Why Art Shows Instead Of Galleries?

People at my art shows often ask me if I am in any galleries, as if that may be a measure of my artistry or prestige in some way, or that is part of my story about it anyway. I also realize when people ask me that, it is also a compliment, because they wouldn't ask unless they felt it was quality enough. I oftentimes lose sight of the later, and focus more the prior. I can certainly understand that, as I once felt I deserved to be in galleries. Actually, I still believe that, but for now it truly is not the best expression of who I am, what my artwork is, or why I create each and every piece.

As I evolved in my maturity as an artist, it was indeed an important step in my journey, so I pursued it a few years ago. I got my work hung in galleries in North Scottsdale, Jerome, and in Cottonwood...and in those places, while good for my Artist's Résumé, my artwork languished. Not because it wasn't worthy, but because for other reasons. One is that in order to overcome the 25-50% commissions taken from my fairly valued artwork, I had to mark the pieces up to price levels that were just too high. Or maybe the prices were not too high, and the commissioned sales people just couldn't talk about the work and feelings and meanings behind it in a manner befitting the work and the collector's wallet. And maybe due to economic conditions, people were holding onto their dollars for luxury expenses a little tighter. I saw it as a combination of the three, however the one that bothered me the most is not being able to effectively have my artwork, and the healing windows into our souls it provides, articulated in a way to inspire people to buy...and not just buy, but give people connection to what brings them joy, beauty, inspiration, and wonder, in the artwork and in themselves. What was missing was collectors being able to connect with me, my visions and words, and the heart and soul hanging on my sleeves, and most importantly how this was being expressed in my artwork.

At the end of 2022, I made a choice to pull the last of my artwork out of the galleries and other pubic display areas, and represent myself full time on the road doing art shows every weekend. In early January 2023, at my first road show in The Town of Cave Creek, I connected with the public finally and did more than all galleries combined! In the following weeks, I began to realize so many joys doing show after show...enough to outweigh the sheer dominating effort of work and inconveniences required. Truly the best gift I get is looking out or walking out my tent during a show and seeing a group of people just standing and smiling with joy at what they were viewing. And hardly a show goes by without one or more patrons to my tent, whether they buy something or not, giving me a hug for the difference and delight and connection made by being witness to my work and the energies behind it. Indeed this life I choose is the best way for me to perform my role in this world, which is as a healer and a teacher of sorts. Without being able to connect with you, the seasoned or new collector, my work is incomplete, because of the viewer's inability to connect to my 'meraki', so to speak. 

Since that first show, up till 8 months later, I showed all but 8 of those 34 weeks, and I'm just getting started. The 'resfeber' I experience in preparation and setup for each weekly event is significant. I almost get sick in exhaustion with all the restlessness...until that first interaction comes with you and I get settled.

This post will be periodically updated and refreshed to reflect my ongoing art show schedule through the rest of 2023, into the Spring of 2024, and beyond. Please, if you are intending on visiting me at any of these events, please drop me a note through email, text, FB messaging or whatever to let me know you are intending on stopping by, so that I can expect you, and also communicate booth number and directions.  I look forward to meeting you for the first time, or enjoying your visits over and over. Until then, I wish you daily connection to joy, beauty, and inspiration.

All the best,

John!

Traveling Arizona Art Show Schedule

End of Summer 2023 to end of year 2023:

September 2023

9/2-9/4 - Flagstaff (Labor Day Weekend) - Flagstaff Art In The Park @ Wheeler Park - 212 W Aspen Ave, Flagstaff, AZ 86001

9/15-9/17 - Sedona - Red Rose For Animals Inspiration @ The Stagecoach - 1405 AZ-89A, Sedona, AZ 86336

9/22-9/24 - Pinetop - An Art Affair In The Pines @ The Gathering Place - 4716 Buck Springs Rd, Pinetop-Lakeside, AZ 85935

9/29-10/1 - Sedona - Red Rose For Animals Inspiration @ The Stagecoach - 1405 AZ-89A, Sedona, AZ 86336

October 2023

10/7-10/8 - Sedona - Sedona Arts Festival @ Sedona Red Rock High School - 995 Upper Red Rock Loop Rd, Sedona, AZ 86336

10/14-10/15 - Ahwatukee - Art Attack AZ Ahwatukee Festival @ Ahwatukee Plaza - 5031 East Elliot, Ahwatukee, AZ 85044

10/20-10/22 - The Village Of Oak Creek - Oak Creek Arts And Crafts @ Sedona Vista Village - 6657 AZ-179, Sedona, AZ 86351

10/27-10/29 - Scottsdale - Kevin's Art Attack @ California Pizza Kitchen - 10100 N Scottsdale Rd, Scottsdale, AZ 85253

November 2023

11/4-11/5 - Litchfield Park - Litchfield Park Festival Of Arts @ The Wigwam - 101 W. Wigwam Blvd. Litchfield Park, AZ 85340

11/10-11/12 - Fountain Hills - Fall Fountain Festival of Fine Arts & Crafts @ The Fountain - Avenue Of The Fountains Rd. and N. Saguaro Blvd.

11/17-11/19 - Sedona - Red Rose For Animals Inspiration @ The Stagecoach - 1405 AZ-89A, Sedona, AZ 86336

11/25-11/26 - Gold Canyon - Gold Canyon Art Festival @ Gold Canyon Village - 6900 US-60, Gold Canyon, AZ 85218

December 2023

12/1-12/3 - Tempe - Tempe Festival Of The Arts @ Mill Avenue - 1 W Rio Salado Pkwy, Tempe, AZ 85281

12/8-12/10 - Scottsdale - Kevin's Art Attack @ California Pizza Kitchen - 10100 N Scottsdale Rd, Scottsdale, AZ 85253

12/15-12/17 - Anthem - Anthem Outlet Christmas Show @ Anthem Outlet Mall - 4250 W Anthem Way, Phoenix, AZ 85086

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