FEATURED SHOW REVIEWS
APRIL 2008
FLORIDA
January 19-21, Las Olas National Art Festival, Fort Lauderdale.Contact: Las Olas National Art Festival, c/o Museum of Art Fort Lauderdale, 1 East Las Olas Blvd., Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301; phone 954-525-5500, fax 954-524-6011. E-mail: info@moafl.org. Web site: www.moafl.org. Space fee: $350-$700. Space size: 10x10 to 10x20. 100% outdoors. Exhibitors: 150. Hours: 10-5.
By Shoshana Matthews
Maryland Reporter
E-mail: shoshana@handwovens.biz
Medium: Fiber
Although this was a first-year show, in many ways it wasn't. The Museum of Art Fort Lauderdale has brought back the original Las Olas National Art Festival after an absence of several years. They hired Richard Sullivan of Boulderbrook Productions as the Festival director, and he certainly knows how to run a topnotch show!
There was lots of communication before, during and after the show, and great details about setup, teardown, parking and other stuff. The exhibitor package included many relevant phone numbers: Sullivan's cell, a towing service, a car-repair service, a locksmith and several other emergency numbers helpful to those of us from out of town.
Setup in and around Huizenga Park (adjacent to Las Olas Boulevard) was pretty easy. We were able to drive to our booth spaces, unload and go park before we set up. The same was true on Monday for teardown, although many of us opted to dolly out for a faster exit. Booths were well laid out, with space on each side and in the back. We had room to roll up our sides, hang artwork on the outside walls and store boxes in the back. It was refreshing not to be cheek to jowl with our neighbors!
The weather wasn't too bad. Saturday was sunny and hot, although not too hot. Sunday was cloudy and rainy all day, and much cooler. The rain consisted of mostly on-and-off sprinkles, though, so it wasn't a washout. Monday was windy but dry for the most part.
Jurying was well done, and there was very high-quality art throughout the show. Crowds weren't spectacular, but they weren't bad, either. However, as with most shows this year, there were a lot of walkers and not a lot of buyers. About 60 percent of the 2-D artists with whom I spoke said their sales were dismal to non-existent, and they won't be back. Also not planning to return was a bronze sculptor who sent in a FastAudit. He/she made nothing and gave ones (out of ten) to sales, advertising and attendance.
A few said sales were dismal but they'd give the show another chance next year. There was lots of 2-D competition, and dollars were hard to come by. A sculptor reported great sales, as did a potter and a photographer. I spoke to numerous jewelers, and nearly all said they had done well and would be back. My sales (fiber) were about half of what I should make at a show like this, but they were better than my last three shows. I will definitely give this one another chance.
I do think location may have made a difference. There were booths in the park and booths on the sidewalk. Those on the sidewalk were busier than those of us in the park for most of the show, but I don't know whether this translated into more sales.
The museum docents and volunteers provided booth sitters for all three days and circulated throughout the day to see if we needed anything. They were friendly and welcoming and definitely took pride in having their show back. I hope this pride will translate into more buyers next year.
It was obvious that Sullivan, the museum staff and the museum volunteers worked hard to bring this show off. And they already have plans to make next year's show better. Many of us thought that more on-street advertising was needed, and the staff said this would be done for 2009. It looks like the original Las Olas National Art Festival is back and here to stay. I, for one, look forward to doing it again.
