Every show has its challenges and this weekends show was no exception. But there was something a little different ... a little "off", on this show. The paperwork asked for a 6:45 a.m. set up. Which on normal shows, would be fine. But this show did not open until 12-noon on Saturday. I thought it was strange that it has a late opening time. I send an email to the organizers to request a later set up time. They told me I could arrive at 7:30. But couldn't make it any later. It will only take us 2 hours to set up.
When we arrived, it was drizzling a little, but soon stopped. The street was a little tight for tents on either side and cars unloading down the middle. But you make the best of it. We unloaded, got set up. We were all set up and ready by 9:30. So now we sat there, no customers and chatted with other artists for over 2 hours. There seem to be no good reason for us to be there sooooo early. We had traveled 3 hours away. So we had gotten up at 3:00 a.m. to sit there. We could have "slept in" til 5:00. We asked artists if they had done the show before. I did not find one artists that had done the show last --- not a good sign.
The gates opened at 12-noon. But they charged $7 to get into the area. This admission charge also included music at one end of the festival. This has a major affect on the type of person attending the show. These were people that were willing to pay for the (rock) music, but not interested in buying art.
The "services" provided to artists were strange as well. When we checked in, there were no name tags. About 1:00 on Saturday afternoon, they walked around and handed everyone a name tag. The "artists lounge" was open from 2:00-5:00=which was the peek selling time.
The show was to run until 10 p.m. but the artists were able to close earlier, if they wanted to do so. We left on Saturday at 7:00 p.m. out of boredom. Some others did stay open later, but did not sell anything. Sunday night they closed the show a 9:00 p.m. (do you know how dark it is at 9:00 p.m.?) Then an other hour or so to pack up and get out. We left at 7:00.
Total sales were very poor. We covered our expenses, plus $100. Not even closed to what we expected.
This seems to be a music show that added art. They are not really interested in developing the art side of the festival OR don't know how to run an art show. Too bad. It could have been a good show. But we will not be returning next year. Most artists around us did little to no sales. One artist next to us did OK on Saturday, but nothing on Sunday, told us he would not be returning next year.
There IS a lack of imagination going on here. In this case, it is by a callow artist who can't imagine that not every work of art must "comment on society" or "attempt originality." It's silly to claim that in order to be called art, something must slavishly adhere to a "tradition of dissent, rampant individuality and treatment of our wealthy and powerful patrons with the disdain that that (sic) the rest of society is afraid to show them." It is also naive to think that all art must aspire to "greatness." Those artists who Aaron Wallis respects may not have been primarily motivated by selling work, but I doubt they were primarily motivated by "greatness," either. Those who became great did so because they crafted art that touched people's hearts and minds. Often, this art was a rebellion, a "dissent," an expression of "rampant individuality," but not always. I do love artists and art. I don't know Aaron, but perhaps I would like him and his art, too. I am sorry to tell him, however that his rebellion here is trite and commonplace. The path he follows in this piece is familiar and well worn. And while it may be heartfelt, it is hardly original. His art may be the real deal, but this tantrum is craft at best.