The Gresham Art Festival was a pretty fun experience. I
haven’t been a vendor at events like these very often, but when I arrived to
put up my booth, there were smiling volunteers available to help unload my gear
and who were better at setting up my little tent than I was. It was a gracious
greeting, and I’d be honored to participate in this festival next year.
My sister Jill and her husband Ron helped me set up my wares
and provided support throughout the day. I was glad for their company and for
their help. I’d like to add that their commitment to my photography-endeavor
reminds me to put forth my best effort, even when I am tired or discouraged — as
does the encouragement of friends and their unsolicited positive comments.
As many of you know, I sometimes stray toward the
introversion pole of the personality spectrum, so photography, for me, is an important means of
sharing for when I am having trouble with my words.
There were over 150 vendors at the festival, so by the 8:30
deadline, a city of tents and booths lined almost all the streets of downtown
Gresham.
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| 8:30 AM and just about everyone is set-up and ready |
As one friend
commented, “The festival was bigger than I expected, and I could still find
parking!”.
This year my sister convinced me to switch to glass instead
of Plexi-glass because while Plexi-glass won’t shatter into lethal artery-cutting blades when it falls from the display-rack, a simple cleaning with a
paper-towel does render it
partially opaque from tiny scratch marks, and that’s not so great for display
purposes. I have to agree with Jill, I think the glass
looks nicer.
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| Surprise partial re-union of Sunday P.M. staff (left to right: Matt, Lisa, Alexis, Dan, Scott and Lisa K. (not pictured)) |
The award for “people who traveled furthest to visit my art-festival booth”
goes to Dr. and Dr. Anderson and their daughter Alexis all the way from
Minnesota — even though I know they are really here in Oregon for other
purposes.
Yesterday was the debut of a new product — sets of themed
note-cards. There were 10 different themes, each theme having 5 unique images. After taking stock of the remaining inventory,
I can report that the Portlandish II theme was the most popular. A flower-theme
came in second-place (so, good call Susanna). These are the images from the
most popular set:
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| Hollywood Theater |
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| Tugboat Portland working at the Port of Portland |
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| Downtown foo-dog at the China-town Gate |
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| Iconic sign with stag |
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| Vista House |
All in all, I consider yesterday a very good day.
I’m
resolved to refining my skills at acquiring and sharing images that speak.
so glad it was a success scott! I follow each of your steps towards being a lucrative seller with anticipation and only wish for you the very best!
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