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craft shows

updated tue 28 aug 01

 

Robert Briscoe on tue 21 aug 01


I would like to add a brief statement in praise of the Craft Fair or Art
Fair venue. I have exhibited primarily at these events for more than
thirty years. The first five to eight years were tenuous at times but
never the less I survived and learned a great deal. The last twenty or
so have been a grand way to support myself, most years exceeding all my
expectations from when I was a young potter. It has been, and I believe
will continue to be a terrific opportunity to market one's work and be
free of outside creative and marketing pressures if you make that
choice. They are events where I can place in front of an ever more
knowledgeable public what I have just made, am excited about putting out
there in the world and at what think are appropriate values. I receive
both great compliments and derision about my work, I take both with
gratitude, because they are both teachers. I have no doubts that this
moment is the best time that I have seen during these thirty plus years
of selling pottery at Art& Craft Fairs. I derive a fairly good living by
my standards, and the independence afforded me is sublime.

Sincerely
Robert Briscoe

G DAVIS on mon 27 aug 01


I found your post interesting as I have not had great Craft/Art Fair
experiences. Perhaps you would be kind enough to pass on a few pointers.
How do you choose the shows in which you participate? You said the first
years were tenuous . . . why was that?

It's wonderful to hear that you're earning a living making and selling pots.
When I visit Art Fairs it seems like there are lots of lookers but few
buyers for anything but manufactured junk - lots of beautiful pots get
passed by with barely a glance. How do you do it?




>From: Robert Briscoe
>Reply-To: Ceramic Arts Discussion List
>To: CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
>Subject: Re: Craft Shows
>Date: Tue, 21 Aug 2001 09:26:54 -0500
>
>I would like to add a brief statement in praise of the Craft Fair or Art
>Fair venue. I have exhibited primarily at these events for more than
>thirty years. The first five to eight years were tenuous at times but
>never the less I survived and learned a great deal. The last twenty or
>so have been a grand way to support myself, most years exceeding all my
>expectations from when I was a young potter. It has been, and I believe
>will continue to be a terrific opportunity to market one's work and be
>free of outside creative and marketing pressures if you make that
>choice. They are events where I can place in front of an ever more
>knowledgeable public what I have just made, am excited about putting out
>there in the world and at what think are appropriate values. I receive
>both great compliments and derision about my work, I take both with
>gratitude, because they are both teachers. I have no doubts that this
>moment is the best time that I have seen during these thirty plus years
>of selling pottery at Art& Craft Fairs. I derive a fairly good living by
>my standards, and the independence afforded me is sublime.
>
>Sincerely
>Robert Briscoe
>
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