April 2014
Features
Home Art Shows
by Diane C. Taylor
Features
Home Art Shows
by Diane C. Taylor
at Ellen Sidor's art show
Home Is Where the Art Is: Quick Conversations
with Four Artists/Organizers of Home Art Shows
By Diane C Taylor (DCT)
Home is where the art is. That is, more and more artists are putting together shows in and around their homes as an alternative to big, organized shows and galleries. Shows like the Fourth Avenue Street Fair charge anywhere from $150 to $450 to show. Others, such as the Tucson Museum of Art, charge less but take a percentage of sales.
The home art show is set up in the yard or house of an artist who has invited several other artists to join her (these seem to be organized by women). The artists set up their wares around the yard or inside the house and generally bring food and beverages to share with visitors. Sometimes there’s music, either live or on disc. It’s a very low-cost way for artists to let people see what they’re doing and hopefully sell their work.
with Four Artists/Organizers of Home Art Shows
By Diane C Taylor (DCT)
Home is where the art is. That is, more and more artists are putting together shows in and around their homes as an alternative to big, organized shows and galleries. Shows like the Fourth Avenue Street Fair charge anywhere from $150 to $450 to show. Others, such as the Tucson Museum of Art, charge less but take a percentage of sales.
The home art show is set up in the yard or house of an artist who has invited several other artists to join her (these seem to be organized by women). The artists set up their wares around the yard or inside the house and generally bring food and beverages to share with visitors. Sometimes there’s music, either live or on disc. It’s a very low-cost way for artists to let people see what they’re doing and hopefully sell their work.
at Bonnie Brunotte's home art show
These art shows tend to be clustered in spring and fall, especially just before Christmas. You’ll find just about anything in terms of art, and often craft, that you can imagine: paintings, sculpture (usually gourds, clay or metal, occasionally stone or other materials), glass, fabric, jewelry, photography. Prices are generally fairly moderate, since you’re buying directly from the artist. And it’s a chance to meet the artist and chat with him or her about the work. Shows take place all over Tucson, but finding out about them is tricky.
Advertising is a real challenge for the organizers. Most of the local media do not publicize events in private homes in their free listings. Reasons given are to protect homeowners from potential thieves and to help artists avoid possible insurance problems in case of an injury to a visitor. The same media seem happy, however, to sell advertising.
Advertising is a real challenge for the organizers. Most of the local media do not publicize events in private homes in their free listings. Reasons given are to protect homeowners from potential thieves and to help artists avoid possible insurance problems in case of an injury to a visitor. The same media seem happy, however, to sell advertising.
at Glennda Neff's home art show
Recently I chatted with four artists who have shows in or around their homes.
Jan Suarez (JS) works with ceramics and lives in the midtown Blenman-Elm neighborhood.
DCT: How long have you been doing shows at home, and how many artists do you have?
JS: I’ve been doing a spring show in my backyard for the last five or six years. I usually have seven to ten artists, working in various mediums.
DCT: Why do you do this show instead of the organized Open Studio Tour?
JS: I’ve done the tour before, but people seemed to come and just look. By having an art event, we attract people looking for gifts, people who are interested in buying art. This way I think we get a lot of people and we’re exposing more people to art, people who like to go to someone’s house more than going to a gallery.
DCT: How do you publicize your show?
JS: The majority of the people who come are repeats from earlier years. The artists invite people, plus we print a postcard each year that we all distribute. We have signs, too. In the past, we’ve tried advertising, but I’m not sure if it was effective.
DCT: When is your next show?
JS: Saturday, April 5, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. I’m on Adams, with signs from Speedway and Country Club. Details: jans85716@gmail.com.
Glennda Neff (GN) hand builds pottery in northwest Tucson.
DCT: How did you get started with shows at home?
GN: I’ve done the Open Studio Tour before, but I don’t have a real studio at home. I had a studio with some other artists in Catalina, but that was too far away for the tour. A friend had redone her yard, so we – a group of artists – got together there. When we outgrew her yard, we moved to mine, which is larger. I have two events a year, one in spring, one in the fall. Last fall we had about 30 artists, with music and, of course, food. This spring we’ll have about 20 artists.
Also, I noticed that some artists who were really good had trouble getting juried into big shows. This gives them a venue, an opportunity to show and sell their handmade art and crafts.
DCT: How do you advertise your show?
GN: Postcards, distributed by the artists and put out in public spaces. We put an ad in The Explorer as well as signs showing where we are.
DCT: When is your next show?
GN: Saturday and Sunday, April 5-6, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. I’m on Avocado, near La Canada and McGee. Details: glenndalee@hotmail.com.
Jan Suarez (JS) works with ceramics and lives in the midtown Blenman-Elm neighborhood.
DCT: How long have you been doing shows at home, and how many artists do you have?
JS: I’ve been doing a spring show in my backyard for the last five or six years. I usually have seven to ten artists, working in various mediums.
DCT: Why do you do this show instead of the organized Open Studio Tour?
JS: I’ve done the tour before, but people seemed to come and just look. By having an art event, we attract people looking for gifts, people who are interested in buying art. This way I think we get a lot of people and we’re exposing more people to art, people who like to go to someone’s house more than going to a gallery.
DCT: How do you publicize your show?
JS: The majority of the people who come are repeats from earlier years. The artists invite people, plus we print a postcard each year that we all distribute. We have signs, too. In the past, we’ve tried advertising, but I’m not sure if it was effective.
DCT: When is your next show?
JS: Saturday, April 5, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. I’m on Adams, with signs from Speedway and Country Club. Details: jans85716@gmail.com.
Glennda Neff (GN) hand builds pottery in northwest Tucson.
DCT: How did you get started with shows at home?
GN: I’ve done the Open Studio Tour before, but I don’t have a real studio at home. I had a studio with some other artists in Catalina, but that was too far away for the tour. A friend had redone her yard, so we – a group of artists – got together there. When we outgrew her yard, we moved to mine, which is larger. I have two events a year, one in spring, one in the fall. Last fall we had about 30 artists, with music and, of course, food. This spring we’ll have about 20 artists.
Also, I noticed that some artists who were really good had trouble getting juried into big shows. This gives them a venue, an opportunity to show and sell their handmade art and crafts.
DCT: How do you advertise your show?
GN: Postcards, distributed by the artists and put out in public spaces. We put an ad in The Explorer as well as signs showing where we are.
DCT: When is your next show?
GN: Saturday and Sunday, April 5-6, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. I’m on Avocado, near La Canada and McGee. Details: glenndalee@hotmail.com.
at Ellen Sidor's garden home art show
Ellen Sidor is a sculptor and clay/mosaic artist on the west side.
DCT: How long have you been doing shows, and how did you get started?
ES: I’ve been doing the shows at home for about ten years, off and on. I’ve been a professional artist since 1979. Back East I was in galleries, but here I got tired of the hassle of galleries. I really enjoy the energy of getting together and hanging out with other artists.
I have a website, but I haven’t made many sales through it. And when I sculpt, I’m using stone, which is heavy and not easy to pick up and take to and from galleries. I have a nice yard with sculptures, so it’s a good venue.
DCT: How many artists do you have, and how do you advertise?
ES: Over the years, maybe 30 different artists have been here. For the upcoming show, which happens to be the same weekend but not the same hours as the Open Studio Tour, we’ll have 14 artists. We have postcards. The artists send out emails and/or postcards, we’ll have signs and we’re trying an ad in Zócalo. We also expect a listing in The Desert Times.
I find I do as well in this show at home as I did in galleries here. The artists have a minimal investment and get to keep 100% of what they get from sales.
Every year we tweak a little, based on feedback by the artists afterwards.
DCT: When is your next show?
ES: Saturday and Sunday, April 12-13, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. We’re west of Silverbell, off Camino del Cerro (the continuation of Wetmore/Ruthrauff). [Author’s full disclosure: she’ll participate in this show.] Details: dianectaylor@netscape.net.
And last but not least, Bonnie Brunotte (BB), a fabric artist who creates gorgeous fabric boxes among other items, holds a show in December, mainly inside her home in midtown Jefferson Park.
DCT: Tell me about your show.
BB: Last year was the 11th year for the show, but the first at my house. I took it over from Joy Athena, who started it. We have a core group of artists, but we add more each year.
DCT: How do you publicize the show?
BB: It’s all word of mouth. We have a few signs, too, but no other publicity. Every year, we get more people. It provides a venue for artisans to present their unique works directly to the public without paying fees. This show is always the first Saturday in December. For info about the next show: casabcreations@gmail.com.
As one artist who does many shows of this type explained, by the time he subtracts the cost of doing big shows – entry fees, travel costs, general wear and tear – he finds the small garden shows can be just as profitable. “It’s a matter of local folks coming out and supporting their local artists. They enjoy the more intimate atmosphere and also enjoy seeing other people’s gardens and landscaping,” he said. “We also put out snacks and refreshments so it's like being invited to a party.”
DCT: How long have you been doing shows, and how did you get started?
ES: I’ve been doing the shows at home for about ten years, off and on. I’ve been a professional artist since 1979. Back East I was in galleries, but here I got tired of the hassle of galleries. I really enjoy the energy of getting together and hanging out with other artists.
I have a website, but I haven’t made many sales through it. And when I sculpt, I’m using stone, which is heavy and not easy to pick up and take to and from galleries. I have a nice yard with sculptures, so it’s a good venue.
DCT: How many artists do you have, and how do you advertise?
ES: Over the years, maybe 30 different artists have been here. For the upcoming show, which happens to be the same weekend but not the same hours as the Open Studio Tour, we’ll have 14 artists. We have postcards. The artists send out emails and/or postcards, we’ll have signs and we’re trying an ad in Zócalo. We also expect a listing in The Desert Times.
I find I do as well in this show at home as I did in galleries here. The artists have a minimal investment and get to keep 100% of what they get from sales.
Every year we tweak a little, based on feedback by the artists afterwards.
DCT: When is your next show?
ES: Saturday and Sunday, April 12-13, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. We’re west of Silverbell, off Camino del Cerro (the continuation of Wetmore/Ruthrauff). [Author’s full disclosure: she’ll participate in this show.] Details: dianectaylor@netscape.net.
And last but not least, Bonnie Brunotte (BB), a fabric artist who creates gorgeous fabric boxes among other items, holds a show in December, mainly inside her home in midtown Jefferson Park.
DCT: Tell me about your show.
BB: Last year was the 11th year for the show, but the first at my house. I took it over from Joy Athena, who started it. We have a core group of artists, but we add more each year.
DCT: How do you publicize the show?
BB: It’s all word of mouth. We have a few signs, too, but no other publicity. Every year, we get more people. It provides a venue for artisans to present their unique works directly to the public without paying fees. This show is always the first Saturday in December. For info about the next show: casabcreations@gmail.com.
As one artist who does many shows of this type explained, by the time he subtracts the cost of doing big shows – entry fees, travel costs, general wear and tear – he finds the small garden shows can be just as profitable. “It’s a matter of local folks coming out and supporting their local artists. They enjoy the more intimate atmosphere and also enjoy seeing other people’s gardens and landscaping,” he said. “We also put out snacks and refreshments so it's like being invited to a party.”
at Glennda Neff's home art show
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painting at Glennda Neff's home art show
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