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Cobden Community and Business Association
Cobden Village Square, October
12, 2013,
10 am – 5 pm
A Colorfest of Arts Show
Anna Arts Center, 117 W. Davie St., Anna, IL 62906
October 11, 12 & 13,
2013 ( Fri. 6 – 9, Sat. 11 – 5,
Sun. 1 – 4 )
All regional artists are invited to
display their work at the “Colorfest of Arts”. Space will be allocated on first-come,
first-serve basis – all work will be displayed inside.
Members of RRVAA may display their work
for free. Non-members - $15.
Artists may elect to sell any items during the show. 20% commission fee
goes to the Anna Arts Center.
RRVAA will sell items in absence of artist.
Sponsored by the River to
River Visual Arts Association
For more information &
application, contact:
Nancy
Young, Art Fair Coordinator
·
email: nancy_young63@yahoo.com
·
or r2rvaa@gmail.com
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Saturday, August 31, 2013
Inside or Out? Artists can choose at this year's Colorfest!
Aug. 28 arts marketing workshop yielded fresh ideas
Artists, entrepreneurs and community leaders gathered at The
Old Feed Store in Cobden Aug. 28 in round-table discussion about arts
marketing.
Panelists Aimee Wigfall, of the SIU Small Business Center, Amy McMorrow Hunter, a technology transfer associate
at SIU and Emily Kircher, fiber artists and owner of EKRA opened the forum by
discussing of some of the highpoints and challenges artists face, which
included balancing creating and marketing time, developing self-discipline, and
loneliness caused by working in isolation.
Selling art is about creating relationships, Wigfall said.
“The connection has to be real,” she said. “It has to come
from your heart for people to connect.”
Kircher, who specializes in creating rugs from recycled
materials, said she posts pictures of her works-in- progress to generate
interest.
“I’ll explain that the rug is being made from a vintage
sheet I found in a thrift store,” she said.
McMorrow Hunter said using social media, especially
Facebook, is critical to today’s artist
“You can keep your posts short on Facebook,” she said. “They
don’t need to be long and involved.”
Wil Maring, a musician/songwriter and painter from Cobden
said it was important to create a personal connection to your art as a part of
the marketing plan.
“People marvel that you can just paint something. They want to know more about you,” she said.
The workshop, “Maximizing Creative Time by Optimizing
Marketing and Other Business Efforts” was part of the SIU “Imagining
Geographies: Land, Lives and Arts of Southern Illinois” initiative, a year-long
project in which SIU partners with civic organizations to examine the history,
present day and future of the region.
In addition to talking about art marketing and online media,
the group also discussed ways southern Illinois could be developed to meet the
needs of artists.
Renee Dillard, a fiber artist from Makanda, said that one of
the problems artist encounter when marketing their work in southern Illinois is
the low ratio of artists to art consumers.
“The area lacks a robust consumer base due to low population
density and the effects of the recession on the tourism industry,” she said.
Dillard also said artists in the region need to aggregate
and create a confederation of art associations.
“Everyone is trying to lift the burden with their own small
resources,” she said.
Marie Bukowski, the new director of the School of Art and
Design at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, said getting businesses
involved in promoting locally created art was beneficial to both shop owners
and the artists.
Bob Hageman, owner of anthill gallery & vintage gifts in
Cobden, said he’d like to see a focus on linking artists with the area’s venues
and the tourist traffic.
Maring said that she not only markets her art through social
networking but creates an excitement for the area by writing short posts about
its beauty.
“Tourists are crucial for visual art and music,” she said. “Everyone
can work on branding the region through social networking.”
BLack Door Gallery hosts ManArt in September and October
Hi everyone,
BLack Door Gallery hosts ManArt September and October!
Come join us at BLack Door Gallery for counter part of Feminine Perspective.. ManArt
First Friday (September 6th and October 4th, 2013) from 5-9pm and by appointment.
Look forward to seeing you at ManArt.
Craig
Craig Thomas
BLack Door Gallery
(573) 225-7734
Wednesday, August 28, 2013
Artist Workshop at the Old Feed Store in Cobden Takeaway
August 28th, 4:00 – 6:30 pm, Old
Feed Store, Cobden.
Maximizing
Creative Time by Optimizing Marketing & other Business Efforts
The aim of this gathering is to provide
participants with updates and tips about how various business actions and media
strategies can be used efficiently and effectively to advance professional and
economic involvement in the arts.
4:00 - 4:15 Introductions.
Sharon Wittke and Peter Lemish
4:15 - 5:15 Maximizing Creative Time by Optimizing
Marketing and Business Efforts.
Panel of artists and media specialists, with open discussion.
Break
5:30 - 6:30 Discussion of next steps, including October 12th
event.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
OPENING
PANELISTS
Aimee M. Wigfall – Photographer.
Amy
McMurrow-Hunter: - Arts Promoter
Shawnee
Wine Trail - Shopping in the Hills
Southern
Illinois region - Bleeding Hearts Photo Contest, Heartlandarts.net
Emily Kircher - EKRA: Emily Kircher Recycling Artist
Facebook page: Search “Emily Kircher Recycling Artist”
Sharon Wittke – Hobby Artist
PANELIST NOTES:
1.
What are some of the highpoints and challenges in your
pathway as a working artist?
AIMEE:
Highpoints:
Working with clients throughout the
creative process.
Providing actual experience of
having photos taken.
Enjoying editing process and
developing an image to its fullest potential.
Challenges: Time: working full-time + 2 kids + husband +
home = little time for photo business.
Marketing
blocks-working through creative barriers to define target market, clients
Work flow: Develop efficient
workflow for image processing, bookkeeping, database.
…… Did I mention, time?
AMY:
Highpoints:
Appreciation by artists for work I was doing (promotion, marketing,
etc.) which was helping them get sales, and watching people (including myself)
enjoy the artists' work.
Challenges: As
an intermediary, cash flow (a more collaborative/sharing model would be
helpful) and
obtaining content/stories for marketing
materials. Previously no use broad
distribution pipeline [below] - focused on traditional (website, PR),
time-consuming marketing tactics.
EMILY:
Highpoints:
Being my own boss ~ Getting to be creative everyday.
Challenges: A working artist has to wear all the hats of
a business owner (ie. Creative
director, bookkeeper, marketer, etc).
Working in isolation can
sometimes be lonely.
Working
on art can be repetitive and might lead to repetitive stress injuries.
SHARON:
Highpoints: As hobby
artist, rather than full-time artist, I do not rely on income generated from
art sales. So, I do not have pressure to
produce & market products of a working artist.
Luxury of
being able to create what I want most of the time
Challenges: Time management.
2. What are the challenges involved
in balancing creative and marketing work?
SHARON I resent the
time needed to market my work, as it interferes with my art production. I’d rather paint than sit at a computer, so I
have a semi-permanent “Please pardon the mess – Website Under Construction”
message on my website.
I sell all my work at local galleries and on Etsy. Clients are
unable to purchase directly from my website, because I don’t have time to check
it constantly. Thus, my website serves
as a place to view samples, and then purchase an item on Etsy.
Learning to price work so that it’s marketable but also rewards
the artist is a critical skill.
AIMEE Time is
small factor b/c my photography business is not so busy to limit time to create
marketing pieces;
Creative blocks in
developing marketing pieces that keep me from marketing at all.
EMILY Desire to make, be creative while the marketing side of
things might seem tedious and boring.
The trick is to make your marketing work part of your
creative work:
·
Develop your own style of
marketing
·
Share your creative process and
‘in progress’ photos as part of your marketing.
AMY I believe it's mainly a
matter of discipline, or making it part of the routine. In my experience,
you have to have a clear goal with marketing activities (e.g. increase Twitter
followers, get event attendees, sell products), and spend time on activities
that drive traffic to that goal. Note the activities/number needed to
reach the goal, and work/check progress regularly.
3. What tips can you recommend for successful marketing
of your creative work?
SHARON: If you are hesitant to use online techniques for marketing your
art because you lack computer skills, either take a class, engage a tutor, or
figure out a way to pay or barter with someone to market your work online.
Don’t look at marketing as
necessary evil - apply your creativity to marketing;
ETSY is a godsend for many
artists…but explore other options, too.
EMILY: Develop an online presence, for
example:
§ Online store (ie. Etsy, Goodsmiths,
Artfire)
§ Social Networking (ie. Facebook business
page, Twitter, Pintrest)
§ Write a blog
Be your own biggest cheerleader.
Always
carry business cards that have pictures of your work.
If
you make something you can wear, always wear it.
Develop your own marketing style
and voice.
AIMEE: Know target market & where to find them;
how many? what do they read? hangout?
Use social media to your
advantage, but:
·
Don’t get
bogged down with it;
·
Devise a
plan for posting and management of it;
·
Don’t depend
on it solely.
Make sure you use good
images, not poorly lit, grainy, or color-casted images.
Have functional website.
Getting too bogged down with it can eat away at your creative time,
business mgmt time, and effective marketing time.
If you hate it, outsource it.
AMY:
Automate as much
marketing as possible to keep people interested, then you can spend more time
actually interacting with people (leading to more sales). Here's an example of a way to set it up (and
it's using free tools). People online want regular updates/content/photos,
etc.; each update doesn't have to be a novel or a new universal insight.
To build/maintain audience, set up a
distribution pipe for your blog posts:
1.
Blog (briefly) on a
regular basis/as often as possible (Blogger.com - Google) about your art/products/shows/events,
etc. --> [From here everything's automated once set up using the blog's
automatically generated RSS feed. Setting up a broad distribution network
allows people to find out about you according to their preferences.] -->
- RSSinclude.com (blog posts embedded
into any webpage) -->
- Twitterfeed.com (blog posts sent
automatically to Facebook, Twitter, etc.) -->
- Facebook/Twitter accounts-->
- Newsletter (Mailchimp.com provides
pages and links for you to develop a mailing list, and automatically
sends out newsletters to your mailing list based on blog RSS or Twitter
feed as per the schedule you set up).
2.
Check regularly (daily,
weekly) to respond to your audience if necessary. While your online audience
grows, spend your time making more of your art, and participating in more
events (or distribute in more shops/galleries) to sell your products while
providing your online contact points.
3.
This is the very top
level, and can develop into a much more audience/individual focused strategy
over time (e.g. learn people's interests, develop groups, reward customers or
visitors, etc.).
4.
If this type of strategy
doesn't work for you, find a successful artist and copy what they do, or visit
the links provided and read about what other artists are doing.
Tuesday, August 20, 2013
Tuesday, August 13, 2013
ECO ART AND ARTISAN FAIR
Artists and artisans are leading the way for communities to develop environmentally responsible economies. They are offering creations and products that culturally enrich comunity life, provide economic advancement on a local level and pioneer environmentally responsible practices.
The University Museum has organized the ECO Art and Artisans Fair to help stimulate the continuance of regional artists and artisansadvancing green techniques. This fair is designed to provide a venue for the sale of your creations,communicate with the public about the strides artists and artisans are making for the local environment and build knowledge in the arts community of what is possible with creating in an ecologically friendly way.
WHEN: September 28, 2013 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.
WHERE: University Museum, Southern Illinois University Carbondale
All artists and artisans are welcome to participate, whether you are an early adopter of green techniques or just starting to explore how your work can be more eco friendly, this event is to be an arts community builder .
The ECO Art and Artisans Fair will take place under the Faner Hall Breezeway outside the University Museum on the Southern Illinois University Campus in Carbondale Illinois. The breezeway is an excellent location on a brick surface with good light but also protection from the elements with an overhanging roof. The time of the ECO Art and Artisans Fair corresponds with events bringing people to Carbondale including the Saturday morning farmers market, SIUC parents weekend and an SIUC Saluki Football Game in the evening.
The ECO Art and Artisans Fair will also feature music, food, eco art activities, demonstrations and involvement from campus groups. The event will have a featured guest artist David Edgar from Charlotte North Carolina, demonstrating his techniques for transforming recycled plastics into fantastical fish installations.
We hope you can be a part of our event and share your work with Carbondale and the Southern Illinois University community. Entries will be reviewed upon receipt by the University Museum staff once your entry is approved you will be notified immediately of your booth space. Entries will be accepted until September 28 or until all positions are filled.
For more information or to apply for the event contact:
Nate Steinbrink, Curator of Exhibits, University Museum
phone: 618-453-7413
email: nstein@siu.edu
Two Exhibits Now Showing at Anna Arts Center
Strictly Digital Photography Exhibit
Starting Tuesday, Aug 13, the hours for your viewing pleasure is from 4-6 pm!
· 76 Individual Photographs
· 22 Entrants including photographers from Carbondale, Cape Girardeau Missouri, Swansea Illinois and various other parts of the region.
· Awards: Tom Bell of Makanda – Best Of Show ($200) and Best Of Black And White Category ($50). Bell entered several impressive poster-sized black and white photographs.
· David Hammond, a board member of the Marion Camera Club, and a resident of Goreville won the Best Of Nature Category.
· Brett Crow of Cape Girardeau entered three photographs and was winner of the Portraits, People, and Events Category.
· Dan Owens of Anna won the Best Of Landscape Category.
· Glen Bishop of Jonesboro won Best Of Manipulated Photographs with a photo featuring a cottonmouth that was taken at the Silvermines Recreational Area in southern Missouri.
· Seven $20 Merit Awards were presented. Dan Owens of Anna won two Merit Awards, one of which was for an interesting 3-D landscape accompanied by 3-D glasses for viewing. Other winners were Eldon Benz of Carbondale, Steve Johnson of Anna, Cindy Allen of Anna, Connie Morgan of Carbondale, and Glen Bishop of Jonesboro.
· 3 of the photos have already been purchased with a 20% commission going to the Anna Arts Center.
What’s Hatching in Union County?
Exhibit is Open from 9-12, noon and 4-6 pm.
· Exhibition displays 42 roosters, chickens or hens by 31 artists from Southern Illinois.
· Linda Clutts won the Best of Show by creating a life size chicken in a rocking chair and reading the Gazette Democrat.
· 2-D Adult category, Tie for First place by Joan Miller’s oil painting of two roosters and Kathy Cotton’s digital rooster, Second place was Janet Bixler’s two roosters in their pen, and Third place was Carol Dooley’s water color of three roosters.
· 2-D, age 12-18 category, Amanda Hawk’s pencil drawing of a rooster won First place.
· 2-D age 4-11 category, Aidan Whitemountain took First place with his ink drawing of the Chicken Pen and Second place with his tempera painting of a rooster. Third place went to Rose Whitemountain with her oil pastel picture of The Yard of Chickens.
· 3-D Adult category, Susan Steck won First place with her quilt wall hanging of roosters and chickens and Second place with her rooster banner made with beads. Third place went to Linda Clutts display of chickens reading the Monday’s Pub.
· 3-D age 12-18 category was won by Mackenzie Bryant with her paper mache’ rooster.
· 3-D age 4-11 category winners were First place by Aidan Whitemountain’s Chicken Duck Man, Second place by Clint Westermark’s paper mache’ chicken, and Third place by McKenna Hickey’s mask.
· Merit Awards: Charlene Kozora, Josh Shearer, Rita Laminack, Max Castle, and Alexis Hammock.
Starting Tuesday, Aug 13, the hours for your viewing pleasure is from 4-6 pm!
· 76 Individual Photographs
· 22 Entrants including photographers from Carbondale, Cape Girardeau Missouri, Swansea Illinois and various other parts of the region.
· Awards: Tom Bell of Makanda – Best Of Show ($200) and Best Of Black And White Category ($50). Bell entered several impressive poster-sized black and white photographs.
· David Hammond, a board member of the Marion Camera Club, and a resident of Goreville won the Best Of Nature Category.
· Brett Crow of Cape Girardeau entered three photographs and was winner of the Portraits, People, and Events Category.
· Dan Owens of Anna won the Best Of Landscape Category.
· Glen Bishop of Jonesboro won Best Of Manipulated Photographs with a photo featuring a cottonmouth that was taken at the Silvermines Recreational Area in southern Missouri.
· Seven $20 Merit Awards were presented. Dan Owens of Anna won two Merit Awards, one of which was for an interesting 3-D landscape accompanied by 3-D glasses for viewing. Other winners were Eldon Benz of Carbondale, Steve Johnson of Anna, Cindy Allen of Anna, Connie Morgan of Carbondale, and Glen Bishop of Jonesboro.
· 3 of the photos have already been purchased with a 20% commission going to the Anna Arts Center.
What’s Hatching in Union County?
Exhibit is Open from 9-12, noon and 4-6 pm.
· Exhibition displays 42 roosters, chickens or hens by 31 artists from Southern Illinois.
· Linda Clutts won the Best of Show by creating a life size chicken in a rocking chair and reading the Gazette Democrat.
· 2-D Adult category, Tie for First place by Joan Miller’s oil painting of two roosters and Kathy Cotton’s digital rooster, Second place was Janet Bixler’s two roosters in their pen, and Third place was Carol Dooley’s water color of three roosters.
· 2-D, age 12-18 category, Amanda Hawk’s pencil drawing of a rooster won First place.
· 2-D age 4-11 category, Aidan Whitemountain took First place with his ink drawing of the Chicken Pen and Second place with his tempera painting of a rooster. Third place went to Rose Whitemountain with her oil pastel picture of The Yard of Chickens.
· 3-D Adult category, Susan Steck won First place with her quilt wall hanging of roosters and chickens and Second place with her rooster banner made with beads. Third place went to Linda Clutts display of chickens reading the Monday’s Pub.
· 3-D age 12-18 category was won by Mackenzie Bryant with her paper mache’ rooster.
· 3-D age 4-11 category winners were First place by Aidan Whitemountain’s Chicken Duck Man, Second place by Clint Westermark’s paper mache’ chicken, and Third place by McKenna Hickey’s mask.
· Merit Awards: Charlene Kozora, Josh Shearer, Rita Laminack, Max Castle, and Alexis Hammock.
Thursday, August 8, 2013
"Colorfest of Arts Show" at Anna Arts Center in October
A Colorfest of Arts Show
Anna Arts Center
117 W. Davie St., Anna, IL 62906
annaartscenter.com
Sponsored by the
River to River Visual Arts Association
Union County Colorfest Weekend
October 11, 12 & 13, 2013
Fri. 6 – 9 Sat. 11 – 5 Sun. 1 – 4
All regional artists are invited to display their work at the “Colorfest of Arts” Show Oct. 11, 12, and 13 at the Anna Arts Center.
As part of this year’s Union County Colorfest activities, River to River Visual Arts Association is holding this show in conjunction with the Center’s production of “Canteen,” a play about WWII hospitality center.
Space will be allocated on a first-come, first-serve basis.
For more information, visit rrvaa.wordpress.com
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