FEATURED SHOW REVIEW
June 2007
ALABAMA
March 16-18, Fairhope Arts & Crafts Festival, Fairhope. Contact: Eastern Shore Chamber of Commerce, PO Drawer 310, Daphne, AL 36526; phone 251-621-8222, fax 251-621-8001. E-mail: akimsey@eschamber.com. Web site: www.eschamber.com. Application fee: $25. Space fee: $265. Space size: 10x10. 100% outdoors. Exhibitors: 234. Attendance: 220,000 (staff estimate).
By William Roy Yarger
Georgia Reporter
E-mail: yarger@bellsouth.net
Medium: Wood
I'd exhibited successfully at this show three times in the past, but I almost did not get in this time. After the jury process for this year's show, I received the dreaded letter stating that my work had not been selected. I was heartbroken and started looking for alternatives. But then I thought that maybe they had made a mistake, so I inquired about my slides and why I was not juried in. The committee chairperson asked if I would like to be rejuried. Of course I said yes and sent in some more slides of my work.
This time I was selected; however, all the spaces were taken. The chairperson then asked if I would like to be placed on standby. Once again, I said of course, although I really did not expect to hear anything else. But as it turns out, I was called two days before the show because a spot had opened, and was asked if I was still interested. Sure! So I quickly packed my van and headed to Fairhope. The moral of this story is if you feel you have been unfairly juried, by all means ask questions. It will not hurt, and it might get you in the show.
The show is put on by the Eastern Shore Chamber of Commerce and takes place on the streets of downtown Fairhope, Friday through Sunday. Another event, the Eastern Shore Art Center's Outdoor Art Show, takes place next to this one. (See the June issue for a review of that show.) While the two shows are separate, they are right next to each other, and the two committees cooperate. One show doesn't really seem better than the other, but there are some unauthorized exhibitors who spring up around the two established shows. These exhibitors usually display craft and/or buy/sell items.
Normal setup starts around 6 or 7 p.m. on Thursday, after the streets are closed to traffic. Artists may also set up on Friday morning before the show opens. You can drive to your booth for both load-in and load-out. In other words, setup and teardown are quite easy. However, little to no help is available, so plan accordingly. The show features the normal city-street layout, with four booths in a group. This allows everyone a corner booth.
The Chamber has numerous volunteers who provide water during the day and breaks when needed. Organizers also have an exhibitor area at the Chamber with snacks and drinks available during the day. They take good care of their artists.
Seventy awards were given, for a total cash value of $14,500. Judging started at 9 a.m. on Friday and took all day because of the large number of artists and the fact that the judges actually stopped in each booth to evaluate the work. The award winners seemed very deserving. The committee put on a very good artist party on Friday night, with entertainment, food, drinks and, of course, the awards presentation.
The crowd on Friday was as large as it normally had been in the past (actually bigger, according to show officials). My Friday sales are usually the best, but this year both Friday and Saturday were equally good and close to normal Fairhope levels. Then Sunday came, and I had only two sales. I do not know what happened. The people around me had similar experiences. Despite lower-than-normal sales on that last day, this is a good show that draws patrons eager to buy every year. Most exhibitors, like myself, will come back if possible.
Editor's note: Despite some complaints this year, the Festival is the top-rated craft event in the state, according to SA's 200 Best. We'll have to wait to see how the show fares after all the votes are counted for this year's contest.
FastAudits were mostly positive. Sales averaged a seven (out of ten), with most exhibitors praising all aspects of the Festival. Auditor totals ranged from $10,000 (a metal artist) to $305 (a wood artist). The only real criticism was that some high-end work, particularly framed 2-D art, did not do as well.
