Artscape 2010, America’s Largest FREE Arts Festival… kicks off today Friday July 16 and runs through Sunday July 18…

Early Predictions…

Smaller than usual crowds will be blamed on the Heat Wave

Smaller than usual crowds will be blamed on the Rain

Smaller than usual crowds will be blamed on the Economy

Smaller than usual crowds will be blamed on University of Baltimore

Have a Beer Vendor set up right smack dead center in front of the ultra Hip Cool Oasis Mount royal Tavern

IMAO, the last really cool AND hip Artscape was in 2005.  Every year since, it has gotten larger but the crowds smaller.  The only common factor I can see is the loss of Jennifer Mange and Artscape’s use of the ZAPP PROCESS starting in 2006.  Mo Money, Mo Money, Mo Money is their current mantra.  I’ve personally received 2 emails asking to attend (and pay for) this or that “pre or ongoing” all  ”with private bathrooms” special so Artscape can stay FREE to the public even though taxpayer money partially funds  ”Amercica’s Largest FREE Arts Event”…

We shall see, we’ll be adding comments and photos daily, stay in touch…

Here’s what we thought of Artscape 2009

Friday, July 16…

I made it to Artscape Friday early evening around 7ish, here are some pics.

It looks to be about the same but re-arranged a little bit.  I only got to the Midway area so didn’t really see much, I do know the “historical/original” Art cars were missing, didn’t see the hip-hop dancing,  food vendors (I think) here and there in the Midway area, a few Midway (taxpayer paid for) exhibits unmanned/closed.  The only new thing I saw was the Skatboarding exhibit, which, I hope to no one’s surprise, drew the biggest crowd, I should’ve done a run…

more later.  BTW – I love the balloons…

Saturday July 17…

Hot once again Saturday but got cool spot for my bike with the “Tour Dem Parks” crew and my “Artscape 2010 Being Green Rocks” button.  Ended up at the famed Mount Royal Tavern and along the way ran into a few friends; Tony Walker, Paul Taylor, Cheryl Moulton, Renee Tantillo, Amy Weishaar and the Rodney aka Dangerously Delicious Pies….  Some nice art I liked, Photos by  Robert McClintock, Wire Sculptures by Devin Mack and Paintings by Jeff Kerr. As a special shout out, Erica Rubel Had Matter Art should get a reward or something. The last year I participated at Artscape was in 2005, that’s when I first met Erica. Since then, I have run into her at literally dozens of art events including HonFest, Hampden Fest and every year at Artscape.  This artist deserves a big hand!!! I also enjoyed Renee Tantillo’s new works found in the “Art Car Lounge” as well as Jeremy Crawford’s “It’s not about you” exhibit.  more later…

Some interesting facts we found on the Artscape website; “The largest free arts festival in the country with over 350,000 attendees.” and “In 2009, Artscape’s total economic impact on Baltimore was $25.97 million.”  In the not so long ago, Artscape’s big claim to fame was the “over 1,000,000 attendees”, we did math and came up with fact that if the million were true, then every single person that lived in the city (man, woman and child) would need to bring 2 friends along in order to get to that magic million mark, NOT.  We’ll look into the almost $26 million revenue claim and just with simple math, that means the average person (man, woman and child) that attended Artscape would need to spend $75 each.  It’s probably way more complicated than that, so we’ll have to get to this later but I hope you gain some perspective…

• Here’s an interesting article we found, “Festival-goers spent $9 million with Artscape vendors of which $3.5 million was spent on art from the exhibitors and $4.3 million on food and beverages.” (Baltimore.biz) With just some really really basic arithmetic, if $3.5 million were spent on Art, lets suppose, there were 350 exhibitors, do some math and you come up with a whopping $10,000 in sales from each and everyone of the 350 Art Exhibitors. A couple of problems with that number, there are not 350 Art Exhibitors to the best of my knowledge at Artscape so that average just goes up and since attending every Artscape starting in 1999, I have not met, nor know anyone to have claimed or made over $10,000 in sales at Artscape.  ”$3.5 million spent on art from exhibitors”, NOT,  this is an insult…

Sunday July 18…

Too hot to talk about anything at the moment. Enjoy the photos, mostly food vendors etc etc etc… You know what, there is no shade in Baltimore during the 3rd weekend in July, seems like it.

After chatting with Food Vendors and Artists over the weekend, it sounds like the company line was “a little light” in regards to traffic and sales. Truly, I must’ve spoken to at least 2 dozen individuals and they each used the same term “Light” when describing the sales traffic, and this even includes a lemonade vendor. It may in fact been a light crowd.  For all 3 days I attended I could walk my bike easily through all of Artscape, last year I would not have even considered it. The current heatwave in Baltimore played a part in keeping the numbers down, IMAO but it wasn’t the only reason

more in a bit…

Conclusion…

“Robbing Peter to Pay Paul” – coming Friday July 23 at the latest… maybe Monday, too hot

Did we mention these outstanding and entertaining people:

• Stink Hole Midway

• Moloch’s Midway & Cabinet of Infernal Mysteries Midway

• Mistura Watchmakers Artists Market

• Amercian Sewing Guild Artists Market

Some Comments Heard about Artscape 2010:

• “It’s really just a Fair…”

• “I can take it or leave it next year.”

• “Crowds were definitely much smaller.”

• “The music wasn’t as good as usual.”

• “This is Artscape, why would you be able to shop ‘vendors’ you can find at the Mall?”

• “The area by the train station looked empty compared to last year, and what’s up with the Mac & Cheese tent.”

• “We like to call it a Stipend.”

• “The atmosphere kinda felt dead… blah.”

http://picasaweb.google.com/theunartist to see all the photos from Artscape 2010 and 2009

Come out to our first Falls Road Studios Group Show exhibition. We’ll have open studios and works hung in our newly renovated gallery space. There may or may not be refreshments so you may or may not bring your own ;] hey were artists what else would you expect?

Work from:
Andrew Klotz
Chris Attenborough
Eb Froehlich
Barry Sell
Renee Tantillo
Charles Rouse
Dan Whitson
Paul Taylor
Scott Messamore
Allison Moss

Please check out the map of where you can park. We CANNOT have any parking on Falls Road, so please park around the corner on Chestnut or the Mill Center.

CALL FOR ARTISTS!
BIG ART SHOW at Pterodactyl
Pterodactyl’s 1st Birthday Party!
Saturday June 26th
Doors at 8pm
3237 Amber St. 5th Floor N. Philadelphia, PA 19134

ART! MUSIC! FUN!

Music by:
MOUNT JOY
OUT LIKE LAMBS
MONTAGNA AND THE MOUTH TO MOUTH
TJ KONG AND THE ATOMIC BOMB
more TBA

SHOW YOUR ART!
Basically, a BIG ART SHOW is a big art party where you get space to show your work in an unpretentious environment. It is one night, you set up and break down the day of. No judging, no applications, just tell us you’re coming and as long as we have space, we give you space.

A few things:
-This is an art show, not a flea market, you must have made the things you’re showing.
-You can sell your work if you want but you don’t have to, and in fact you’ll probablly have more fun if you don’t.
-You can sell your original artwork, bring prints of your work and anything hand made is fine, just use your judgement and err on the side of arty. We have nothing to do with you selling your work. We do not act as your art dealers or brokers.
-It’s free for you to be in the show, but if you sell something and want to donate Pterodactyl a few bucks nobody’s going to turn you down
- We are not responsible in any way for lost, stolen or damaged artwork. We just supply the space and the fun. By being in this show you agree that we are not responsible.
- You’ll get about 6 vertical feet of space to show work (make the best of it!).

Want in? Great! e-mail us: BIGARTSHOW@pterodactylphiladelphia.org
please include your: name / e-mail addy / phone number / and a link to your work (for the website and for logistics of where we put you in the room)

You can also e-mail BIGARTSHOW@pterodactylphiladelphia.com if you have any questions.

More info:
bigartshow.com
pterodactylphiladelphia.org

Thanks!
-Paul & Catherine

Annette LODGE ‘ALLENDE’S BIRTHDAY’ Oil on Canvas 85×85cm 2009

The CORRIDO is a Mexican song-story, a narrative that comes to life through rhythm, music, song and art.

The depth of the narrative in Mexico is bottomless. From the rebellion that forged independence to the enigmatic DAY OF THE DEAD, each new celebration eclipses the last creating new myths and heroes, alive with images.

In Guanajuato, the colour is red. There are more reds than I could ever have imagined. Golden terracotta to deep crimson colour the buildings, the cobblestones, the butterfly wings, the music, the angels and demons and the blood of history that are the spirit if this place.

This series of paintings is about the subtext of my recent experience living in San Miguel de Allende in the heart of the central highland state of Guanajuato. Annette LODGE 2009
In conjunction with

Innovative Contemporary Sculpture

on

SATURDAY NOVEMBER 14, 5 – 8pm

Viewing now www.sohogalleries.net

Exhibition Dates: NOVEMBER 14 to DECEMBER 3, 2009

Contact gallery for artwork visual and list of artworks

SOHO GALLERIES www.sohogalleries.net

Corner Crown & Cathedral Sts., SYDNEY NSW 2000 AUSTRALIA : P. 61 2 9326 9066 F. 61 2 93582939 :

Mountainsong Galleries Presents Steven J. Backman, Toothpick Sculptor

Press Release  FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Mountainson Galleries is the EXCLUSIVE world-wide gallery to represent Steven J. Backman, Toothpick Sculptor.  Mr. Backman has been creating one-of-a-kind toothpick art for over thirty years.  From intricately detailed sculptures to likenesses of famous personalities, Mr. Backman has received worldwide attention for his creativity.

Steven J. Backman’s latest creations of toothpick art are available for purchase at Mountainsong Galleries in Carmel-by-the-Sea, California.  From modern abstract art to contemporary masterpieces, art enthusiasts will be intrigued by Mr. Backman’s keen imagination and extreme patience.

For more information please contact Mountainsong Galleries at 831.626.0600 or visit http://www.MountainsongGalleries.com/home.php