My studio, replete with boxes of show stuff - what a job!
Monday, June 15, 2009, 11:00 p.m.
I'm home. I just arrived hours ago (7:30 p.m.) and I'm abrim with ideas and stories. I need to pour it out so I can get some sleep, so I thought I'd respond to the emails I've received asking me about my shows with a review of the journey. In the form of my first blog entry. Yippee!
Be cautioned! I'm about to express my experiences in detail using much positive language throughout. Be prepared to settle in for an extended read. I'll be entertaining.
So I'm content with the weekend as an experience. I sold things, which is more than some of the artists attending could say, so I'm thankful. Patrick (my husband) and I worked together like a well-oiled machine and had a great time.
I've met an array of interesting people and have shared many hours of conversation with them – clients and fellow artists alike (often they are one in the same). I've delighted children. I had a four-year-old jumping up and down in front of the dragon in excitement. I gave the grand "touch all" tour to a delighted two-year-old. I signed a Cuban's T-shirt. I got my picture taken with a man wearing a twenty-three layer petticoat. I talked about my kid, in animated French, with new friends over a Thai dinner on College Street. I am happy.
About the show:
How I Did
First thing first, because I know you are all wondering...
Three of my sculptures, “Oh yeah?”, the Copper Hedgehog and “The Frog Queen” have found excellent homes.
I sold the amethyst celtic star chain maille necklace to the wife of a participating artist. She ordered a bracelet and matching earrings to boot, so I even sold jewellery I haven't created yet. That was my first sale of the weekend.
One of my stone chip rings sold as well.
Paul Shiers' partner is my hero. A dynamo of a woman! She gracefully modelled one of my butterfly necklaces all day on Sunday, and proudly went home with my dagger bracelet. She tells me now she has to find a dress to match for Paul's next big event. Paul makes marvellous sculptures in wood, stone and a variety of other media.
The baby peacock “Oh yeah?” has found a home at O's Gallery in Port Colbourne, Ontario, beside the sign that says “Don't piss off the fairies!” Peggy O'Hara knew she had to have him as soon as she heard his name. In addition to the gallery, “O” is also the nickname of Peggy's daughter. I'm so happy he's gone somewhere he will fit right in. Peggy, if you're reading this and you have a pic of Oh yeah? in his new home (or maybe his name is changing to O Yeah!), send it along and I'll post it.
The Frog Queen has been delivered into the careful and talented hands of Israeli jeweller Sara Shahak in exchange for some gorgeous jewellery – two bangles, each made from four interconnected square rings. They look like a marvellous angular sculpture on my wrist. I'm wearing them right now. Jingle jingle. And I received earrings to match. Okay, okay, here's a link to a picture of the gold-filled version (I got two silver ones, and matching earrings) from the Petroff Gallery.
She was so in love with the little green amphibian queen that she bolted upright in bed early Sunday morning exclaiming “Where's the frog? We lost the frog!” Her poor husband didn't know how to calm her down. What frog? Hee hee!
She told me this story first thing on Sunday morning, and admitted to frequent visits to my booth on Saturday to check and make sure she was still on display and not sold. So Her Majesty is moving overseas to forge new friendships and foster froggy love in Israel!
My cute Copper Hedgehog has been gifted to my niece Tryla on the occasion of her 10th birthday. Happy Birthday, Tryla.
My Neighbours
I had wonderful neighbours – they helped the weekend to fly by!
To the right of my booth I had Stephanie Ford Forrester – a fantastic textile artist and painter. Do go and see her site for examples of her stunning art quilts. Hers was a popular booth.
To the left of my booth, I had Paulette Cecile, a painter. Paulette, Patrick and I had many conversations over the weekend. She was approached by a gallery during the show.
Across from Stephanie was Ruth Pellman, a glass artist. She found the show, like me, through the Ontario Crafts Council at the last minute and decided to give it a go. She sold five pieces to one customer on the last day. Ruth, let me know when your website is up so I can post it.
Behind me I had jeweller Hélène Limoges, who allowed me to erect a grid and draping behind the dragon and shared a meal with me, Patrick and marble artist Francis Coupal, who was just down the aisle. So many French-speaking artists at this show!
What I Learned
I loved the simple elegance of the booth displays. I picked up some pointers from new artist friends (thanks Zorica!) and was inspired by kindred spirits working with recycled materials – most notably Clement DesRosiers of Ferme-Neuve, Quebec. He makes amazing fused assemblage pieces with recycled glass bottles. I chatted to him about kilns for a bit – I hope we speak again.
Here are some photos of my booth display and excellent banners!
Attendance
Attendance was scarce to non-existent at times. Friday night was decently populated, thanks to complimentary entry tickets. I saw my parents, who cheerfully escorted Amélie back home with them for the weekend. They were the only people I knew who came to the show. Saturday was the lightest attendance day of the weekend. Sunday brought a steady stream of patrons and was when my sales were made. Pat and I were interacting with clients frequently and the day flew by. I got the impression it may have been the same for many. Last day sales are redeeming.
Obvious disadvantages. Let's not waste time.
Advantages included a heightened camaraderie among the artists; a bounty of information exchanged about excellent shows, well-stocked suppliers and design expertise, both for display and for art; the opportunity for increased client interaction for those times when you had interested browsers and the luxury of being able to browse the show yourself. That last was an unexpected delight!
The Venue
Hall C, level 200 MTCC North. It's on the third floor of the building, on top of the escalators. There was frosted glass between the main hall and the exhibit hall, so passers-by couldn't see inside.
I was at a booth near the back of the room, number 724, one of the more direct routes between the front of the hall and the bathrooms at the back.
The room could easily have held another 150 booths at least. I was told there were 180 of an expected 350 artists in attendance, which led to stacks of excess grids, dollies, chairs and draping in storage along one wall.
The service hallway, complete with garbage bin, served as an alternate view to the performers, panels and other activities on the main stage. The performers and activities seemed excellent, from what snatches I could glimpse from my booth. Carribbean performers on opening night (the female dancers had huge bustles on their costumes!); Thai dancers on Saturday and Panel discussions closed out the weekend on Sunday.
The Surprises
I had expected draperies around my space but they got cancelled at the last minute. We improvised quite admirably, though. Moving things in and out of the loading docks went rather smoothly despite a notification on Saturday morning about the move-out procedures that cautioned we may be there until late at night. We were on the road by eight.
In addition to the space fee and GST, I paid hydro, one night at a hotel by the airport, two nights at the University of Toronto (a cost-saving alternative not all artists were advised of – information could be added to an artist's information sheet in future years), gas and food for the weekend for two.
I learned that the Children's Room had an admission fee, something not mentioned on the event's site. I also learned that due to budget restrictions the voting for your favorite artist contest was cancelled and the results were not tallied. I was pleased to learn my name did appear on some ballots, so my self-promotion worked!
The advertisement I found in the Metro newspaper had an image of the entertainers on it. Weird for an art show, I thought.
Thanks for hanging in until the end of this giant first posting. Until next time, I'll say-
Cheers, Lisa
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