways to enhance the event both for artists and the attending public. This Fall the show will open on Friday at 12 pm and close at 8 pm. We will be returning with the hugely successful Friday Ladies Night Out promotion that drew over 2000 women to line up for entry on Friday! It also allows for some Friday setup for artists.
• Robust marketing campaign planned with media partners
  

hauling home the goods!

Fiber artist Sharon Snoeyink

• custom Great Lakes Art Fair discount coupons
• e-mail blast content
• free tickets, postcards and other collateral materials to distribute to their patrons
• drive up to your booth to unload and load
• artist hospitality area and reception
• artist gallery
  

www.GreatLakesArtFair.com/artistapply.html

We use for our online applications.

If it's 100 plus degrees, it's time for the Boulder show on Pearl Street. The show has a nostalgic draw for me, 7 years ago it was my first time to hang my stuff on the tent walls.Man, how much I have learned in those few years.

The show itself varies in success according to the weather.If it's hot sales are not. While we did OK this year ($3K/2 days) last year was cooler (over $5K), but the average for us is somewhere in between.No large work was sold, and I didn't see anything go walking past in the arms of the crowd. The quality of the show varies as well, this year I was next to a wonderful German woman, whose work was hand painted ceramic gothic birdhouses.There were more than a few newspaper tents filling up empty spaces,most of the veterns know to pay the additional $100 for a preferred spot on the mall.The asphalt east and west had no shade and it seemed to be primarily the newbies down there.

The show has gone thru 3 directors over the last three years, hard to tell what the show's direction will be (fine art seems to be slipping a bit) so we shall see.The crowd is tourist, not necessarily art buying but it sure feels good to see the mall packed with people. There were a few of the heavy hitters, but oddly enough they were all right next to each other.Two landscapers with 10X20 booths in direct competition, and two that show indegenous peoples in exotic locations were side by side.Whoulda driven me nuts.

The best part for me was the people.Boulder is known for being a bit on the left side of liberal, and their tolerance for street people means there is never a dull moment on the mall.In addition to the flaming juggelers,wandering troubadors and eccentric balloon vendors, this years prize for odd goes to the Marty Feldman look alike in the fuscia unitard riding a unicycle.His schtick was to quietly sneak up from behind an unsuspecting tourist and startle them.He would then ride off, a cooting and flapping his arms while Aunt Edna from Omaha wished she hadn't agreed to try Dr. Leary's "special sugar cube" back in the 60's.

The best part for me was being able to hang with my boys a bit.Stevo is my partner in the show circuit, and Wonderboy (Jon) came down from the mountains for the day. Like I said, time sure does fly.Last I looked these kids were playing in the sandbox. Now young men, they have helped each other thru some difficult times.Brothers in every sense. BTW: Stevo is spoken for but Jon (Mountain biker,fly fisherman,musician and gainfully employed carpenter is currently available)

I was pleasantly surprised to see a good friend,Texas Steve Hunsicker as a neighbor. Steve does some high end 3 dimension work,just wonderful stuff but he is one of the gems on the circuit. Met him a few years ago in a mountain show that pretty much sucked. No sales, rain every hour on the hour. There was plenty of bitching and moaning, but this guy was simply a joy to get to know. Steve will admit the shows can be tough, but we are there by choice and despite our best efforts to pick the good ones,weather, the economy,bad luck can all conspire to make things painful.He taught me being a good neighbor means being a good person.We also have a choice to be miserable, but his is always to make the best of things.Love the guy.

So we traded war stories, and the conversation went to reading body language.I think I am pretty good at this. Woman in the tent, man with the stroller.No way is she getting to buy anything.Man in the tent, woman with the stroller.Same thing. Guy with hands in pockets.Nope.Hand on chin, finger aside the nose.Something's cooking.Full shoulders square to a piece with hands on hips,good sign.A half turn, nope. Not gonna happen. So, to show Texas my expertise I "read" the people in the booth for him."See the guy in the black T? Just a looker.Too young, and has one hand in his pocket.No way will he buy". Yep. I sure know what I'm doing.Then Stevo yells me over" Pops: This guy (black T shirt) just bought a large canvas and wants to talk to you about the work". Yep. I'm still learning.