Art Fair vs Art Show

To be truthful, the difference between the two has been lost on me until this weekend.

After taking my work to a couple of Art Fairs co-located with community markets late last year, this weekend I was invited to participate

in a stand-alone Art Show.

The difference in the audience was clear to me pretty quickly. The art fair/market crowd are often functional, looking for a paella and a potplant. Expecting them to also add a print or painting to that list is unrealistic. In that situation, the markets and the art fair are competing for what is becoming a limited spend. These punters are much more likely to be there for the market than the fair.

The art show visitors however, regardless of whether they planned to attend or simply saw the signs and popped in on impulse, are there with a sole purpose: they are interested in art. So they dwell at the show longer, and conversations occur. They are happy to discuss their views on the work on display, to compliment (or critique, which is okay), and to share their stories. This is a good thing.

And in quite a few instances, they are looking to purchase. There is no external focus (eg markets). And without the distractions of paella and potplants, they are left with prints and paintings on which to spend their money. And after all, that's what they've come for right?

So, the art show double-delivers: a focused, interested audience, as well as intention to spend. As a result, those exhibiting, particularly the painters, seem to become more relaxed, a little more in their element. Many settle into painting small works to fill in the time between talking to interested visitors. It adds a wonderful authenticity to the atmosphere.

At this art show, Copa Creative, we had artists from age 12 to those in their 70s exhibit. Such a wonderful thing to witness a tween, especially a male, express himself through his art. But then, all the artists involved in this group are in the business of expressing themselves, through painting, photography, ceramics, woodwork, and more. Watching them at work helps me understand how much time, thought, and effort goes into each piece they create. I can't help but think that any of them are being adequately rewarded at the prices the market expects to pay.

I look at us photographers in the room and try to equate our efforts to theirs in creating our finished work. Our thousands of dollars of equipment is important, but patience and persistence are our most valuable tools. We may travel great distances, and stand for hours in the dark, the heat, the cold, the rain, the snow, in water, climb trees, clamber over rocks for that one shot. Then there is the often arduous post-processing and printing.

Yet, the manual artists seek inspiration, and interpret it through many hours of patient and painstaking application and brushstroke, and often then refinment and reapplication. It is inspiring to witness. Perhaps there may be no fair comparison, and the reality is that each us of commit and work hard in our respective media to achieve that final expression. And then hope that the public appreciate enough all that went into the piece of art in front of them to happily pay a fair price.

Regardless, being amongst all of them in this art show environment, engaging an interested audience, is supportive and nurturing for me. I am happy and appreciative to have landed where I have.

Moving forward, I think I will concentrate on attending these art shows, and steer clear of markets, particularly for my large format work.

And enjoy this circle of talented individuals.