Art Zoos and other Tips

It's the middle of June and art festivals are in full swing.  This weekend Handsome Husband and I shared a spot in the Graham Gallery tent at Cottonwood Art Festival in Hastings, Ne.  It's a very nice event and we were happy to be there.  Big thanks to Angela Graham for hosting a wonderful group of artists to hang out with, and thanks to tent-mates Nicole Gustafsson, Max Miller, Steph & Chris with Pixybug Designs, and Mary Vaughan for being so much fun. 

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.

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.

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.

Cottonwood Art Festival

Am I just the luckiest person? What a great weekend.


Friday started out with a trip to Hastings Nebraska, home of the Cottonwood Art Festival at Brickyard park. This beautiful park was filled with artisans of all kinds, potters, crafters, sculptors, painters, and the Spoon Man, Mr. Wilmot.

Angela of Graham Gallery played host to her stable of artists by erecting a tent/gallery, a virtual home away from home for those of us who hang our work there. The evening weather was perfect and the crowds were, well, crowded. Hanging out with me under the big-top were Jane Marie and Liz Halsted, fabric artists extraordinaire; Max Miller, photographer; Nicole Gustaffsson, wunderkind; Sally Buss, master sculptress; Marcy Maley, oil stick artist; photographer Jorn Olsen and master of many media, Jeremy Daniels.


Saturday we had a wonderful Father's Day family day. Our boys are men now, and hanging out with them is a special treat. Funny, smart and engaging, we wonder who they take after.


Sunday we were back at the festival, greeting folks and hanging out with other artists. I'm so pleased to have met William and Janey, who took home a lovely little oil painting . I know after having a conversation with them that it's in good hands.

Yes, I'd say I'm a lucky girl.