The last time I spoke about curating a show it was referring to indoor spaces.  This installment will focus on outdoor art venues because believe it or not you still have to curate your exhibit.  I'm very conscious of my surroundings whenever I attend an art event.  There are different things to consider when the art show is indoors vs. when it's outdoors, but one thing is constant...it has to look good.  I was in the food industry for years and the first thing you are taught is that "you taste with your eyes first", so the chefs made sure the plates looked great.  It's no different when people go to an art show, first impressions of the booth are a reflection of how you, the artist, wants to be seen and the reverence you have or don't have for your work.

The truth is that outdoor art shows are tiring and may not be very glamorous, but for some who do the circuit it's a majority of their income.  At the Art Mart sponsored by the Art Student's League of Denver, the artists are mostly those who teach or take classes at the league.  They range from newly emerging artist (still some remnants of caterpillar still sticking to them) to the highly accomplished artist who's local and is looking to utilize their regional fame to sell their work (very smart).  It's how the booth looks that is my focus for this installment. 

Some of the booths looked like the artist was at a garage sale.  I wouldn't mind it if the work was less than $20 but when you're selling work that's hundreds of dollars, please show a little effort.  Don't simply throw the paintings up on the wall because it will look like that's what you did.  If you know what work you're bringing to the show it's just as easy to draw up a guide before the show so you feel in control of the presentation.  Don't be afraid to bring things with you to make you space more inviting.  Remember it's a numbers game, the more people that come through your tent the greater your chance for a sale.  (the only time this is different is if you have very dedicated collectors and they wait for this event each year then numbers may not matter, to you) 

The artist with the best outdoor gallery was Stefan Geissbuhler, www.artthatsings.com.  He made his space inviting.  He brought a floor to lay in the tent, the artwork was curated in a way that showcased the art, and he himself was inviting.  He not only had his artwork but a book that he printed of his work and it was open for display.  He was engaging so you wanted to stay in the tent and examine his work.  It wasn't overcrowded with art allowing each of the works to stand out in their own way.  I applaud him for taking this event seriously and reinforcing the idea that artists are professionals...at least some are.