Artists from 8 southeast Michigan counties have the chance to strut their stuff as the MI Great Artist online art competition kicks into gear. Cash and prizes total more than $16,000. Sponsored by Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson.
Enter now right here: MIGreatArtist.com
December 1 & 2
From the Chamber of Commerce:
MONDAY - AUGUST 6, 6 PM ET - An Art Fair Story
Ready for a great story? Then you'll love this podcast.Details: The St. James Court Art Show (Oct. 5-7, 2018) began five decades ago as a small open air art show taking up only a small corner of Old Louisville's St. James Court. It has since become the second largest event held in Louisville each year (second to the Kentucky Derby Festival). It hosts 700 artists in 4 neighborhoods in this historic part of the city.
On September 3, 2018, the Kentucky Historical Society will dedicate a Kentucky Historical Marker to Malcolm Bird, and his friends, not only for founding the Art Show, but also for starting the renovations and revitalization of St. James Court in the 1950s. The work by these urban pioneers, led to the designation of the area as an Historic Preservation District in 1974 .... Old Louisville was born .... or maybe reborn.
Our guests who will walk through the history with me are:
If you love art fairs, and particularly this one, this will be a fact-filled and fun listen as we learn what makes an art festival a success.
Fun fact: this show is so popular in Louisville that they even close the schools on the Friday of the show so everyone can enjoy it.
Have you ever done this show? If so, you've contributed to this historical neighborhood and helped preserve it.
Well, I have not blogged in a while. So here goes.
I gave up on the Ann Arbor Show after 30 years, it just was not worth it anymore.
So, two years ago, I tried the Cadillac show as a replacement.
Not that I expected to gross as much as AA. But the show is an hour plus from my Saugatuck casa. It is small, less than 100 exhibitors. It is held in a mellow downtown park right on the lake and it is easy-pezy to setup and teardown.
So last year I managed to pull $1500 out of it which was almost 10x the booth fee.
So I decided to do it again this year.
It was no way close to last year.
First, a little background on Cadillac.
It is about an hour north of Grand Rapids.
It is the gateway community to the Michigan north woods. Think, lakes, rivers, trails, fishing golfing amongst lots of big trees.
Cadillac has all this. But it is an old lumber town and it is mostly a blue collar community.
Crafts sell better here rather than 2-d art. And, they do not want to pay a lot for it.
A very enthusiastic committee treats the artists like they are really special people. It is quite refreshing.
It is a Friday and Saturday show and you can setup the afternoon before.
All spots are on grass with plenty of rear storage and room to display on the sides.
They have good food both mornings and they have small prize money.
What they lack is many enthusiastic patrons to sell to.
The first year I made a big sale to visiting women from Ann Arbor. This year I did meet any good shoes people from afar.
Seriously, I did meet many people, period.
On Friday I made $410 in sales. I know many others who barely sold $200.
The weather forecast for Saturday was not looking good, supposed to rain all day.
I took all the artwork out of my booth at Friday close. Dry in the van was my plan.
If things changed Saturday morn then the art would be rehung.
Saturday dawned, barely. Dark, gloomy, no sun, very foreboding.
I tore down the booth and left before 8am.
A jeweler friend who I highly respect did the show and gave a report on Facebook about Saturday.
I did not miss a thing.
So here is my advice to those of you who are thinking of doing it.
First, a crafter has a better chance at a reasonable return. 2-D artists stay away, there is a very slim market there for sales.
If you live close by it is worth a one-time risk. Do not travel great miles to do it unless you plan on treating this like a vacation.
I really like the people who run the show, they are the cat’s meow. Unfortunately the Cadillac community does not support the arts enough for us to earn a paycheck there.
So, my replacement for AA is still a mystery.
Hey, I can always play more golf since I am now semi-retired.
Later, gators. I have several other posts to write.
October 12, 13 & 14
More Information: www.summitartfest.org
Contact: Jody Fristoe, info@summitartfest.org, (816) 805-0114
I got into the Black Swamp Art Festival http://www.blackswampfest.org in September and will need a room. Does anyone have suggestions for inexpensive hotels/motels close to downtown Bowling Green, Ohio? Also, anyone here done this show and have sage advice?
Thanks!
September 15 & 16
Warrenville, Illinois
Presented By: Warrenville Park District
50 Artists
Deadline: August 1
Application Fee: 0 Booth Fee: $60
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September 9
July brings the BIG shows and if you're not doing an art fair this month (especially if you live in the heart of the country) you probably aren't too serious about this business. (Just my opinion).
Photo by Miles Glynn, Best of Show at the Cherry Creek Arts Festival
Art Fair on the Square in Madison, WI, hosts nearly 500 artists on the state capitol courthouse square and the crowds show up! For some artists this is their best show of the year and getting in is paramount to their yearly success. Here are this year's prizewinners who will be returning again next year:
Ceramics: Michael Imes (565)
Digital Art: Ed Myers (334/336)
Fiber / Leather: Samuel Yao (520)
Furniture: Ron Dekok (649)
Glass: William Ortman (839)
Jewelry: Mary Filapek & Lou Ann Townsend (641)
Metal-Works: Kurt Ruby (253)
Mixed Media 2-D: Nestor Yulfo (244)
Painting: Luke Stretar (162)
Photography: John Scanlan (719/721)
Printmaking, Graphics, Drawing: Robin Lauersdorf (136/138)
Sculpture and 3-D Mixed Media: Thomas Wargin (462/464)
Wood: Matthew Hatala (571)
Then there is the real darling, the Cherry Creek Arts Festival in Denver. How do you like these winners?
The 42nd Maitland Rotary Art Festival is honoring our long history by returning to our roots with a daytime festival over two days, with more artists and additional booth space on the street. The lakeside park is inviting with the cooler November days. With live entertainment, displays and demonstrations from our cultural partners, student art exhibits from our local schools and an exciting Patron Program, the Maitland Rotary Art Festival is one of a kind.
November 30-December 2 
Tempe, Arizona
Presented By; Downtown Tempe Authority
350 Artists
Deadline: July 20
Application Fee:
$35.00 May 1-June 30; $50.00 July1-July 20
Booth Fee: $250-$550
Testimonials:
More Information: www.tempefestivalofthearts.com
Contact: Kate Borders kate@downtowntempe.com (480) 355-6060
The V word has been becoming the promoters favorite word and to me it means a Tupperware sales person. I don’t understand why they can’t use artist or artisan that is what we are. I have noticed one thing that shows that use that word is usually the kind I want to stay away from because I feel they just want to sell space and do not care who they have in their shows.
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September 22 & 23
What a great article this is from 9News.com in Denver.
Did you know only 260 of the 2,138 artists who applied to the 2018 Cherry Creek Arts Festival were chosen to be a part of one of the most competitive juried art shows in the US? Did you think they were just picking on you! Or maybe you are one of "the chosen".
Read the article: https://www.9news.com/article/news/outreach/community/how-260-artists-are-chosen-to-be-part-of-the-cherry-creek-arts-festival/73-570087956
Then get back to us with your comments ...
