Show Reports

Akua Lezli Hope at Empire State Crafts Alliance Festival of the Arts, 1998

Like love, the show was lovelier the second time around! My booth was more engaging, my offerings more varied and I debuted my glass and jewelry making!

In addition to paper sculpture and sculptural paper pictures, I had earrings, necklaces and pins created from wire, handmade glass beads, and fused glass. The weather was wonderful, the conversation and fun was nonstop. A truly delightful event made all the more wonderful by the presence and assistance of friends and family.

Akua Lezli Hope at Empire State Crafts Alliance Festival of the Arts, 1997

A new identity, a new part of my entity, a new community--I'm a crafter and I just completed my first show. I'm just stunned and amazed..... It was intense, exhausting and strangely and deeply pleasurable, to present, share, display and explain my efforts in so direct and immediate a way.

SURPRISES
Comments on my colors--- that people found them bright and attractive (mainly yellow red and blue but then there's a copper series and a red and black bowl)
Selling the most in the first half of the first day.

ASTONISHING USES OF DAY GIG KNOWLEDGE

Trade show booth behavior-- I never sat down for two days

My wonderful portable reclining folding (yay QVC! unbelievable value, steel nylon and 100% comfort) was a great inducement for customers, visitors and made it easier for my relief workers

WHAT I'LL CHANGE

Couldn't hang my sign--- it would have hit people in the head... I duct taped it to the outside of the canopy, the wind flipped it up at the end

Weights for the booth and weights for the shelving

Borrow a pickup so I can do everything in one trip

WHAT I DIDN'T USE

the lights and lanterns

PITAS

Fellow crafts people who talk your head off while you are trying to set up your booth. They're done, now they want your attention. Specifically the woman that wanted a book from me, made me go get it (it was among the things I was unpacking) and then wanted me to sign it. I got it for her, I didn't sign it.

People who arrive an hour before show start and get in your way while you are setting up your booth

People who ask if you made it... I know I know the other side of this, but this question only came AFTER I had just told the person something about the work AND this is a show that ONLY allows you to sell your own work

The people who acted like I was minding the booth for SOMEONE else.

The woman who wouldn't let her husband buy the bowl when I arrived (he was about to buy it from my relief who couldn't find the price on the price sheet) oh well.

The people who, after I said to them come look at this, thought
I was minding someone else's booth, asked me some question about the artist so I had to say It's MY WORK (okay I do live in this town so this was mainly by people who don't know me but think they do and lest you think I'm exaggerated I counted this happening 10 times, then I stopped counting.

MISHAPS

The wind knocking down a display, after whipping up to relieve the heat it became a steady rushing, tent shaker.

REDEMPTIONS
Nothing broke.
It was 4:20 and the show ended at 5
My niece helped me straighten up (she's 7!)

WHAT I LIKED
My preparation
My boom box and choice of music (having it pulled people in)
Cards
Titles
Tags
Price sheet
Instructions for my relief people
Q&A
Handouts
My sign
Doing the layout ahead of time and having Polaroid references to duplicate shelf arrangements

JOYS

The kid who walked by and said "whoa, Now that's nice" about my pulp painting I smiled and said, "This is all paper and papier maché.." and who returned with his friend and asked me how I made it.
I had hand out sheets (yay with a short Q&A on paper, me, and a bit about the process). He dug it. I dug HIM for asking me how I did it. I told him he could, too!

The work colleague who had assisted me in thinking about lighting the booth and had given me two of his two halogen lights for the booth, who came by with his wife. We had a fun visit.

KIDS
two young female paper makers who had informed opinions and who took my card and number and will e-mail or call me if they have any questions

and GREAT parents who gave their children art, who were hanging out with them. Like

The home schooling mom who said she would call me to do a workshop in the fall

having my local arts supplier stop by as I had asked, And I could show her how her patience care and three different Windsor Newton Golds paid off

having my librarian stop by and being able to show her how her patience and interlibrary ordering assistance and what all that reading had wrought

Retired colleagues -- one on the way to Florida, the other up from Florida

My eldest niece who dug the sidewalk chalk I had bought and made it her endeavor to/and drew a narrative on the pavement in front of my booth---of having fun with me and a picture of the two of us.

My other niece who told me at tear down she wanted to help, and really did help pack up my goods.

Being helped at set up, tear down and the wonderful kindness of a work friend who, unable to make it, sent her father and sister to booth sit for me.

Having great chats.

Price List

Sky Sea Series
Hatfull of Sky $75
papier maché vessel, acrylics, ink,,
chenille fiber, handmade and
silvered glass object on iron stand

Sky Sea Series
Sky glyphs, Skywriting $50
papier maché vessel gesso, acrylics, ink, varnish
copper tubing, echinacea

Sky Sea Series
Poem Dance Bowl $55
papier maché, gesso, acrylics,
inks, composite gold leaf, iron stand

Sky Sea Series
Find Love Seek Solace $35
papier maché vessel with ink neoglyphs,
gesso, acrylics, ink, varnish,
iron stand

Sky Sea Series
Bejeweled Sky Bowl $40
papier maché acrylics,
glass beads, metal head pins, butterflies

Sky Sea Series
New Moon Bowl on Sky Pedestal $40
papier maché vessel and pedestal
acrylics, varnish

Sky Sea Series
Sky Funnel in on sea $40
papier maché vessel and pedestal,
acrylics, varnish,
painted wooden fish(found objects)

Sky Sea Series
Summer Evening $55
papier maché , pastels, acrylics, varnish,
copper tubing, handmade glass beads, echinacea

Sky Sea Series
NY Atlantic $45
papier maché with fibers vessel, acrylics,
inks, gesso, varnish iron stand

Sky Sea Series
Stars Rim Sky $20
square corolla papier maché vessel, acrylics,

Sky Sea Series
Blue Sun Spiral Bowl $20
papier maché gesso, acrylics, ink, varnish

Sky Sea Series
Corolla Bowls $12

Sky Sea Series
Pastel Sea Cup $25

Sky Sea Series
Fish Bowl $30

Sky Sea Series
Sea Rock $50
papier maché vessel , gesso, acrylics, ink, varnish
copper tubing, echinacea

Sky Sea Series
Blood Sun Bowl $40
papier maché acrylics

Sky Sea Series
Sunspot Bowl $30
papier maché vessel, gesso, acrylics, ink, varnish

Sky Sea Series
Arise and Shine $40
papier maché vessel, acrylics,
copper tubing

Sky Sea Series
Sun Flare $30
corolla -form papier maché gesso, acrylics,
varnish, African trader beads, head pins, butterflies,
glitter, metallic ribbon

Sky Sea Series
Winter Sunset $35
papier mache vessel, acrylics,
handmade glass bead, armature wire

Sky Sea Series
Winter Sky $35
papier maché vessel with fibers,
acrylics, ink ,varnish
in armature wire cradle, handmade glass beads

Sky Sea Series
Solar¹s Smile $35
papier mache vessel, acrylics,
copper-coated steel tubing, glass bead

Offering $30
papier mache vessel,
acrylics, handmade glass beads,
armature wire,

Pedestals, Flower Stands

Yellow Pedestals. Flower Stands $15
papier mache vessel, acrylics,

Blue and Red Pedestals. Flower Stand $15
papier mache vessel, acrylics,

TreeWoman $20
papier mache vessel, acrylics,
PaperWeights

Sunrock $7
cast paper, plaster, acrylics
Searock $7
cast paper, plaster, acrylics

Guitars

Neoglyph guitar $18
papier maché acrylics, inks

History Guitar $18
papier maché acrylics, inks

Energy Guitar $18
papier maché acrylics, inks, guitar string

Blues Guitar $12 papier maché acrylics

Paper Dolls

Praise Man $15
papier maché acrylics inks

Praise Woman $15
papier maché acrylics inks

Dance Man pin $7
papier maché acrylics

Dance Woman pin $7
papier maché, acrylics

Cat pins $7
papier maché, acrylics

Paper
Earrings $7

Womb Cherish $20
Cast handmade cotton paper,
homegrown rose petals
acrylics. raffia

Light Womb $35
cast handmade cotton paper,
flowers, cast iron stand, raffia

Light Cone $20
cast handmade cotton paper, flowers, iron stand

Praise Woman Bearing Winged Hearts
unmounted $20
laminated, handmade paper with flowers and plants
women made of various types of purchased papers

Praise Woman Bearing Winged Heart $35
laminated, handmade paper with flowers and plants
women made of various types of purchased papers
Mounted in granite holder

Praise Woman Bearing Winged Heart $30
laminated, handmade paper with flowers and plants
women made of various types of purchased papers
Mounted in wood glass frame

Dancing Man $35
laminated, handmade paper with
flowers and plants, man mad of archival-quality
paper in wood Frame with glass

O! the Soul Sings $45
Handmade paper pulp painting, acrylics
unmounted

Mother $45
Handmade paper pulp painting, acrylics
unmounted