Why one should join artist groups

[genek]

HERE IS 2014 REGISTRATION INFO. NOTICE WHAT THE AVERAGE SALES WAS FOR A 3 DAY SHOW.

THIS SHOWS ARE A JURIED SHOW, NO JUNK OR FOREIGN MADE PRODUCTS.

Exhibitors, register for
Kentucky Crafted: The Market 2014!
There is still time to register for Kentucky Crafted: The Market 2014! General registration is open now through Nov. 1.

To register, visit:
https://secure.kentucky.gov/renewalservices/kac/exhibitorregistration (https://secure.kentucky.gov/renewalservices/kac/exhibitorregistration)

The 2013 Market drew crowds of more than 10,000 people and garnered more than $1 million in sales for participating artists, showcasing the value Market visitors place on Kentucky's finest art and craft. The average sales for exhibitors were $4,626.

Not only is Kentucky Crafted: The Market a great show, it's a great value for participating artists. Exhibitors benefit from national, regional and local event advertising, including TV, radio, print, social media and billboards. In addition, the Kentucky Arts Council makes the event venue accessible and accommodating for artists to maximize selling potential. Exhibitor booths include ample storage space making it easy to restock and access your work. Load-in and load-out move quickly with staff and volunteers waiting to assist you with your booth needs.

Kentucky Crafted: The Market 2014 will be March 7-9, 2014, at the Lexington Convention Center. The schedule is as follows:


Wholesale buyers' day: Friday, March 7, 9 a.m.-8 p.m.
Public retail day: Saturday, March 8, 9 a.m.-7 p.m.
Public retail day: Sunday, March 9, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
(Please note: Daylight Saving Time begins March 9.)

If you need assistance with registration, contact the Kentucky Arts Council at 888-833-2787, and a staff person will assist you.

[Brian Harnett]

Over half my income comes from juried art shows, been doing them for the past 5 years a lot of repeat customers have come from the exposure.

Lots of great artists to meet and share ideas.

[genek]

That is a great point. Like you About Half of My income comes from the Juried shows. I use the shows to pick up new wholesale accounts I do limit my self to only about 6 shows a year. These shows are where good customers come to see what is juried and to see if they can develop a new vendor.

I have gotten customers as far away as California and Texas. I actual have a Customer in Texas that just asked me to bid on a order for 5,000 piece order.

[jTr]

One should realize that one's work will be judged by a panel prior to admittance to an artist's group...:o

They may not agree with your declaration of being an artist and that what you produce is indeed, art. :(

At risk of further embarrassment, I'll share the images of what does not pass for artwork, as judged by a local artist's group, in hopes that others may be spared a similarly shameful experience. Regardless, most of these items have sold through a local gallery and a designer's studio: :p

[bleeth]

Jeff:

Of course one would have to see what they do consider art, but on the face of it your council seems to be troglodytes.
Really nice pieces.

[Bob Eustace]

Jeff we are very fortunate in our rural area. They combine art, wood and glass in the one show which works really well.

[genek]

Something that I encounter with the jury from time to time is one jury will turn down my art work and when I re-enter it the next year with a new jury it passes. I always ask for a debriefing (what the judges had to say.) I do this for the ones that pass and for the ones that do not pass. Sometimes I have been turned down do to the judges all being of style of art. by judges that did not like me personally, for being the new Kid on the block, for a scratch that was accidentally occurred during set up or shipping, I have been turned down also because I did not explain the process of making my art (the way I worded the process was not clear enough) Each jury is different. Most Juries (if it is a good jury process will change each year. The Ky Arts Council (Ky Crafted The Market) brings the Jury in from all over the united states. Each jury member is an artist in their own rights. Another thing I have gotten turned down on is entering it in the wrong category, Like once I thought my work was contemporary and I should have entered in the folk art category.

I take their criticisms with grains of salt, if I see and understand why the turned me down, I re-do my procedure or improve my workmanship: However if it is something far fetched or no bad comments I re-enter the product the next year.

I have been a juried artist since 2001 Each year I submit new products to be considered. even though I have been juried for this long, I still get product turned down from time to time. I do not take it as a personnel wrong doing. I find out why I failed, if it is my fault I correct it for the next time, however if it is just a judgement call I laugh it off.

When I was first juried, It took me two years to get the first product approved, I got mad, yelled and took it personally. Then a friend and Mentor sat me down and went over what the judges had to say. I had only missed being accepted by just a few points on most of the products. (less than 3 points on all but one the one was 12 points off.) Part of the point loss was across the board, The finish was not baby ass smooth. My choice of finish did not go over well on the one that failed by 12 points. I also lost points on my bio.

Always read what the jury says, read it with a open mind, see if you can see what they refer to, if it is your fault correct it, if it turns out to be a judgmental call laugh it off and go on.

[genek]

One should realize that one's work will be judged by a panel prior to admittance to an artist's group...:o

They may not agree with your declaration of being an artist and that what you produce is indeed, art. :(

At risk of further embarrassment, I'll share the images of what does not pass for artwork, as judged by a local artist's group, in hopes that others may be spared a similarly shameful experience. Regardless, most of these items have sold through a local gallery and a designer's studio: :p

With out seeing the work in person or with out reading what the jury had to say. I can not give you a reason they turned you down. the work looks great to me. Did you read what they said? Where was this work juried at. West Virgina Has one of the Hardest Jury sessions that I have ever encountered. Their pass point is 80%// while most are 70%.. How many points did you miss passing by. was it even across the board or was the loss of point due to one jury. If it was one jury let it go and try again if it was across the board see what you lost points on and try again and try to improve the product or change your wording etc.

[genek]

Here is one that I got turned down on this year. I lost points due to the matieral I chose for the neckless, However One of the Jury Ask for my Phone number so that she could place a large order for her Gallery. She ordered 150 but asked that I use a leather strap instead of a cloth one. Not passing a jury sessions is nothing to be ashamed of. Use it as a Learning experience.

Taking to the person that was on the jury and ordered. The two things I lost points on was 1. the choice of material, The category I entered it in. I had entered it in as a wooden product, they thought I should have entered it in as fine Jewelry .

[jTr]

Gene,
I know you're right on all points. My local group is more focused on paint and sculpture - the wagging tongue was to signify I'm good humored about it!:D

Though I realize it is a good feather to put in your hat, it is not always easy to be accepted into the fold. As you stated - just need to keep trying.
I was told to keep working on it, as I did not have a consistent body of work that displayed a style unique to me - fair enough.

Anyway - my point was to clarify that joining an artists' group is not as easy as filling in a sign up sheet at the local library or gallery. It's not just your ability to produce a nice product - your business and personal skills and community involvement/status are a very big part of the title.

Thanks for all the posts on the business side of our work - stimulating lots of good conversation on skills that often take a back seat as we try to make a living.

jeff

[genek]

Gene,
I know you're right on all points. My local group is more focused on paint and sculpture - the wagging tongue was to signify I'm good humored about it!:D

Though I realize it is a good feather to put in your hat, it is not always easy to be accepted into the fold. As you stated - just need to keep trying.
I was told to keep working on it, as I did not have a consistent body of work that displayed a style unique to me - fair enough.

Anyway - my point was to clarify that joining an artists' group is not as easy as filling in a sign up sheet at the local library or gallery. It's not just your ability to produce a nice product - your business and personal skills and community involvement/status are a very big part of the title.

Thanks for all the posts on the business side of our work - stimulating lots of good conversation on skills that often take a back seat as we try to make a living.

jeff

Jeff I did not mean any harm or hurt to You. I am sorry if I have hurt your feelings I did not mean to.Part of my comment was to keep you from giving up, part was to let others know sometimes you get turned down.
I see a lot of good craftsmen and artist give up because they get turned down the first time. I would have given up had it not been for a friend that sat me down cooled me off and got me to try again.. I still get turned down, I still get mad and hurt. but I never give up...and I do not want anyone to give up if they get turned down.

Your style of work will never be consistent. Your work is a one of a kind and never two will ever be the same. I think that jury was unaware of the talent you displayed and had no clue to what it took and how your art work is developed. I also think that they judged you very Harsh. From what I see it looks perfect. Something I did one time was not to point out the fact they would be one of a kind and never two would ever be the same. Then in my description of the stoppers the 2nd time of trying I stated that each was a one of a kind and that no two will ever be the same.

The jury sometimes can be down right mean on how they judge a piece one has made. I know.. I have blown up several times over what they have said. I have called the art council mad as a wet hen that was dropped in scalding water, complaining about how the jury session went.

I have work that I do with the cnc and with my laser that will never jury at certain places. I accept that. However I do not accept some of the Juries comments that are far fetched, and when they have no clue as to how to do that work.