Festival Season - Again

Greetings Dear Readers -

To be honest, I'm feeling rather lazy this week so I'm sharing a post written in June, 2010. It's art festival season again and after some thought (not much, admittedly) I decided that nothing much has changed.

It'll be like watching a re-run of your favorite show; great plot, and familiar characters that make you feel right at home. The best part is you can sneak off to the bathroom and grab a snack without feeling like you've missed something important.

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If it's summer it must be Art Festival Season!

©2012 Patricia Scarborough Cloud Break 6x8 oil
Created specifically for Art on the Green, July 4th, 2012 here in Geneva, Ne.

Art festivals are a bit like being in a zoo. People come and stare a bit before wandering off to look at something a bit more interesting.

To make the whole affair a bit more civilized, Handsome Husband and I created a few guidelines for folks who plan on attending an art festival in the near future.


Forthwith our helpful hints:

Artist's don't bite. Well, at least the ones I know don't. It's okay to look at us and say hello.

Resist the temptation to ask the artist if they plan on being famous after they die. Most of us are working on it now.

©2012 Patricia Scarborough Country Lane 6x8 oil

Join us for Art on the Green, July 4th, 2012 here in Geneva, Ne.

It's really okay to visit with the artist. Please understand, though, that the artist is there to sell their work, and while your Aunt Ruby and her purple-ribbon-winning county fair watercolor entry is truly fascinating, we must sometimes interrupt to attend to others. No offense intended to you or your Aunt Ruby.

The artist knows you can't draw a stick figure. Neither can half the population of the free world, including the artist with whom you are sharing that bit of information.

Please do not allow your jaw to drop or your eyeballs to bug out when you inquire about prices. Spitting out your lemonade is also unnecessary. Simply take a slow, deep breath and back away from the booth without bumping into anything with a price tag on it.

©2012 Patricia Scarborough Pastoral Variation 6x8 oil

See this and other terrific art during Art on the Green, July 4th, 2012 here in Geneva, Ne.

Absolutely bring your children to art festivals. Probably shouldn't let them in an artist's booth with their quadroople-scoop bubblegum pink icecream cone, however.

No, the artist is not starving. Ha ha right back atcha.

Enjoy your phone conversations somewhere else. Anywhere else.

Enjoy art. Don't be intimidated. It's okay to ask. We love talking about what we do, and it won't cost you a dime.

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 Back to current events - Looking forward to seeing you under the shade trees at the Celebrate Geneva Patriotism event on Wednesday, July 4th on the grounds of the Fillmore County Courthouse. I'll be hanging out there with some very cool artist friends. Stop by and say hellow!

Your Weekend Calendar

On my calendar this week – and hopefully yours as well:

You’re invited to a fresh new exhibit of oils and pastels opening Friday, July 1^st at The Burkholder Project in Lincoln, Ne.  This collection of paintings is titled “A Larger View” and reflects my travels up and down the gravel roads of south central Nebraska. 

©2011 Patricia Scarborough  Summer River 9x18 oil 

 Joining me in the Outback Gallery will be metal artist Mary Kolar.  Her creations are beautiful and delightfully quirky.  Take a break from lighting sparklers and lady fingers, and join Lincoln for the First Friday Art Walk in the Haymarket District.  The Burkholder will be open from 7:00pm to 9:00 just for you.

The town we’ve called home for the last long while will be hosting a good old fashioned Independence Day celebration called "Discover Geneva-Patriotism"  starting on Saturday, July 2^nd. 

Join us in the shade of the Fillmore County Courthouse lawn in Geneva, Nebraska on Saturday, July 2nd from 9:30 am to 5:00 pm for Art on the Green.  We’ve got a great line-up of artists and artisans who will be glad to visit with you about their work.  You’ll see an amazing array of art, including: Nancy Fairbanks - ceramics;  Leroy Von Glan – ceramics; Diane Beir – melted glasswork; Pixybug Designs – lampwork and jewelry; Helen Waring Johnson – photography; and painters in an interesting collection of styles and media including Susan deWit, Suzann Johnson, Jean Cook, Janet Butler, Carrie Marx and myself.  Keep your fingers crossed for blue skies and cool temps.

In addition to our Art on the Green, the Courthouse Square will be abuzz with lots of activities for you and your family including quilt shows, inflatables for the kids, a dog show, lots to eat and tons more throughout the entire weekend. 
Stop by and say hello!

Inaugural Art on the Green

Yesterday, July 3rd, was Geneva's very first Art on the Green, held under the shade trees on the beautiful Fillmore County Courthouse lawn.  It was a new addition to the usual festivities held annually in Geneva to celebrate Independence Day. 

As the go-to gal on this endeavor, I was pretty nervous. I've participated in art festivals before, but that's a whole 'nuther animal than building an event from the ground up. The devil's in the details, y'know.

And to add a bit of excitement,  80 mile-per-hour winds whipped through the center of our little community just a few days before, flattening several beautiful old trees and lifting a few roof tops. As Saturday morning rolled around the weather report called for some clouds, some wind, some sun , maybe some rain, maybe not...anything from soup to nuts. Which is pretty much what the weatherman called for the week before when we got it all. I wasn't thrilled with the idea of artwork flying over the rooftops or melting into the grass. 

More importantly, though, I felt a huge obligation to both my community and the artists who agreed to come. I had all my digits crossed for a successful day for everyone. 

As it worked out, the community of Geneva supported our first Art on the Green in wonderful ways.  And participating artists gave visitors something to appreciate and in lots of cases, take home.

Huge thanks to sculptor Sally Jurgensmier, painters Jean Cook of Grand Island, Janet Butler of Wichita, Kansas, and Sue Johnson of Shickley; photographers Max Miller and Helen Johnson, both of Geneva; potter Nancy Fairbanks of Grand Island; and Chris & Steph Haussler, the Pixybug Designers from Lawrence. I am honored that you put your trust in me and in Geneva.

  

Deep appreciation also from all of the exhibitors for the gracious support we received from the community. The meal provided by the Masonic Lodge #79 was a real pleasure, and the crowds for Art on the Green were wonderful.  Thanks also to the Geneva Art Association for supporting this project.  I needn't have worried.

Of course, I can't get away without mentioning - once more - the support I get from Handsome Husband.  What a peach.  He spent the day loading and unloading, visiting with patrons and babysitting art booths. What a guy.

All that's left to do is scratch mosquito bites and look forward to next year.

Thank You - Just in Case

Read any Miss Manners column in any paper in the world, and she will extol the virtue of the Thank-You Note.

You've gotten of few of them in your life, haven't you?  And don't they make you feel all warm and yummy inside?  And maybe just a bit more generous toward the sender of that note, like you wouldn't mind doing something nice for them again.  (Unless of course, said sender's mother wrote the note for them, and signed it and addressed the envelope and licked the stamp, and you wonder whether the thank-er even knows a note was sent in their name.)

I - and many other artists I know - send thank-you notes when art is purchased.  I for one appreciate that another human being desires my work enough to separate themselves from some of their hard earned cash. 

Some establishments in the business of selling artwork do not want you (the artist) to know who bought your work.  Fearful that you will establish a relationship with the buyer, the gallery acts a bit the prom queen who doesn't want her Hot Date dancing with any Other Girl. Granted, there are rude, short-sighted artists who have spurned their galleries and had affairs with their buyers. But to assume that every relationship with an artist after that will lead to tears and deception is a bit, well, dramatic, eh?  For those who act the jerk (most likely to avoid paying commissions) it would seem completely acceptable, then, for the gallery to ditch the double-crosser, grab their corsage and go home. Or at least give them a stern talking to.

To those galleries who hold their buyer info with a clenched fist, relax. Buyers I know really appreciate hearing from artists who say thank you.  Having you do it for us just isn't the same.  Happy artist, happy buyer, happy gallery.

That's good all 'round.

So,  thanks in advance to those of you who will be coming out to Celebrate Geneva Patriotism.  This will be the first year for Art on the Green under the beautiful shade trees of the Fillmore County Courthouse.  We'll be exhibiting and selling from 9:30 to 5:00 pm on Saturday July 3rd.  See what some of the area's terrific artists and artisans have been doing.  (And buy!  We love sending thank-yous!)

@ 2010 Private Property, Late Afternoon P Scarborough

Available for purchase and thank-you note!