FEATURED SHOW REVIEWS
JUNE 2008
LOUISIANA
March 8-9, Oak Alley Plantation Spring Arts & Craft Festival, Vacherie. Contact: Connie Becnel, Oak Alley Plantation, 3645 Highway 18, Vacherie, LA 70090; phone 225-265-2151.
E-mail: cbecnel@oakalleyplantation.com.
Web site: www.oakalleyplantation.com. Space fee: $200-$250. Space: 15x15. 100% outdoors. Admission: $5 adults, $2 children 6-12.
By T’Louise
Arkansas Reporter
E-mail: southerntlouise@aol.com
Medium: 2-D mixed media
This show is a pleasure to do each year. It takes place on the National Historic Landmark properties of Oak Alley Plantation. The plantation tour is a great Southern experience. Festival exhibitors are given two tour tickets in our packets and the opportunity to taste some of the best Louisiana food ever.
The show continues to come back from the disaster of Hurricane Katrina in 2005. After experiencing record-breaking attendance and sales a few months before Katrina hit, the plantation has struggled just to stay open since. The workers and volunteers have put in countless hours behind the scenes to keep things running smoothly.
This year, for the 17th annual show, rain, rain and more rain made load-in a challenge. Two days prior to setup, the rains made the grounds muddy, forcing artists to dolly their wares from the main parking lot, which was a good distance from where they were accustomed to unloading. During Friday setup, it was overcast and sprinkled off and on all day. And then on Saturday morning, the area was plagued with an unusual cold front. Thirty-degree weather in Louisiana this time of year, needless to say, is rare. Crowds were down by at least 5,000, and for a small show, that is a lot. Some artists thought numbers were down because the show came two weekends earlier than last year, thanks to Easter being extremely early this year.
Two first-time artists at the show had very different views of the Festival. A watercolor artist found the quality of work disappointing, with few exhibitors displaying fine art and craft. “People were selling everything from bedding plants to marshmallow popguns,” said the artist. “The bright points were the beautiful setting on the grounds of the plantation and the unbelievably delicious Cajun food, not to mention great mint juleps. If I lived nearby Oak Alley, I would attend the show for the food alone.”
On the other hand, I spoke with a printmaker who gave the show high marks across the board. The artist was pleased with sales of over $5,000 on average transactions of $90. “I still receive orders from that show, [and] crowds responded well to my artwork,” said the exhibitor. “It was as if they were on a mission. I would definitely recommend this show to another artist.”
Most artists were right on target with average to high sales. Still, there were a few complaints. Sales ratings ranged from six to eight (out of ten), and quality averaged a seven. But I do need to warn you fine art artists that this is an art and crafts show with a lower amount of fine art sprinkled in. With that being said, many of the fine art exhibitors gave the show high marks in every category with the exception of weather.
I would not recommend the show if you plan to do it only once. Patrons are faithful and come back to look for you the following year. It is at a show such as this one that working your mailing list is a must. I have done this show for a number of years and continue to get repeat customers for my mixed media work. And another 2-D mixed media artist was excited about sales of over $3,000 on average transactions of $50. As with most artists I spoke with, this one plans to apply next year.
An early-bird application can be turned in on the last day of the show, and artists who apply at that time receive a $25 discount. Keep in mind that applications are juried on a first-come, first-served basis. Booths are assigned upon approval from the jury. However, all early applications still go through the jury process.
One thing I really like about this show is that it does have something for everyone, with the main focus being a family celebration and a unique cultural experience. Festival Chairperson Connie Becnel tries to greet all the artists and walks the show. In fact, she dedicates her whole weekend to meeting the artists’ needs, as well as the patrons’.
If we artists actually work our mailing lists as I mentioned above, we can make just as much at this show of 15,000-18,000 patrons as we do at some of our fine art shows with crowds of more than 100,000. The crowd here likes to get to know the artists. When my husband and I first started doing this show, I said I would use it as a filler, but it has now become one of our main shows of the year. The patrons are loyal, but I recommend you do your homework and keep in touch with customers.
Editor’s note: SA received two FastAudits on the show, and although sales totals were weak for both artists, they said they would return. A potter made $700 from average sales of $12 but gave high marks to all catergories except sales, artist amenities and weather. “This is usually a good show,” the exhibitor said. “The weather was poor.”
The second auditor made $1,200 from average sales of $22 and gave average or high marks to all categories but parking, artist amenities and weather. He/she would return because “it’s always a good show.”
