Wireless - Mobile Credit Card Machines
America’s Premier Art & Craft Show Magazine

Show Review Archives > 2008 > NOVEMBER
 

July 10-13, Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts, State College, PA

July 10-13, Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts, State College. Contact: Rick Bryant, Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts, PO Box 1023, State College, PA 16804;
Phone 814-237-3682, fax 814-237-0708.
E-mail: office@arts-festival.com.
Web site: www.arts-festival.com.
Application fee: $25 (through Zapplication). Space fee: $410.
100% outdoors. Exhibitors: 325.

By Donna Wilson
Florida & National Reporter
E-mail: inseleginc@aol.com

Medium: Paper collage

OK, before I start this review, I want to clarify that I just love this show and the town of State College. The fact that the Festival always ranks in my top five has nothing to do with it - yeah, right!

I've been reviewing this show for at least the last six years, if not longer, and I'm running out of descriptive terms. First, the show is not for the faint of heart. It runs four LONG days. There's the Wednesday setup, and then the show opens at 10 a.m. on Thursday through Sunday. And I strongly suggest you be open no later than 9:30 a.m. (My potter neighbor made a $400 sale before 9:30.) Also, many of us don't drive home on Sunday night, as we are just dead tired, so you are talking five to six nights in a hotel. However, the committee does arrange for a discount at a local four-star hotel, which I highly recommend. You just can't beat the Penn Stater for $79 a night. Book early!

The committee also hosts one of the best artist dinners on the circuit. We are served on real china, and there's an open beer-and-wine bar along with fabulous food. It's definitely a don't-miss event. And if you get the chance, visit the Tavern Restaurant. Artists are given 20-percent-off coupons, but even without those, it's a fun, unusual experience.

Keep in mind that this is a college town, and along with the art, there are musical stages thought the show site. The music is good and not too loud, and does not interfere with sales.

Because the summer circuit has been iffy at best, many of us held our breath to see what would happen at this usually successful show. By day two, many of us were saying, "Gee, I had forgotten what it was like" or "finally, buyers!" The Festival is somewhat insulated and is not really affected as much as the rest of the nation by a downturn in the economy and housing market. I had people in my booth saying, "I can't decide which one I want, so I'll just take both." It's been so long since I've heard that. Other artists were also selling. For instance, my aforementioned potter neighbor said he had one of his best Festivals ever; another neighbor with furniture made over $15,000; an artist with Jewish-themed work claimed he did "better than ever" here; a jeweler did well too; a functional-pottery couple did great; and I had a fabulous show.

Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts almost always ranks in the top 10 of SA's 200 Best, and I have a feeling the Festival's ranking will stay steady or even improve for 2008, as many of us had a great show. Hint: Apply early. And, yes, they do jury through Zapplication. Good luck!

Editor's note: Only four auditors sent in forms on this year's show. A clay artist and a mixed media artist ($4,000/$60-$100) both said they would return, although the latter said this year's sales were half of what his/her normal here. A jeweler ($1,300) gave low marks to most categories and cited theft as one reason for not wanting to come back. A printmaker ($3,100/$35) also mentioned theft and vandalism, in addition to parking problems and expensive hotels, as reasons for not returning. But he/she did give high marks to most categories and called the Festival a "very nice show" with "pretty good" work. The artist won't return mainly because he/she has "saturated that market."