Report from the Texas Art Fairs

I’ve been away in Los Angeles visiting family and my Internet guru, my son, Scott. Staying on top of the art fair business, developing a web site, keeping it growing, working on SEO requires a periodic tuneup on what is going right and what needs to be done next. Those of you who maintain web sites surely know what I mean as this is a never ending job, as is any small business. So, my apologies to faithful readers for my silence.

Herewith my attempt to bring you all the art fair news:

The News from Austin, TX - Art Alliance Austin announced that their Art City Austin ‘08 event - April 12th and 13th - drew 23,000 to 25,000 people. The outdoor art festival benefits the Austin Museum of Art and The Blanton Museum of Art. This year, the organization presented for the first time commissioned outdoor installations, an international “Temporary Outdoor Gallery Space” ideas competition, and the first iteration of Art Week Austin - seven days of visual art events culminating in Art City Austin.

The award winners:

Best in Show 3-D - Joseph DeCamillis, a self-taught artist from Birmingham, Alabama. DeCamillis has exhibited internationally, including ART BASEL (Miami), Bridge Art Fair, FRIEZE Art Fair, ART CHICAGO and many more.

Best in Show 2-D ($1,000 cash award) was awarded to Daryl Howard, an Austin-based artist who works with a Japanese-style wood-block print technique. Her work has been exhibited across the nation and the state at the Austin Museum of Art, and Danforth Museum of Art, and Maryland Federation of Art, among others.

Best in Media ($100 Cash Prize Each)

2D Mixed Media Michael Madzo

Painting Harold Pickern

Drawing/Pastels Helen Gotlib

Photography Lisa Kristine

Graphics/Printmaking Daryl Howard

3D Mixed Media Joe DeCamillis

Jewelry Adam Neely

Woodwork Steve Smith

Sculpture Kevin Box

Watercolor Larry Stephenson

Metalwork Jimmie Dodson

Ceramics Ernest Miller

Glass Alex Brand

Fiber Hetty Metzger

The News from the Main Street Arts Festival, Fort Worth, TX - April 17-20

This is the best news that has been filtering through the artist networks. Sales were made!! Many reports of five-figure sales throughout the media had many artists smiling all the way home. The Texas economy seems to be strong and the Main Street Arts Festival seems to be the top art fair in Texas. Congratulations to the artists. I hope these good sales follow you through the year.

Here is a nice article about Main Street Arts Festival participant, Lisa Burge of Taos, NM. Burge, 53, is an abstract painter who has been doing art shows for about 15 years. She paints in the winter and travels the country from spring to fall; she does 10-12 shows a year.

If you are in Michigan you can see her at the Birmingham (MI) Fine Art Fair in Shain Park on May 10 & 11.

If you are already thinking about your 2009 schedule this pair of events look very attractive, plus the weather in Texas in April is fabulous. Do the events back to back and enjoy yourself in Texas between them.

Blue Heron Studio Show & More Cool Recycled Art

BLUE HERON POTTERY
SPRING STUDIO SHOW
The snow has finally melted!! YEA! Come on out and see our pots…the gallery is full!
SATURDAY, APRIL 26
SUNDAY, APRIL 27
Pots, Wine & Snacks!

11:00 - 4:00

DENISE & NORM KLEINER
270 KURTZ
OTISVILLE, MI 48463

810-631-8221
Call for directions if needed!

Another press release received:

Last night Fox 10 [Phoenix] ran a segment on “green” artist Sandra Schimmel Gold while she transforms junk mail into this stunning, museum quality mixed-media portrait, “Haughty or Naughty.”

The Phoenix, AZ artist is best known for “upcycling” materials such as junk mail, postcards and packaging into fabulous portraits and abstract images on canvas.

The artist has been a portrait painter and mosaic artist for many years and found a way to marry the two arts while reusing materials that would otherwise go to waste. She has recently been featured in Trend Hunter Magazine and on Conscious Lifestyle, Eco-Firms.Org, and GreenPeople.com

A solo show of Schimmel Gold’s work will be held at Tryst Gallery at Inspirador in Chandler, AZ starting tomorrow, April 10th. The Gallery is open Wednesday - Saturdays from 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM. For additional times, appointments or personal tours, please email artist@schimmelart.com.

Visit her website at: Schimmel Art

Question from a Reader: Can I Make Money in Michigan?

Dear Connie:

I am looking for some more recent information on the Flint Art Fair: since you are right in Michigan and not far away from there maybe you would know more. I am hoping you will be able to tell me something personally (you have all sorts of inside information, right??) without having to put it in your newsletter. If the newsletter is the best option I would appreciate it if you did not use my name…

I am from northern Illinois so it’s a 6 hour drive for me. I did the show several times (last in 2001 and 2002) and did fairly well, not spectacularly. This was before the Michigan economy went downhill. With current gas prices (hotels are up by ~ 20% too) I need to be better informed before doing this show, or opting for a very small local one.

I researched recent shows in my usual way (using Sunshine Artist and AFSB). The show was held off-site for a few years while the art center was being renovated, but I believe it’s back on site now. I could not come up with any real current information (reviews were mostly about the issues of being off-site), and posted a question on the AFSB forum with no luck there either. I ran out of research time and sent in my application. I have been accepted but have a while before the booth fee is due and now I really need to know about how sales have been there.

It’s a given that sales at all shows are down, across the board, not just in Michigan. I had 6 shows in Michigan last year and the repeats (3) were down from 10% to 34%. Weather was good both years, actually better the second year, so that was not a factor. The new ones obviously I have no personal record to use for predictions. So it’s not a question so much of WILL sales be down, just how MUCH down. The 34 % percent drop in _____ _____, for example (on top of a 20% decine from the year before), means it is no longer worth the 6+ hour drive (please do not publicize that - keep it private: as I don’t want to hurt what is really a very nice show, run by very kind people. If I were local I would certainly do it again. )….

I appreciate your help.

Name withheld

I have held off on answering this question for some time trying to come up with a good answer for you. Michigan has been hard hit. That is hardly news. You are wise to seek more information. My take on it: the people who are succeeding financially at the shows are those who have something so wonderful, or so fabulously priced that people cannot resist it. This marketplace is more competitive than ever. Cutting costs, in order to bolster your profit, is smart.

Traveling six hours to a show that has been marginal for you would not be a good idea, better to put that time and money into something that is not so much a gamble. I know your work. There are many marketplaces where I think you would do well, or at least increase the odds of doing better than making this trip.

I do not have personal information on this show. Maybe some of my readers do. Can anyone address the questions entered here? Please comment below.

Call for Artists: Art on the River in Detroit

GM River Days 2008
Presented by the Detroit RiverFront Conservancy,
the Parade Company and General Motors
June 20-22
25 exhibitors
Deadline: April 30

In 2007, with the opening of the beautiful revamped riverfront in downtown Detroit, a coalition came together to host a celebration aimed at inviting metro Detroiters downtown to enjoy the new space. And did they ever love it! Almost 500,000 people attended to enjoy the festivities and enjoy what Michigan has to offer in the summer time.

In its second year GM River Days will host a new section of the festival, highlighting the visual arts, Art on the River. It will be composed of the artwork of artists from the GM automotive design team, plus twenty-five emerging and professional artists. This will be your opportunity to showcase your art in a lovely riverfront setting, supported by a professional staff and a seasoned promotional team sure to bring many new faces to your booth.

Please note: there are only 25 spaces available, apply today!

The staff for Art on the River includes Connie Mettler and Lisa Konikow, along with the rest of the staff from Pontiac’s popular Arts, Beats & Eats.

To learn more email Lisa Konikow or Connie Mettler.

Applications are online for download at: ArtFairCalendar.com, click on GM River Days.

Three Painting Workshops in Virginia

BLACKWATER WORKSHOPS
CHESAPEAKE, VA
HAS 3 SPRING WORKSHOPS
ON THE SCHEDULE FOR APRIL-MAY!

JANICE GAY MAKER is leading a 2-Day Oil Painting
Landscape Workshop on April 19th and 20th.
9am - 4pm

This session is designed for beginners and intermediate level students.
However, anyone interested in joining the group and getting helpful
input and critique from Janice is very welcome to sign-up for this class.
Workshop fee is $200 - includes lunch.

Download a registration form and supply list from the Blackwater Website.
http://www.blackwater-workshops.com/2days-oilpainting.janice.html

JANICE will also be holding another Oil Pastel Workshop
May 3rd - 9am - 4pm

If you missed the first Oil Pastel session in March . . .
here’s a chance to jump in now! Oil Pastel is a rich medium
with lots of color and beauty - and little investment.
There’s lots of lovely spring hues in the landscape at Blackwater.
Enjoy learning the medium of oil pastel with fabulous colorist,
Janice Gay Maker. Workshop fee is $100 and includes lunch.

ANNE McNALLY will be leading a Still Life & Floral
Oil Painting Workshop
May 17th and 18th.
9am - 4pm

This workshop is aimed at beginners and intermediate painters, as well.
Anne is known for her “loose, painterly, impressionistic-yet-realistic” style.
Her work is very popular and she is a dedicated teacher. We are looking forward
to having Anne lead this studio workshop out at Blackwater!
Workshop fee is $200 and includes lunch.

Karen Kinser
blackwaterworkshops@cox.net
757 286 6210

Featured Artist: Debra Groat - Eco-Friendly, Organic Heirloom Jewelry

It is a pleasure to introduce to you an artist who is relatively new to the art fair business, Debra Groat. She is an example of what is not so uncommon at art fairs, mature people whose lives have taken them to the point where they can begin to explore and polish talents that have lain dormant or that develop out of their life experiences. You will like this story.

What makes art fairs so interesting to people is the diversity. It is the last unusual shopping arena in the U.S. Usually our featured artist is one of the “art stars” in this business, but when we found Debra we knew we had a new one-of-a-kind to present to you.

You will be impressed by the authenticity of the work, Debra’s family story, the eco-friendliness of the end product, that reflects back to earlier times and forward to a preservation of the earth and its resources. Owning and wearing this jewelry, both keeps one in touch with the natural world but also supports the way of life on which this country was built.

The jewelry pictured here is Red Calypso beads with Fire-Polished Czech Beads. Hand made when ordered, from organically grown heirloom seeds.

In our ecologically-challenged times it is very exciting to feature the work of Debra Groat, who not only creates art but grows it!  Debra’s jewelry is handcrafted from certified, organic, hand-harvested and heirloom seeds grown on her family’s Centennial farm in rural Michigan. “I let the seeds speak to me. Working with them can be a spiritual experience.”

Hopefully you will be able to find Debra at an art fair near you soon, but in the meantime visit ArtFairCalendar.com/FeaturedArtist to learn more.

Three Zapplication Stories to Bring You Cheer

Here is my most recent information about Zapplication and applying to art fairs.

1. Contrary to the accepted opinion all art fairs are not being deluged with piles of new applications because they have joined Zapp. An art fair that I am close to who instigated it last year had exactly two additional applications that year. Recently closing their 2008 jurying they had exactly one additional application.

What this says to me is that in general the BIG shows are receiving nice BIG piles, maybe even more because of Zapp, but the B list group is not profiting from more apps. But their staffs are happy about not having so much paperwork.

2. Here is a recent letter from a reader:

Hi Connie,

It’s nice to find online discussions such as these.  Have you seen this one?

http://www.imogene.org/blog/2008/03/09/confessions/

It’s long but there are some heavy hitters in the craft world commenting on it.  I never even thought researching what other artists thought of Zapp until I got a few blog comments on my opinion of it.  Fortunately, I did get into the Lowertown Festival which would have been really disappointing if I had not since it is really not that great of a show quality wise!  I can’t wait to see if that will change since their application process was through Zapp.

I perused quite a bit of your blog, and I am adding it to my google reader.  I’m so glad I found it!

Thanks!
Beth

3.  Readers of this blog have perhaps before seen the heartfelt letters we receive from artists, but none more so than the straightforward posts received from artist Michael Solomon. Here is his latest:

hi - i have gone to war with the insane odds of getting into shows- what follows is my email to st louis art fair and there response which are both honorable and insane Zapp has destroyed allot of us and the odds keep getting worse - i am finding other ways to market my work and really do not care if they hate me.
Michael S.

To: Laura Miller
Subject: Re: 2008 Saint Louis Art Fair

the end is near - Me and allot of others will no longer support this antiquated process - a raffle would be fairer for 95 % of the applicants the elite 5 % might as well be pre selected for all the shows.
Michael Solomon
former artist

To: Michael Solomon
Subject: Re: 2008 Saint Louis Art Fair

Michael - Thank you for your email and we welcome your questions and comments. This year represents the most competitive application process we’ve ever experienced, with 1784 artists applying for 139 openings (26 award winners from the 2007 show were exempt from the jury process and will return in 2008.) Reviewing these applications is a daunting task that we take very seriously.

Every application is carefully reviewed several times by our panel of three independent jurors over the course of three days. We rely on their expertise and experience to select the highest quality work presented to them during the jury process. We select jurors that provide a diverse background of knowledge, skill, understanding and familiarity within the 14 media categories allowed. Our goal is a high-quality, balanced show, however we do not have individual quota’s in each media category. We also do not provide artists with scores or comments from the jurors, nor do we track the juror’s comments.

Again thank you for applying to the Saint Louis Art Fair. You have our best wishes for continued success!
Laura Miller

To view Michael’s art visit: http://www.reflectiveart.com

Put Zapp into the search box on the right side of this page and you can read comments the Art Fair Insider has received on this topic. We welcome your comments on this topic or any other of interest to you. Fill in the form below.

Two Posts in One: NAIA Survey of Art Fair Trends & Art City Austin

1. The NAIA (National Assn. of Independent Artists) is a strong advocate for artists rights and improving relationships of artists with the art fairs. In 2007 they put together a survey: 2007: Trends Among Artists: The Changing Artistic Landscape. 550 artists participated in the survey. It is a great read if you are interested in the future of art fairs.

In examining the data the following three major trends were seen to emerge:

• Vanishing Resource #1: The Artist/Craftsperson
• Vanishing Resource #2: The Customer Interest in American Art & Craft
• A Trend Back to Exhibiting in Local Shows

Read the complete survey results at this link: http://naia-artists.org/work/SurveyReport-Trends.htm

While you are reading the survey look over the rest of the NAIA site and consider joining the organization.

2.  Where the artists were this past weekend: Art City Austin
The Austin Arts Festival has reinvented itself into a city-wide arts celebration (ArtWeekAustin) with terrific PR and big backers that is held all week during the second week of April and culminates in Art City Austin. If you are looking for a show to participate in in 2009 take a look at their site and see if this is the league you want to play in. Texas is beautiful in April.

Call for Artists: 44th Annual Friends of the Kenosha Public Museums Art Fair in Library Park

Sunday, July 20th
10 AM - 5 PM
200 Exhibitors
Deadline: May 1
Early entry fee $85.00
($100.00 after May 1st)

Does the city of Kenosha, WI, have a place in your art fair future? Located between Chicago and Milwaukee on Lake Michigan, Kenosha lures city people to the verdant city on this summer weekend.

One day art fairs are great. Visitors await them all year and know that the buying is “now or never.” Art fairs associated with a cultural institution bring the audience you are looking for. This is a beautiful park setting with up to 10,000 people in attendance. It is one of the most popular art fairs in the area with cash prizes of $1250.00.

The art fair is the Friends of the Kenosha Public Museums largest fundraiser of the year. Artists return year after year due to its popular appeal.

What’s not to like?

• one day - you will be in and out
• beautiful time of year for weather
• spacious booth spaces: 10 x 16
• amazingly low booth fee: $85

There is also fun for the whole family with a children’s activity area and great local food.

For more information about the Public Museum and the art fair and to download an application visit: www.kenosha.org/museum.

New Feedblitz Delivery of Art Fair Insider

Dear Reader,

My use of online technology is growing by leaps and bounds, as you can tell by this deposit in your inbox of the latest posting on the Art Fair Insider. Many of you will want to receive it this way, so you don’t miss any of the news. So, here it is. We’re happy to have you. Please tell your friends.

Others may not want this information as often. There is an easy “unsubscribe” link for your convenience.

Your support of ArtFairCalendar.com is most appreciated.

Connie Mettler

Publisher: ArtFairCalendar.com and the blog, Art Fair Insider