| “Why do I do this?” I say it is the pleasing compulsion of creation, partly what prompted me to bring about this show to gather excellent work together in one place. Possibly this show itself is not considered a work of art, but I hope it is a congenial destination where, at some point, it will take your breath away. And then make you want to visit again. I wanted to have this show come into being very strongly. After about 10 years of actually wondering why no one was putting together a show like this in my area, I realized a few things. One was that this type of show was happening in other areas but they were so far flung that the grand majority of people living here had never had the experience. They literally had no idea of what they were missing, and Pier 1 was the place to go for cool stuff. Another thing I realized was that if I wanted it, I’d have to make it come about. A third thing was that quality artisans were getting lumped into the “ArtS and CraftS Bazaar” category, a very untrue definition. I set out one day to find a place that would hold this event, and everything happened after that with what seemed like an inevitable process. Before I had even started, it laid itself out and came into existence, planned and ready to go. Personal story: Upon coming home on that early fall day, I greeted my husband (a cabinet maker who totally prefers to build rustic furniture) with the news that there was going to be a rustic furniture show in Alexandria Bay, just 12 miles away, in August of the next year. He came part way out of his chair, electrified. “WOW! Really?!” “Yes, really,” I replied. “Where’s it going to be?” “At the ice arena in the village.” “Wow! Who’s putting it on?” “I am.” Dead silence. That was when I knew it would be a success. It left him speechless, and that is the definition of perfection. Why? No, I am not being mean about my husband, making wife jokes at his expense. If Mark can think of any counter comment, what-if scenario or probable cause for something to not work, he will state it immediately and emphatically. I have always been able to trust him on that point. That, and he’s always wanted a rustic furniture show close to home. (Why am I doing this? To make my husband happy, of course. See him smile? Yes, that is a smile, not a grimace. I think.) I finally saw a quote one day during one of my continual searches on the internet: “You must be the change you want to see in the world.” - Mahatma Gandhi That applies well to why I am doing this. I wanted to see a specific show come together that would both give the dedicated artisan a place that was designed to showcase their work and, at the same time, be the destination where quality work would be found. There would be no cookie-cutter work, no plastics, no imports and nothing coming from a factory. There would only be work by the person who made it. “Sometimes you gotta create what you want to be a part of.” - Geri Weitzman After I read that one I felt I was on the right track. I had taken every element of every show I had ever attended as a participant that made the show good for me and said -I Will Do These Things-. I looked at what made a show unacceptable to me and said -I Will Not Do These Things-. I look at the show and say: “If I was doing this show, could I afford to spend the money, make the product, truck it there, stay, eat, not sell anything and feel it was not a total waste of my time and effort and money?” And here’s the kicker: “And I want to go back to the same show and do it again next year.” And there is that shocked moment of silence until someone finally says “WHAT!? Not sell something and at least cover your show expenses and NOT consider it a loss? And do it again the next year? Whoa!” Yes. The seasoned artisan knows well that a show can never be planned for income, it has to be viewed as advertising. You have to know that as a truth or you should never step foot out the door. Sales can very well happen, but you have to realize that sales are not guaranteed. Well, I will not ask anyone to excuse me on this point. Any show you go to cannot guarantee you sales. Ever. (Please, PLEASE prove me wrong - I want to go to the show that guarantees sales!) They can tell you how many people attended the previous year. That’s it. It’s up to you to find the right venue for your product, and you are the one who makes the sales. And here is where a main point of show creation is stated. 20-30 years ago, shows where people made and sold their work provided a steady, dependable income business. Then economics changed, trends swung in different directions. Many shows found that there was an attrition rate they could not control, but they needed to continue the show as it was the one way their group could raise money. And so began the changes, the acceptance of craft that varied from the original stated standard. A show that I attended as a young artist in college accepted me because not only did I do pen and ink work using a quill pen that showed a style of over 100 years prior, I would demonstrate the craft. This was important to the show concept as it was a historical society. That show is still in existence, but it has changed drastically. As it grew, it became a major money maker for the historical group, but in growing, the show changed. At this date, many shown crafts have no historical significance whatsoever, booths employ plastic and glued together product with parts bought wholesale, and there is no demonstration of historic craft. The show I wanted to create would be the type of show I would want to be in. There needed to be a very specific stated purpose and statement of craft type. Why? Don’t all shows have that? Yes, they do, and I have experienced some varieties. Type one: “We take anyone. Outdoors, any weather. $10.00. Hang it on the fence over there.” Type two: “We will accept your quality work after you pay us a nonrefundable $75.00 fee just to look at your application, accept or decline your application, and then you will pay $1,200.00 for your space at our 2 day show at the Massive Dome in Big City, USA. 100,000 attended the show last year.” Type three: “We would be pleased to have you attend our Quality Show. You will be placed between the Quality Jacuzzi display and the Quality Floating Dock display. Thank you for coming to be Quality Eye Candy . That will be $1,000.00 for a 10' X 10' space. No one attended last year as this is a new show, but we‘re advertising like crazy.” Type four: “This is a Mall show. It’s some type of holiday and a lot of people will be going through. You should feel lucky to get in because the stores in the mall really don‘t like to have you crafters in here taking business away from them.” Type five: “This is a Museum Quality show. Don’t call us, we’ll call you.” *snif* I am totally positive that anyone reading this who has done a few shows has wonderful definitions also. So what am I saying? Basically, no matter what type they are, they NEVER GUARANTEE SALES. Pick the show that you attend wisely. Think what you can do to help yourself. Is it a new show or are you going to an area you have never shown your work in? Try this: Consider taking out an ad in a local paper to that area about yourself attending the show and what you have to offer. Much to my husband’s disgust I did just that one year. Nothing more was said after the deed was done until the woman showed up, newspaper in hand, and said “I found you! I saw your ad in the paper and had to come see what you made!” Don’t be afraid to go ahead and help yourself. Show promoters work for everyone, but that is an effort to promote the group, the show, the big thing. If you shoot out your own twig from the big show tree, you might catch a little extra sunshine. Another Definition: Show Participant: A Natural Resource Good Advice: Never strain your natural resources. What is the biggest strain in doing a show for a participant? Money. Outlay as opposed to income, not per show but overall. I am presenting a show that states it will charge a moderate fee, provide free camping (with showers and flush facilities) and I’m feeding you a really decent meal on Saturday night after the public goes out the door. I will have water, coffee and hot tea at all times available at no charge. How can I afford this? I decided first how much I wanted to charge per unit for a space at an indoor show. Then I sat down and added up the cost of every important factor and asked myself “What is the minimum number of participants that will support a bare bones show?” My magic number for that first show was 6. The important thing I knew was that the potential participant would look at that fee number and say, “Hey! Good Price! I can afford that. (As in: I can afford to risk that amount.) Hmmm. Maybe I’d better ask her how she can charge so little to get a show off the ground first.” And this is what I tell them: I am not paying myself to organize the show for the 362 days prior to the show’s opening date. The money I collect is for space rental, advertising, printing and postage, basically. I will make my money at the door. I am asking participants to take a chance with me that their craft will build the show. It has a 5 year start up plan: It will happen for 5 years whether it is win, lose or draw financially for me. At that time the decision will be made to continue or stop. Something like this does not spring forth as a total success at the first show, success equaling huge numbers at the door and many buyers. I praise the participants who saw this, who understood the plan at my end and said Yes, we will do this with you. We understand and we want this too. Why do artisans create? Why do they do this in spite of the uncertainties and adversity facing the prospect of making an income when offering this type of work for sale? The same question is one I have been applying to myself. Just like doing a show, creating one has no guarantee of success, but I am doing it anyhow. Possibly being creative in a broad sense is a survival trait, and a very strong one. Modern times have given many a very secure life, but the current of creativity still runs strong. Possibly humans cannot be bored and healthy. In a stable society, artistic pursuits have always flourished. In an unstable one, creative energies go into surviving. One thing I experienced that has never let me down in my observations through many years of going to shows either as participant or paying a fee at the gate to enter. There are always people out there who have the touch. They have the extra gift of expression, of making. They have found that connection within themselves and let it flow into being. In the end when their product ends up with the final owner, there is still going to be the Ooooh Factor. C’mon, you’ve heard it. Someone sees an article for the first time and the only sound they make is “Ooooh!” It can be quick and short or full and long, but the expression says it all. In all the searching I have done, of all the people I have added to my database with notes, every one has ended up there because they have an Ooooh Factor at some level. Then there is the OMG Factor, and that one is bestowed wistfully, for I am aware that they produce museum quality product and only attend High Falutin’ Shows (see Type five), but boy do they have it. What is “It”? OK, here’s my definition of “IT”: IT is when something has been created that has had Everything, More, And Then Some bringing it along the path into being. The person who made it already knows what they are doing, but they so thoroughly tuned in to their creativity in that area that they produce something that cannot be ignored or criticized, and nothing can be taken away from that effort. It can never be produced on command. I base this show on the thing that has never let me down: There are people who are quality creators. As to why I am doing this, I think I’ve finally answered my own question. If you can render people (and spouses) speechless, stand in the arena of a show and hear people pronouncing “Ooooh!“ with both the short and long versions, if you can take their breath away, you’ve got a good show. To the one question there are many responses, and all of them are good answers. Somewhat prosy, maybe, but then their authors were trying to define “Oooooh!“ When possible, quotes are credited to their source. (And I have to admit that I do not exactly agree with Ralph, but I understand what he’s getting at.) "Imagination is the eye of the soul" - from the website of a very creative person “Art washes from the soul the dust of everyday life.” - Picasso “Artists must be sacrificed to their art. Like bees, they must put their lives into the sting they give.” Ralph Waldo Emerson Thinking the world should entertain you leads to boredom and sloth. Thinking you should entertain the world leads to bright clothes, odd graffiti, and amazing grace in running for the bus. - Maugham Easter Egg Reward Because you found this Easter Egg on the website, here is your reward. 1. Two antennas met on a roof, fell in love and got married. The ceremony wasn't much, but the reception was excellent. 2. A jumper cable walks into a bar. The bartender says, "I'll serve you, but don't start anything." 3. Two peanuts walk into a bar, and one was a salted. 4. A dyslexic man walks into a bra. 5. A man walks into a bar with a slab of asphalt under his arm and says: "A beer please, and one for the road." 6. Two cannibals are eating a clown. One says to the other: "Does this taste funny to you?" 7. "Doc, I can't stop singing 'The Green, Green Grass of Home.'" "That sounds like Tom Jones Syndrome." "Is it common?" "Well, It's Not Unusual"." 8. Two cows are standing next to each other in a field. Daisy says to Dolly, "I was artificially inseminated this morning." "I don't believe you," says Dolly. "It's true, no bull!" exclaims Daisy. 9. An invisible man marries an invisible woman. The kids were nothing to look at either. 10. DejaMoo: The feeling that you've heard this bull before. 11. I went to buy some camouflage trousers the other day but I couldn't find any. 12. A man woke up in a hospital after a serious accident. He shouted, "Doctor, doctor, I can't feel my legs!" The doctor replied, "I know you can't - I've cut off your arms!" 13. I went to a seafood disco last week...and pulled a mussel. 14. What do you call a fish with no eyes? A fsh. 15. Two fish swim into a concrete wall. The one turns to the other and says "Dam!" 16. Two Eskimos sitting in a kayak were chilly, so they lit a fire in the craft. Unsurprisingly it sank, proving once again that you can't have your kayak and heat it too. 17. A group of chess enthusiasts checked into a hotel and were standing in the lobby discussing their recent tournament victories. After about an hour, the manager came out of the office and asked them to disperse. "But why?," they asked, as they moved off. "Because," he said, "I can't stand chess-nuts boasting in an open foyer." 18. A woman has twins and gives them up for adoption. One of them goes to a family in Egypt and is named "Ahmal." The other goes to a family in Spain; they name him "Juan." Years later, Juan sends a picture of himself to his birth mother. Upon receiving the picture, she tells her husband that she wishes she also had a picture of Ahmal. Her husband responds, "They're twins! If you've seen Juan, you've seen Ahmal." 19. Mahatma Gandhi, as you know, walked barefoot most of the time, which produced an impressive set of calluses on his feet. He also ate very little, which made him rather frail and with his odd diet, he suffered from bad breath. This made him. (Oh, man, this is so bad, it's good)..... A super calloused fragile mystic hexed by halitosis. 20. And finally, there was the person who sent twenty different puns to his/her friends, with the hope that at least ten of the puns would make them laugh. No pun in ten did. |
| Mark and Dale Sears live, work and rusticate in the St. Lawrence River Valley of New York State. The Thousand Islands region is in Northern New York (PLEASE do not call us "Upstate". We are North of "Upstate" and do not identify with that term.) We occupy the hinterlands*, a region that has a zone that registers as -3 for planting anything. Even Siberian rootstock does not fare well here. We know - we've tried, it died. *Hinterland definition: Actually trying to produce the word "winterland" but the skin of the face and lips are contending with a large wind chill factor, do not move well and if one is smart are not moved at all when pronouncing certain words, ergo (w)hinterland. Mark Sears is a master cabinet maker and a website containing a smattering of his work may be found at www.rusticcreationsinwood.com Dale Rexford Sears is an artist who was taught that one must join the real world to Make A Living. Finally realizing that the real world for her was to be an artist, she spends her time producing the St. Lawrence River Rustic Show and assisting her husband whenever needed. ("Hmmm. Move the couch over there. Hmmm. No, move it back.") |
| Dale's Blog |