Shaw Pottery on sun 16 aug 09
Recommendations, please? We have no experience with the various books
and websites that list art shows in our area.
We are located in Northern California, up above Napa. We can drive up
to 100 miles one way for a good show, with one (or at the most, two)
overnight stays. Porcelain is our thing, both art and functional.
Prices range from a low of $15 to a high of $175, at present.
If you have personal experience with one or more of these resources,
please let us know. Our budget only allows us to sign up with one,
perhaps two. So we need to invest it wisely.
http://www.artdeadline.com/
http://artfairsourcebook.com/
http://www.craftmasternews.com/
http://www.sunshineartist.com/shows/
http://festivalnet.com/
http://craftshowyellowpages.com/
http://www.bobslists.com/arts-and-crafts.htm
Or, if you know of another resource that is better, we'd love the informati=
on.
Thanks for the help,
Joe and Rita Shaw
--
http://shawpottery.com/
Ellen Currans on mon 17 aug 09
Dear Shaws,
I have no personal experience with this at all, but I understand that=3D20
you can sign onto
Zapplication, fill out their form and send in your 5 photos, done to=3D20
their specification as
to size, etc. and then receive on the internet notice of shows. One=3D20
local event I have
been involved with for 42 years just switched to Zapplication for guest=3D2=
0
artists, away from
jurying by slides, digital or actual objects. They figure that most of=3D2=
0
the artists doing shows
now are making this switch as well. We members were required to sign=3D20
up also (at no fee)
and send in our pictures so that our publicity person would have access=3D2=
0
to photos from all
100 members and guests without having to request them separately. I =3D20
think once you
are signed on, you can request your info sent out by Zapplication to=3D20
the shows you
want to enter and pay the jury fee through them. I receive e-mails=3D20
every week telling
about shows available for jurying.
Some one who actually is using Zapplication to apply to shows can give=3D20
you better information
I'm sure. Also, I don't imagine they handle farm markets, or smaller=3D20
community events ---yet!
My photographer tells me that all she does anymore is digital photos. =3D20
Instead of spending her
time developing film, etc, she spends her time at the computer sizing,=3D20
cropping, sending them
off.
I think selling wherever you can market your work with dignity an
d=3D20
profit is perfectly
OK. I don't have much patience for fancy galleries. Especially if you=3D2=
0
are making useful
pottery. I checked your website and you do lovely work. I would just=3D20
suggest tho, that
you bring to a farmers market, the kind of pots that people will use=3D20
with food or flowers.
I'd go early and pick out some veggies and fruits I could use myself=3D20
and display them in
a few bowls to show how lovely they looked against the glaze. I'd=3D20
label things like "corn chowder
bowls" or "looks great with spinach salad." Bring just a few of the=3D20
large beautiful bottles and jars.,
since there may be a few buyers open to the more expensive pieces, but=3D20
most of the shoppers
I would think are looking for dinner. Their senses are absorbing the=3D20
looks and tastes of great
ripe looking vegetables - give them an added mouthwatering picture of
how to serve and display it.
I think in this case "stuffing" is a perfectly good idea, whereas
I probably wouldn't do it for jury or magazine photos. I did once=3D20
take photos of a big
bowl stuffed with lettuce and a few pink garlic bulbs lying beside it=3D20
and another with oranges,
and they were chosen to publicize a show. I don't take fruit to the=3D20
three day shows I do now --
it seems to walk off while I'm not looking, or wind up lying on the=3D20
bare shelf when the pot
leaves. But I do put flowers in one of each style vase I make
to give=3D20
people a sense of
how they look, and it does make a difference in the sales. Adds beauty=3D2=
0
to the whole booth.
After trying a few markets, I would want to sort out the best and then=3D20
be there consistently on
some kind of schedule, so the public would know when to expect me and=3D20
could plan on
buying for gifts or special occasions. I get most of my customers from=3D2=
0
people seeing my pottery
used in a friend's or relative's home.
Ok, advice from someone who has never done farmer's markets, so you=3D20
know what it is
worth. But I would do them, if I needed to do more than the few shows=3D20
I do or were moving to
a new area. People who shop at Farmer's markets are looking for=3D20
quality foods and care about
what they eat, and probably how they serve it. I have made our living=3D20
from pottery since l975,
so I do know something about that. Sell local. Give good quality for=3D20
the price.
Try to remember faces if not names and be willing to become "their=3D20
potter". It is not necessary
to have a national reputation- just become known in your area for good=3D20
work. Stand behind
your products. Be nice! Let them see how much you enjoy your life as=3D20
a potter.
Ellen Currans
Dundee, Oregon
-----Original Message-----
From: Shaw Pottery
To: Clayart@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
Sent: Sun, Aug 16, 2009 4:16 pm
Subject: The best source fo
r art show listings?
Recommendations, please? We have no experience with the various books=3DC2=
=3D
=3DA0
and websites that list art shows in our area.=3DC2=3DA0
=3DC2=3DA0
We are located in Northern California, up above Napa. We can drive up=3DC2=
=3D
=3DA0
to 100 miles one way for a good show, with one (or at the most, two)=3DC2=
=3DA0
overnight stays. Porcelain is our thing, both art and functional.=3DC2=3DA0
Prices range from a low of $15 to a high of $175, at present.=3DC2=3DA0
=3DC2=3DA0
If you have personal experience with one or more of these resources,=3DC2=
=3DA0
please let us know. Our budget only allows us to sign up with one,=3DC2=3DA=
0
perhaps two. So we need to invest it wisely.=3DC2=3DA0
=3DC2=3DA0
http://www.artdeadline.com/=3DC2=3DA0
http://artfairsourcebook.com/=3DC2=3DA0
http://www.craftmasternews.com/=3DC2=3DA0
http://www.sunshineartist.com/shows/=3DC2=3DA0
http://festivalnet.com/=3DC2=3DA0
http://craftshowyellowpages.com/=3DC2=3DA0
http://www.bobslists.com/arts-and-crafts.htm=3DC2=3DA0
=3DC2=3DA0
Or, if you know of another resource that is better, we'd love the=3D20
information.=3DC2=3DA0
=3DC2=3DA0
Thanks for the help,=3DC2=3DA0
Joe and Rita Shaw=3DC2=3DA0
--=3DC2=3DA0
http://shawpottery.com/=3DC2=3DA0
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