This is a fascinating article about why and when so many art fairs started and about the many hidden costs involved in them. It’s well worth the read.
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2018/03/11/arts/not-just-exhibits-expensive-art-fairs/#.WqecyyhuaUk
If you have any ability to be in Florida for the ArtiGras Fine Arts Festival, then you should get yourself there on February 17th through 19th. The festival is in Jupiter, Florida and includes 300 national, regional and local fine artists. The show includes strong art sales and is rated as “one of the top 50 shows in the nation” according to Sunshine Artist Magazine. All of the artists are present during the show so that people can meet and get to know them. Art will include print making, fiber, glass, jewelry, metal, mixed media, painting, photography and more.
There will be a kids’ zone as well where children can express their creativity and a place where artists will demonstrate their art techniques.
If you’re an artist looking for the right place to display your beautiful work here are a few great opportunities for you.
It’s always interesting to learn how people got started in their business. This lovely article chronicles the story of one rug dealer and the road he took to becoming such a successful Oriental carpet seller. Artists out there – take note about ways to follow your dreams and to make them into reality.
As described in the article about the owner, Emmett Eiland:
“Woven into his entrepreneurial spirit, Eiland has shared his passion in myriad ways with the community, informed by his extensive travels throughout the rug-weaving countries of the world. In 1972, Eiland helped organize a major exhibit of Oriental rugs at UC Berkeley’s Art Museum. He has taught courses through UC Extension and has made a film, The Repair and Restoration of Oriental Rugs. He authored a book, Oriental Rugs Today: A Guide to the Best New Carpets from the East, published in 2000 (and revised in 2003) by Berkeley Hills Books.”
Today in Mesa, Arizona there is an interesting festival that examines art in a very different way. Items on display include a tunnel built of swim noodles, a trash-collecting turtle and other experiments that include urban planning. It’s called the Main Street Prototyping Festival and is an idea borrowed from San Francisco. The two day event will continue tomorrow as well.
20 prototypes are on display to answer the question about how to use activities and gathering spaces to make downtown more active and interesting. Everything is set up along Main Street between Country Club Drive and the Mesa Art Center. It’s worth coming out to check out the many ideas.
If you want to get your little ones exciting for Halloween, then it’s certainly worthwhile to check out the many art fairs and other activities happening in your area. Here are just a few of the listings for Halloween happenings and creative crafts in various cities.
In South Florida they have this list bursting with great ideas:
While Houston, Texas is trying to rebuild and reinvigorate the offerings for kids.
In Orange County, California they are offering these exciting events.
Wherever you are, there are great ways to celebrate with the kids and to incorporate art and creativity into those celebrations.
Happy Halloween!
The 39th annual fall Tennessee Craft Fair is this weekend and it’s one that you won’t want to miss. It will take place in Centennial Park and is hosted by Tennessee Craft, a nonprofit that works with local craftsmanship. The event includes over 200 juried artists, 40% of whom are from Tennessee.
The featured artists this year are Raku pottery artist Barry Bernstein, sculptor Karen Fincannon, photographer and painter Bill Turner, jewelry maker Elizabeth Barthel and furniture maker Daniel Corban.
Certainly, one person’s trash could be another person’s treasure. Here is an incredible story about the life of one antique. Interior designer Heidi Pribell saw a mantelpiece in the basement of a client’s house in 1999. She convinced the home owner not to throw away the mantelpiece, and in 2011 she purchased it from the client. This year, she sold the item to the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston for an undisclosed sum.
The mantelpiece itself also had a story to tell. It was crafted in Italy in 1805 and stayed in the same building on Joy and Beacon Street near Boston Common through three owners. It was commissioned by diplomat and art importer Thomas Appleton. As Pribell said, “He was a true visionary. He was so sure of his tastes.”
From August 3-6, the Seattle Art Fair will take place at the CenturyLink Field Event Center and it’s well worth the trip. This year, in addition to the many other gorgeous items that will be on display, there will be a very unusual treat. Two of Kurt Cobain’s paintings will make their debut. These are paintings that have been in storage since his death in 1994.
These works are represented by United Talent Agency, who is also in charge of the Cobain estate. As Joshua Roth, the director for United Talent Agency Fine Arts said, the goal is to “create a touring exhibition that really tells the story of who Kurt was through artworks, personal artifacts and memorabilia, sort of like what the Rolling Stones did in London. There are dozens: several paintings, many drawings, many sculptures.”
One of the pieces, the Incesticide art, has been seen by the public while the other one has never been viewed by the general public.
And why has United Talent Agency picked this special venue for the debut? As Roth said, “He was born near there, he passed away there, and he created the soundtrack for a counterculture there.”
And we, in Seattle, get to be the recipients of that choice.
If you live in or near Detroit, Michigan you will not want to miss these summer happenings. There are so many awesome activities for families, singles and everyone in between. Here are just a few examples of what they have listed on the Detroit News site.
“Craftcom : Part beer festival and part comic convention, this new event also throws food trucks, live music, robots and costumes into the mix. If you decide to come dressed as your favorite super hero or other pop culture figure, don’t hold back, there’s a contest for best-dressed. 5-11 p.m. Friday and 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Saturday. Free. Downtown Clawson. craftcomfestival.com
Art in the Park: Downtown Plymouth’s charms are on display for this three-day art festival with over 400 artists and is billed as Michigan’s second-largest art fair, now in its 38th year. 11 a.m.-8 p.m. July 7, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. July 8 and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. July 9. Central Plymouth. artinthepark.com
Ann Arbor Art Fair: The big chimichanga of the state’s summer art festivals offers four days of high art, cute crafts and unparalleled people-watching on 29 blocks throughout the City of Trees. Over 1,000 artists will take part, and conservative estimates project at least 400,000 visitors. The 58th-annual Ann Arbor Art Fair runs 10 a.m.-9 p.m. July 20-22, noon-6 p.m. July 23. Downtown Ann Arbor. theannarborartfair.com”