[Baren} the mailing list / discussion forum for woodblock printmaking Baren Digest Wednesday, 17 May 2000 Volume 11 : Number1010 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- From: "Maria Arango" Date: Tue, 16 May 2000 09:02:43 -0700 Subject: [Baren 9671] back and rearin' to go Howdy all, I just barely caught up with all the unpacking, inventorying, putting new customers in database, licking my set-up and tear down wounds after two great outdoor exhibits. Well, one great and one not so great, but ya can't win'em all. The first show went very well, it was small and cozy set up in a plush park in a plush neighborhood and folks was buyin' prints! The wind was horrible, gusting up to 60 mph in the night, and some artists actually *lost* their canopies overnight. The second show had enormous attendance, presented about 250 artists, gorgeous weather, looked good, felt good...but! Woodcuts are very well received, most people don't know what they are and so I have a little handout that explains how to make them, a handout about me, and another about the ideas behind my art. Those are the three things that people ask the most and they like to take pieces of paper out of your booth. In my experience, people that know woodcuts are the ones that will buy your woodcuts. It helps to talk to them, even the ones that you know right off the bat have no intention of buying anything. I like to demo right there, which attracts mostly children but, as McDonald's knows well, the way to a parent's money is through the kids! I make this sound like I'm really into the money thing and in a way, it is an incredible experience to have someone wonder into your little booth-world, snatch a framed woodcut off the display without saying a word and start digging for money. Quite rewarding. On another note, it is perhaps equally rewarding to have children and adults gather around to watch you carve and drop their jaws as you slice away little curls of wood. This time, I actually guided the hands of little fellows and fellowettes as they made "rocks" and "grass" on my desert landscapes. The brightness of those innocent eyes...they hardly know I was getting them addicted to the experience of cutting on wood :-) Other rewards come when art-knowing folk say things like: "I didn't know anyone was *still* doing these (referring to woodcuts)." I, of course, always mention the thousands of Baren members who do the same. All and all, a great two weekends, got into an invitational exhibit in the fall, got invited to show at a gallery in town, got Best of Show Award for Graphics/Printmaking category thusly beating out all the squirt and puter prints with the traditional craft. THAT felt good. Got two blocks carved and ready to print, boxes of prints are lighter going home than before, my booth withstood the gales like a white shining knight, and a couple of dozen children have now hand-pulled their first woodcut print. I also left with the utmost admiration for the artists who do this continually, traveling and standing up to weather and strange cities, new shows, and overall the roller-coaster life of the outdoor festivals. Hats off to you (us? I kinda like it now!). Health to all, Maria PS Web page coming up with pictures right after I print something; I'm having withdrawals. Oh, and I have to make a couple of trips to the Post Office ;-) <><><><><><><><><><><><> Maria Arango, Printmaker Las Vegas Nevada USA http://www.printmakingstudio.com maria@mariarango.com mariten@lvcm.com <><><><><><><><><><><><> ------------------------------ From: "Bill H. Ritchie, Jr" Date: Tue, 16 May 2000 11:04:27 -0700 Subject: [Baren 9672] RE: back and rearin' to go Maria Arango - This is about the best thing I've seen all morning. Thank you, thank you (sounds of crowds cheering). ------------------------------ From: B Mason Date: Tue, 16 May 2000 17:40:39 -0700 Subject: [Baren 9673] legs and Italy Bea, I was so sorry to read of your leg problems and on top of it your delayed trip to Italy. As Jean said, better to have it happen here if it was going to happen. Nothing worse than having health problems away from your home. I hope you have plans to go to Italy as soon as you are well, Italy is really wonderful! Barbara ------------------------------ End of Baren Digest V11 #1010 *****************************