Posted on Sun Jul 13, 10:25 PM in Livin'
I go to art fairs to see what people are doing… and to be engaged with current, creative people.
Every time I go to an art fair, I walk away with the same question: What is it with fancy-dressed ostentatious people? Usually these things are a hot, sweaty affair with messy concessions and porta-potties; yet these people are dressed to the nines. They are often dressed better than the artists themselves, whom I never feel have anyone to impress but themselves, since it’s their art that’s gotten them to that place. Are art fairs places to “be seen?” Is it meant to impress other art fair goers; maybe to impress the artists?
There’s nothing fancy (to me) about an art fair. You go, you pay admittance (where they want to keep out the riffraff) you see the artists that were judged that year to be worthy of booth space, you talk to artists about their passions, and maybe if you feel moved and you have the means, you exchange money for a little of that artist’s passion. If you’re really lucky, you walk away with a little of their energy, a little inspiration.
For the first couple years I walked away with photography… and a slew of business cards. I still have them all; I find their websites and keep track of them. The thought is that when I have the means, I will find them again and outfit my house with meaningful personally-built furniture, or pottery, or photography. Needless to say, that time hasn’t arrived yet. I have indulged in the photography, and a few pieces of pottery, and jewelry, actually. But I would so love to find an artist, meet with them, and conceptually design a few pieces of furniture (as an example).
Every year I usually pick up something from the five or six fairs I make a point of going to. This year, however, as I am not working at the moment, I can’t afford it. So at the Art Fair on the Square in Madison today, I indulged in an art form I have long admired: wooden bowls. I needed something for the kitchen table to act as a repository for some miscellaneous daily junk, and this fit the bill (considered pottery until I also considered my clutsiness of late and didn’t want to send it smashing to the floor), for only $15. I have a couple more fairs through the year, and will probably just be looking at those, too. Which isn’t bad… I just pick up lots more business cards.
And there is no way I am getting gussied up to impress anyone at any of them.
Go ahead, have your say!