Lewiston Art Festival Reviews..

Medium: Painting
Year you most recently exhibited at this Show:
2016
Your Estimated Sales at this Show: $501-$2000
Price Range of your Work: $20 - $2500
Number of Years You have Exhibited in this Show:
5-10 times
Number of Years You have been doing Art Fairs overall: 5-10 years
Attendance: (1 is poor, 5 is great) 4
Location: 5
Facilities: 4
Ease of Participating: 5
Sales: 5
Overall: 5
Booth Fee vs. Your Sales Ratio: Good
Estimated Attendance: 501-10,000 people

Good Things about this Art Fair:
This is an ART show. Many 2D artists exhibit here because people come out for the Paintings and Photography. Yes there are crafts but I think the Organizers realize the big draw here and their niche is that it is truly a Fine Art Leaning Show.

It is in a lovely town near Niagara Falls, NY with a quaint setting. Many have called this a "One Day" Show because often rain seems to invade and kind of dampen sales for that day, but the other day as always been very nice. When weather allows this to be a two day show it can be wonderful.

Once there was a Bamboo Pillow Seller and clearly Buy/Sell and while they were there one year, they were not the next. I am glad the Administers of the Show took care of that.

We have participated in the College Alley Program for 6 years - which is a $25 spot for the college kids and it was intricate in getting my daughter started on her art career. The spot they have the kids in is not stellar but people do seem to walk into this area none-the-less.

For $25 you can't beat it. It was fun to watch the kids grow and some were able to "graduate" to the main part of the show and others squandered the opportunity and didn't grow.

Bad Things about this Art Fair:
Lewiston Police gave many Artists' Parking Tickets because they did not mark the areas they didn't want people to park in well enough. Hard to see a No Parking sign when 3 cars are already parked in front of it.

They cut down on Porta-Potties this year and it was a bit of a problem. Lines were long.

Advice to Other Artists Considering this Show:
Before you leave your car, get out and walk the street looking for No Parking signs. (I know, this is a pain in the butt.)

Additional Commentary on this Show:
An Artist awards breakfast is very nice on Sunday Morning.

The URL of your profile on ArtFairInsiders.com. http://www.artfairinsiders.com/profile/WendyMerkle

Posted by: Wendy Merkle | 08/17/2016 at 10:15 AM

Medium: Painting
Year you most recently exhibited at this Show:
2015
Your Estimated Sales at this Show: $2001-$5000
Price Range of your Work: 50-1000
Number of Years You have Exhibited in this Show:
3-5 times
Number of Years You have been doing Art Fairs overall: 5-10 years
Attendance: (1 is poor, 5 is great) 5
Location: 5
Facilities: 4
Ease of Participating: 5
Sales: 5
Overall: 5
Booth Fee vs. Your Sales Ratio: Great
Estimated Attendance: 501-10,000 people

Good Things about this Art Fair:
Beautiful location, near Niagara Escarpment. Nice town, good attendance.

The show organizers go out of their way to make the show appeal to attendees, there is a sidewalk art competition, and they have a student artist area where young artists just out of school and starting out can show their work, being part of the main show but also given a fair chance to show with veteran artists.

There is a nice variety of work, both fine art and some fine crafts. Nothing buy-sell, very selective jury.

They have an awards ceremony and free breakfast for exhibitors on Sunday before the show. Always a ton of attendees, even in years when the weather has been extreme (hot or rainy). Quaint and adorable town, decent sales, very busy!

Bad Things about this Art Fair:
They could have a few more restrooms/facilities.. There is often a line for a bathroom which can be hard if you are alone with your booth.

They will provide booth sitters and help as they can, but that can be hard to predict when you are at a show all day. Otherwise, this is a great favorite of mine.

Advice to Other Artists Considering this Show:
If you get in you should definitely do it! They are very rigid with the jurying, so if you make the cut you know you have good work.

What prompted you to submit a review today?
Love this show, I want to see it continue and be recognized!

Posted by: Felix Eddy | 05/05/2016 at 08:19 PM

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