What Recession? 

Large, Enthusiastic Crowds at Palm Beach Fine Craft Show

Artists Report Robust Sales

As reported by Bill Underwood, The Liberty Media Group to The Rickie Report

The 9th annual Palm Beach Fine Craft Show returned to the convention center in West Palm Beach March 2-4, and for three days the aisles were filled with  people from Palm Beach County and beyond who seemed to be buying everything in sight.

The line at the box office began to form a full 40 minutes ahead of the scheduled opening at 10:00 am on Friday, and continued throughout the weekend.  Whether it was a sign of an improving economy or an indication that more people have become aware of the show (or both), artists reported robust sales beginning just minutes after the doors opened and continuing right up to closing time on Sunday.

The first sale of the weekend happened at 10:05 on Friday, when Alpharetta, Georgia ceramist Kirsten Stingle sold one of her pieces.  Stingle’s final sale of the weekend, and her largest, came at 4:30pm, about a half-hour before the show closed when a collector took home her piece titled “Collecting All the Tender Things,” which was used as the featured image on the show’s postcard and other advertising.

When the show closed on Sunday at 5pm, many of the artists were finalizing sales and wrapping pieces for their customers to take home.  There was no particular pattern to the sales, as customers were taking home wearable art and jewelry as well as art objects made of wood, metal, paper, glass and mixed media – in all sizes, shapes and colors.

Weekend events were well attended as well, including lectures by glass artist Michael Schunke, Professor Leonard Urso of the Rochester Institute of Technology, and Annette Sheppard from the Corning Museum of Glass.  Fashion shows on Friday and Saturday saw standing-room-only crowds, estimated to be 175 or more at each fashion show.

29 ARTISTS SHOWED WORK IN PALM BEACH FOR THE FIRST TIME

The show featured twenty-nine artists and designers who were showing their work in Palm Beach for the very first time.  And they were well received:  designers Cynthia LaMaide and Selma Karaca were the top names at the weekend fashion shows.  Karaca designed dresses for Miss USA and recent Grammy-winner Esperanza Spalding.  LaMaide’s work is in the newly released Jennifer Aniston / Paul Rudd comedy “Wanderlust.”

William Kidd, a ceramic artist from nearby Miramar, Florida who also was showing his work for the first time at the Palm Beach Fine Craft Show, took home the coveted Collectors’ Award.   Another first-time artist who did well was jewelry artist Manya Tessler from North Orange, New Jersey, who received the award for Best in Show.

The American Style award went to fiber returning artist Pam Bracci. Matthew Fine, also a show regular, took home the Award of Excellence in Glass, which was sponsored by the Florida Glass Art Society.

NOTE: If you missed this show – don’t wait – check The Rickie Report for details about more shows to come!

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Rickie Leiter, Publisher

The Rickie Report

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Rickie@therickiereport.com

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