Jacob Runyan on tue 26 jul 05
I held back at posting, as I have sold only two or
three pieces of my own art in my life. I dont think
it's my place to tell anyone else how to run their
business. I think Mel makes a good point, a 50 dollar
bowl has as much work in it as a 15 dollar mug.
Now you will get the perspective from myself, an art
lover and a not-so-successful art student.
Personally, I haven't missed an art fair in ten years.
This year's AA art fair was my last. I felt as if
the hours spent wandering were simply a waste of time.
I feel guilty speaking to artists about their medium,
then walking away empty handed...almost as if I had
wasted their time. In the past, I was always able to
buy SOMETHING from the artists that I liked, it is no
longer that way.
I think I need to go back in time two years, to my
first visit to the Ann Arbor Potters guild sale. They
had a nice little table set up with small cups, bowls,
kiln monsters, etc...all priced for very reasonable
prices to CHILDREN only. This type of sale really
appealed to me, as a child could go in with a couple
dollars, and leave with a piece of hand made art. In
discussing this with my boss, she said that when she
went to the AA fair in the 60's and 70's, when she was
still very young, even she was able to leave with
something.
Unfortunately, it has changed. No longer am I able to
go to an Art Fair and bring back work to hang on my
walls or put on my shelfs. I no longer have an
interest in walking around the AA Art Fair museum,
hands in pockets with booths full of signs that read
"please look with your eyes, not your hands".
Do people not understand that by selling only high
ticket items they are stiffling the future of art
lovers? It was COOL as a child to be able to go to an
art fair and come home with something that couldn't be
bought in stores. In my mind, maybe I had just bought
myself a piece of work from an artist that in years
may be the next Picasso.
Trust me, I understand time and materials...all too
well, but my business practices are also based upon
the idea that I wish to take care of the
up-and-comers.
I guess it doesn't help that a booth costs what now?
$1500?
-Jacob
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Kathi LeSueur on wed 27 jul 05
Jacob Runyan wrote:
>............Personally, I haven't missed an art fair in ten years.
> This year's AA art fair was my last. I felt as if
>the hours spent wandering were simply a waste of time.
> I feel guilty speaking to artists about their medium,
>then walking away empty handed...almost as if I had
>wasted their time. In the past, I was always able to
>buy SOMETHING from the artists that I liked, it is no
>longer that way.
>
>
>........Unfortunately, it has changed. No longer am I able togo to an Art Fair and bring back work to hang on my
>walls or put on my shelfs.
>
>.........Do people not understand that by selling only high
>ticket items they are stiffling the future of art
>lovers? It was COOL as a child to be able to go to an
>art fair and come home with something that couldn't be
>bought in stores.
>
>......I guess it doesn't help that a booth costs what now?
>$1500?>>>>>>
>
I sat on the Board of the Michigan Guild in Ann Arbor and chaired it for
two years. Tfhere were many arguments about "quality" and price. One
Board member said she didn't think we should allow anything under $200.
Get rid of the people who weren't "real" art buyers. I have a tape with
another person saying, "Those who come for the carnival atmosphere and
the fun, we would rather they went somewhere else to eat their hot dogs."
That attitude is pervasive not only in the Ann Arbor art fairs but in
art fairs across the country. I believe it is one of the main reasons
that fairs are dying. I exhibited at Ann Arbor for 20 years. Every year
lots of young people would go past my booth proudly holding a small lamp
that they had purchased for $24. Unwrapped, clip-on shade, no felt on
the bottom, and very basic glazing. At that time I sold lamps that size
for $68. But, I didn't mind because I knew they were first time buyers.
I knew they would come back again and again. And, eventually as their
income and sophistication grew they would purchase more expensive and
better crafted work. But, the Guild kicked that potter out of the show
when they decided to "upgrade the quality". The message to customers
was, "If you don't know or can't afford "good" art (more expensive) then
don't come. I could always tell which exhibitors were going to have
problems because they had a line of buyers at their booth.
Many fairs have told the younger, less affluent buyers, we don't want
you here cluttering our aisles and we will make sure there is nothing
here for you to buy. They go to Target now and will never be art fair
buyers because art fairs weren't fun when they came and they never got
the habit of buying from artists.
The other problem is that the focus of fairs has changed. Most fairs
were started as a way to link artists and buyers. Arts organizations did
it as a service and costs were low. The fairs were staffed by volunteers
and food was done by locals. Often the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts. No so
anymore. Art fairs are fundraiser and every little group has to have
one. Everyone wants a piece of the pie. And every organization and
community wants as much money as possible. So, now they sell space to
commercial enterprises who "sponsor" the events. In Ann Arbor the
merchants at one site demanded $100 per booth for their association.
They got it. Of couse, now that sales have declined by 50% or more, they
have no intention of giving the artists a break. Organizations that
budgeted for 5000 applicants paying $35 each in jury fees are finding
they are getting a tenth of the applicants so they try to make up the
difference in booth fees.
The cost to start out in this business are so high and the profits
declining so much that few young artist are participating. The average
age of the street artist is nearing sixty. This whole thing will be over
in ten years unless there are dramatic changes. Or, they will just fill
their booths with whatever they can get. Given their reliance on
exhibitor money I expect that to happen. But then, who will want to come
to a fair filled with booths of things they can get at their local
discount store?
Kathi
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Elizabeth Priddy on wed 27 jul 05
I decided for unrelated reasons, not to do outdoor
shows and then not to do indoor shows years ago.
What you are saying confirms the experience of my
friends who still do them. One point about the older
participants. Their days are numbered. One of my
friends, a painter who has supported herself with shows
for the last 30 years, has just had two knee replacements.
Between the fees and lack of revenue from shows and having
to hire someone to set up the work, it is about over.
So if shows are relying on older participants, their bodies
may catch up with them soon.
E
Kathi LeSueur wrote:
Jacob Runyan wrote:
>............Personally, I haven't missed an art fair in ten years.
> This year's AA art fair was my last. I felt as if
>the hours spent wandering were simply a waste of time.
> I sat on the Board of the Michigan Guild in Ann Arbor and chaired it for
two years. Tfhere were many arguments about "quality" and price. One
Board member said she didn't think we should allow anything under $200.
Get rid of the people who weren't "real" art buyers. I have a tape with
another person saying, "Those who come for the carnival atmosphere and
the fun, we would rather they went somewhere else to eat their hot dogs."
That attitude is pervasive not only in the Ann Arbor art fairs but in
art fairs across the country. I believe it is one of the main reasons
that fairs are dying. I exhibited at Ann Arbor for 20 years. Every year
lots of young people would go past my booth proudly holding a small lamp
...
Elizabeth Priddy
252-504-2622
1273 Hwy 101
Beaufort, NC 28516
http://www.elizabethpriddy.com
*If you are an extra-sensitive
or easily-offended type:
Remember that what I say is obviously
just my opinion based on my experiences
and that I, like most people, don't go around
intending to step on toes and make folks cry.
Take it with a grain of salt.
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