Listen live: Monday, Feb. 24, 5 pm, ET

The two most important things about earning a living in the art fair business:

1. Getting into the event
2. Having work that people will buy once you're there 

Co-host, Cindy Lerick, CFEE, joins Connie Mettler for a nuts and bolts discussion about the jury process for art festivals. Cindy is one of the only show directors who has managed 4 major shows, Uptown in Minneapolis, Main Street in Fort Worth, the Saint Louis Art Fair and the Sausalito Arts Festivals. In addition for many years she has traveled to event's juries for ZAPP to be a Tech help.

There are many variables from show to show. Most show directors don’t know how others shows run their jury. Some have plenty of discussion, some have none, some have no directions given to the jurors. Scoring systems, projection, length of time, selection of jurors, there is no standard. We'll explore some of these variances.

A few topics we'll address:

• What is the difference between a projection jury and monitor jury?
• How the jury ties into the show's look
• Who is the competition?
• Are the jurors the same from year to year?
• Do show directors jury their own show?

Questions galore! We encourage your participation. We want to hear from you. Will you please put any questions you'd like answered in the comments below? Or send them to me in an email.

If we get enough questions we'll host another live podcast where you can speak with Cindy directly. 

Can I get this to work? If you only see a blank ... looks like I couldn't upload the video, yet, if you're curious the links below it do work ... thanks for your patience

https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/coconut-grove/article60387506.html

Thank you to all who have joined this network. We founded it late in 2008 and were stunned by the response. This was in the days before Facebook was ubiquitous and the site was THE place to meet online and share show information and the travails of being an art fair artist. 

Some of our founding members are Bonnie Blandford, Ginny Herzog, Kathleen Eaton, Marian Steen, Andrew Shea, Charles Gatewood, Jim Wilbat, Allan Teger, Jan Richardson, Michelle Levett and Jay McDougall, many of them longtime friends of mine. Our favorite show reviewer, Nels Johnson, didn't come in until #78, a few months after we launched the site. 

Many of you have been dedicated writers here and everyone who visits this site appreciates your kindnesses and generosity in sharing your information. 

Some stats:

• visits to Art Fair Insiders: 4,273,792
• biggest month May 2014 - 106,022 visits
• January 2020 visits: 14,763
• 16,023 members
• 6895 blog posts
• 7689 discussions
• 17,802 photos
• 7000 followers on our Facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/artfairinsiders/
• 83 podcasts at ArtFairRadio.com

A few highlighted blog posts:

• Any of Nels Johnson's blogs, including: I Saw a Naked Cowboy, Setting up in my Driveway and Making Lots of Moola
• Melanie Rolfes posts great art fair reviews like this that usually have good photos: Las Olas Part I. 2014 and some philosophical ones too: Breaking down fast or enjoy the ride
• One of my favorites from Marti McGinniss which distills great attitude for the art fair business: Don't Just Survive. Thrive!
• One of mine: Fear, Loathing and Life Online

A few popular discussions:

• Our most popular discussion with 36726 views: What's the worst question you've been asked at an art fair, from Jim Dalton
• Can you survive financially from your art fair income alone?
• 29705 visits: Winter Park Festival Artists to Discuss Fraud

I’m not doing this alone. Jacki Bilsborrow updates ArtFairCalendar.com and handles ArtShowReviews.com. Tina Towell welcomes new members, keeps up with advertisers and follow up. My sister Meg Mettler puts together our Wednesday emails, runs CallsforArtists.com, posts on AFI and on our Facebook page and sends out emails. Larry Berman vets all incoming members to AFI and gives up to date tech advice. I used to blog more and do show videos for YouTube and more podcasts, the things I like to do the 

best, but I'm still running as fast as I can and maybe running low on gas.

Love to all of you every day in all your endeavors. Connie

P.S. Do you have a favorite thing you've found on this site?

From Barbara Huff:

All things must come to an end sometime,,, and our sometime is now! We were notified last week that Easton Town Center has made some major budget and event cuts and unfortunately Easton Art Affair was included in their decision.Those of you that have been with us for so many years know this is not the way Huff-Burch Promotions would plan to end this show, however it is out of our hands. We are very, very sorry for the inconvenience that this will cause you.
We want to thank all of you for the wonderful years of supporting us. The fun and frustrations we have had getting to know each other are a wonderful memory. Best of luck to you in your career as an artist and we look forward to seeing you at some of your future shows.
This ends over 48 years in the arts and crafts industry for me, twenty of which was Easton Art Affair, and I will miss it, but you all are just a art show away from me at all times and I look forward to being a patron of the arts!

Sincerely, Barb Huff-Burch and staff

    Once again I have spent some time evaluating the www.Artshowreviews.com website.   Take a look.  I think you will find some very interesting facts.  We know many of our artists use our Art Show Reviews website.  We know because you have also told us many times that you do use it when you are making up your schedules. 

    However, we need your help.  This website will not be as useful to you or any other artist if we don't get new show reviews.  We are averaging 1 review for every 4,000 times someone uses our website.  Artists are using us but not giving back.

    I have often asked artists to write a review for certain shows.  Many are hesitant and I have gotten the impression they think I am looking for a bad review.  I am not asking for bad reviews.  I am hoping the reviews are good ones because I hope all the shows are good shows.  However, mainly I am just looking for honest reviews that are helpful to others.

    If you want to review a show that isn't on our website, go ahead and write your review.  If I find we don't have it listed I will add it.  No problem, I am just happy you wrote a review for us.  

    Every year I get a comment that is left on our website like this one:

How come so many of the posted show reviews are from 2-5 years old?  Can't you supply some more updated review information from artists that have done the shows.  After all, many shows go through changes from year to year.

    This comment is very true.  If we don't get new reviews all we have is old reviews.  Shows do change.  Shows try to improve.  We want artists to know the show has changed for the better if it has.  Please help us.  Please consider writing a review for us.  We are just asking for about 5 minutes of your time.

Please give back to keep our website as useful as possible.

#1:  We now have 650 art shows on our website.  Last year we had 643, so we had a slight gain in the past year.

#2.  We still have 7 states that do not have any art and craft shows listed at all.  The states of Alaska, Hawaii, Maine, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Vermont, and West Virginia have never had a show review submitted for them, thus those states have not been added.  If you submit a review for those states I will add the show and get that state on our website.  Surely, someone here has done a show in one of those states.  Please write a review for us.

#3.  The state with the largest amount of shows listed on our website is Florida.  That probably isn't a big surprise.  We have 86 shows listed on our site in Florida, that is two more than the year before.  Coming in second place is Illinois with 43 shows.  Michigan has 37 shows and is in 3rd place. 

#4.   We have 24 states with 10 or less art and craft shows listed.   

#5.   We have three states with only one art or craft show listed for them.  Those states are Arkansas, Rhode Island, and South Dakota.  Anybody have a show they can submit for these states? 

#6.   We still have only one show listed for Canada.  We know they have shows up there.  Does anyone have a show and a review that they could add to that page to make it more valuable?

#7.   We actually have a European page with one show listed.  Has anyone done an European shows yet? We would love to add a couple shows to that page.

#8.   Since our website went live we have had 1,285,929 page views.  That is amazing!  We know artists are using our website.  We need new reviews so that our site remains useful and needed.

#9.   In 2019, we had roughly 130,655 page views.  

#10. In the last 30 days, 1/11/19 - 2/11/20, we have had 10,182 page views.  Of course, this is a time when many artists are using our site to put the finishing touches on their show schedules. 

#11. We usually average about 375 page views per day.  In fact, we had had 257 page views by 8 am today.  Artists were up early and working today. 

#12. We had a total of 30 reviews that were written for us during 2019.  Of course, many people use our website without ever leaving a comment or writing a review.  We also had 17 comments left. 

#13. In the last year, we had 130,655 page views.  Of those over 130 thousand visitors only 30 times did artists leave a review.  Certainly we can give back to the art community better than that.  We want artists to use our website, but we would also need you to give back.  

#14. The average show review probably takes less than 7 minutes to write.  There is a simple form is right there on our website and you just fill it in.  Easy peasy!  Simple as pie!

To submit a show review click on this link: 
https://www.artshowreviews.com/review-an-art-fair.html

To submit a show that is not on our website click this link:  
https://www.artshowreviews.com/art-show-listing-submission.html

The Suburban Collection Showplace has been very proud to present the Great Lakes Art Fair over the past decade (even in the past two times a year). The event has always been a warm, fun celebration of the beautiful Artist community … and an important local showcase and networking event as well.

It is a tribute to all of our partners and friends that have worked so tirelessly each year to stage the event, that it has reached its milestone, but we feel that now is the appropriate time to discontinue the Great Lakes Art Fair. We tried to bring on the Craft component hoping to draw in more artists but still had a lack of participation.

Management of the Great Lakes Art Fair was absorbed by Suburban Collection Showplace operations in 2009, during the recession, and participation did rebound to some degree. In recent years the attendance has again eroded, and it has become more challenging to keep the event economically viable and to attract fresh artists, audience, vendors and sponsors each year. We deeply enjoy working with the Michigan artisan community, and would love for you to consider joining us at the Michigan State Fair as we have a large array of vendors and crafters. The Michigan State Fair, held over Labor Day Weekend at the Suburban Collection Showplace.  

For those who also share an interest in overall animals, we also invite you to join us for the Novi Pet Expo and follow us on Facebook for news, as well.  

Thanks so much for all the wonderful memories and we wish you Happy Trails, wherever they may lead….

For those of you who have already signed up and paid for a booth or sponsorship please allow us a week or two to process these refunds in full.

We are open to any suggestions and or comments regarding this decision and we truly appreciate all of the friendships and relationships we have made through the years.

Thank you

Jackie McMahon

Show Director ​

Blair Bowman

Owner

Maternity, the installment of a two-half paintings exhibition in regards to the backroom of mothering, makes a specialty of the childbearing physique. It ends in February at the Richard Saltoun Campus in London.

Orchids, the twenty-fifth-anniversary acclaim pageant at London’s Kew Gardens, opens in February. It highlights the natural world and subculture of some of Indonesia’s , islands, and contains a whimsical volcano made of flora. Arithmetic for animal blooming Yale tuition press by Francis Su weaves parables, puzzles and personal reflections to exhibit how mathematics meets primary animal desires and builds virtues that support us all flourish.

“Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time.”
― Thomas Merton, Maleultracore Results

I have a set (3 walls) of Flourish soft walls for sale. Used only 4 times and realized a full time job doesn't work with the art fair circuit. Everything is in good shape. These are black mesh with backing for EZ up tents. I also have upper and lower staybar for additional support/tightness. Comes with all of the attaching brackets, poles, s hooks and upholstery hooks. Asking $900 OBO for everything plus shipping. I'm located in CO. If you have to set up and run your booth alone- these are great. They fold up well and are an easy fit into the back of any SUV.

http://www.flourishdisplays.com/meshpanels_for_popups

In Our Time of Mass-Produced Art and Overwhelming Advertising, We Should Celebrate Artists Who Push Back

Independent artists at art events and craft fairs are believers. They believe that handmade, unique, and locally produced work is worth fighting for. They believe that their designs and crafts can have meaning to other people as well as to themselves. They believe that corporate manufacturers don’t make art. People make art.

So what does all of this have to do with graffiti? Well, I would argue that some graffiti artists ( not all but many) make their art because they are believers too.

They believe that in a world plastered with billboards and advertising, it is good for artists to speak back. They believe that in a world where we can’t turn our heads without seeing an ad, there should be some spaces that have been taken back and filled with work that is free, truthful, and elegant.

Rebellion or Blessing?

“I, for one, would also rather see the creative outpouring of our youth on the walls instead of the billboards and advertising inflicted upon us around every corner,” Lady Pink, an artist and muralist from New York City who got her start as a graffiti artist, wrote in the New York Times.

“A bit of rebellion is something we should champion as a society. Somebody has to question the status quo—or we'll grow stagnant,” she said.

Others will argue that it is never right to tag someone else’s property without permission—that graffiti is first and foremost a crime. One solution for this problem is to create legal spaces for graffiti. This solution is positive in many ways, but it is not perfect.

Is Art More Compelling If Creating It Was Dangerous?

Eric Felisbret, author of Graffiti in New York wrote in the New York Times that while legal graffiti can be impressive and important, it might not be as powerful as traditional graffiti.

He writes, “A well-executed painting, rendered under adverse conditions and time constraints, is far more impressive than one undertaken without risk.”

No matter how you feel about the morality of graffiti, there is something compelling about an artist willing to risk freedom and well-being for self-expression.

When we talk about graffiti, it's important to make a distinction. We aren't talking about gang signs. We aren't talking about work that threatens harm to other people. We are talking about work that attempts to be beautiful.

What Does This Mean for You?

So why write about graffiti on a blog dedicated to artists and crafters?

Well, it’s because I think we should recognize their spirit, and even if we don’t think that graffiti is always good, we should all acknowledge that creativity is always better than its opposite.

We should feel inspired to continue our efforts to bring handmade, local art back into the daily lives of Americans.

Last year, August Martin High School in New York City was graffitied. The freshly painted, white walls of the school were flooded with color, and not only was this graffiti legal, it was requested.

The students at the high school complained that the white walls were sterile and uninspiring, so some of the most famous graffiti artists in the country were brought in to disrupt the white walls with stunning and inspiring graffiti.

This is the kind of thing that makes high school students proud of their school. This is the kind of good work art unleashed can do. Check out some of the art at the school here.

So we at ACT are curious to know what you all think of graffiti—whether you see it as a blessing or a menace. But no matter where you come down on this issue, we want you to know we admire you.

We admire artists who work because they love what they do. We admire artists who bring meaning to their own lives and to the lives of others by creating work that asks for nothing else but to be seen.

So carry on artists and craftsman! And thank you for what you do.

My friend Carolyn Edlund, founder of Artsy Shark, published this today:

Top Art Fairs in America 2020

by guest blogger Connie Mettler

Each year, Art Fair Calendar surveys art lovers and fans to determine and rank the best fairs and festivals in the U.S. Here’s their 2020 lineup.

The Kimball Arts Festival in Park City, Utah made the top 10 list.

 

Chicago’s Old Town Art Fair was named the #1 art fair in the country in the 2019 ArtFairCalendar.com’s 8th “Best Art Fair Survey.”  This is the fifth time in a row that Old Town has won this award.

The Old Town Fair is “Located in the midst of a beautiful (old architecture) city neighborhood. They offer good food, good music and lots to see beyond the art. Visitors enjoy the energy of a major city and the art at the same time.” On top of being ranked #1 , it was also chosen as the nation’s “Favorite Urban Art Fair.”

The most surprising fact about this year’s survey is that even though Old Town maintained the #1 ranking, six festivals were new to the Top Ten.

Rounding out the top ten were:

• Park City Kimball Arts Festival in Park City, Utah (new). “”Extremely high quality, great variety, wide price range.” Also ranked as #1 Best Western Art Fair.
• American Craft Exposition, Glencoe, IL (new). “Quality of crafts, the setting and the bonus of supporting a good cause.” Also ranked as Best Midwest Art Fair.
• Long’s Park Art Festival, Lancaster, PA (new). “Wide variety of excellent art and craft presentations in a beautiful outdoor setting. Also ranked #1 Best East Coast Art Fair.
• Smithsonian Craft Show in Washington, DC (new). “Excellent artisan crafts high level skill and beauty.”
• Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival, Winter Park, FL. “The art is incredible. I travel over 1,000 miles for this show.” Also ranked as #1 Best Southern Art Fair
• Geneva Arts Fair in Geneva, IL. “High quality art exhibitors, impressive selection of art mediums and styles, awesome location in downtown …”
• James Court Art Show, Louisville, KY (new). “Great variety of art during the most beautiful time of year in the River City.”
• Lakeshore Art Festival in Muskegon, MI. “Cool art, yummy treats, fun downtown atmosphere.”
• Des Moines Arts Festival in DesMoines, IA (new). “Great vendors, surprising variety of art, wonderful location downtown, friendly people of all walks of life.”

Art Fair Calendar‘s mission is to bring art lovers to the nation’s fine art festivals and craft shows. We go beyond the usual surveys about art fairs directed at artists and ask our 56,000 art fair subscriber list to share their favorites.

In addition to this “Top Ten” list, Art Fair Calendar publishes lists of the best fairs on the East Coast, Midwest, South, and West, as well as favorite urban fairs and small town fairs. Don’t miss all of their survey results, including the Top 50 fairs, which can be found here.