Yesterday, August 27, 2022, I participated in the Lansdale Festival of the Arts in Lansdale, PA. It’s the first show I’ve done since the pandemic started and it’s three years since I was last at this location in August, 2019. The show was canceled in 2020 for the pandemic and last year for bad weather, so we were happy to have a hot sunny day for this year’s date.
I’ve pretty much stopped doing shows, and I don’t know when I’ll be at another one. So I’ll tell you a little about it.
As background, I have a long history at this show – I think I first attended it in 1996, maybe. It’s held in a park and is a well-run easy-going event, always one of my favorite places to exhibit.
Friday night we packed up the car. Since I am not doing shows regularly, we had gotten rid of our old big car and found a new car since our last outing, and it’s much smaller. It took us some time to pack up this new car, Jen McGill her name is, and get her ready to take us to the show.
A bit squeezed in, we arrived at the park about 7:45 AM and were directed to Space 31.
First thing, get the tent set up. And then the racks, and unload the artwork from the car.
Next, put the covers on the racks. Start arranging the artwork. Set up the table for small works. Then clear off the chairs so we can sit down and we’re all done.
Here is a view of the various panels in the display. It’s always a challenge to put the art in places so that each piece looks well and fits in with its surrounding pieces. Sometimes this is hard with the variety of colors and patterns I fill each piece with – I don’t want people to have trouble picking individual pieces out of the crowd.
Once settled in the day went well. I felt as if I had never been away from the show world. It helped that the setting and many of the exhibitors were familiar to me, as well as the show organizers.
By chance I posted this piece yesterday:
I displayed it at this show, as you can see in the above photos. And guess what, it won third prize in my category, Acrylics, Oil, and Mixed Media. That was a nice surprise.
Well, that’s about it for the show. We had a nice day, a lot of pleasant conversations, made some sales, and managed to re-pack Jen McGill and fit ourselves into our spaces for the trip home. Once we got home and unpacked, we settled down for our traditional after-show dinner, pizza.
Thank you to everyone at the Lansdale Festival of the Arts who made this show possible.
Claudia McGill and Her Art World 
Well deserving of a prize. (K)
Your work show splendidly! Congratulations on the award!
Thank you. I am glad you say that, I am always worried that with all the colors and patterns that it is hard to keep the images from becoming kind of kaleidoscopic in a group like this.
Thank you. I am glad it got a chance to be seen out there in the world.
Your display looks wonderful! Congrats on the award it is a great painting! It is nice that you are back doing events, I enjoy going to art events but don’t always enjoy participating in them.
Thank you. These days, I only do the things that are pleasant, fun, and pretty easy. I’ve done enough years on the show circuit to pick and choose now. Which is nice!
Nice to have the choice, and enjoy the events. Glad it works out perfectly!
I love your display. Wish I could have seen it in person. And congratulations on your award! N.
Thank you. After all these years I feel my tent and display (though the paintings change, the set up is the same) are almost like a home, familiar and we have made it comfortable for us! (and the art viewing visitors, too, I hope)
It seems like you are still operating like a well-oiled machine despite not having participated in a show for a few years.
I think muscle memory came into play all right. Or else two decades plus of show life has so ingrained it into our minds we could do it in our sleep. Still had that challenge of the smaller car, though. All in all, it felt very familiar and comforting to be going through this routine again.
Enjoyed the illustrated story of tne setting up your show. Quite a feat! Your stall looks so professional. I was glad to read of the sales made.
CONGRATULATIONS on the prize.
Thank you. You know, our set-up has come a long way from when we constructed a sort of frame with PVC pipes and blocks of wood, no tent, just drape plastic over things if it rained. (I sort of shudder to think of it now). And thank you re: the prize, I always hope for something, but I never expect it, and I am grateful to be recognized for my work like this.
I also shuddered when I read of your original set up!
The recognition is well earned.
BTW I like your newl logo
Thank you on both counts. You know, when I think of our early show days I can’t believe how we managed, we were just so ignorant! Well, experience gave us good lessons. !
Well done! Your display looks great! I was invited to take a stand at a local event this week, but I didn’t feel ready. I really admire your set up. Maybe next year!
Thank you. I’ve been doing shows for about 30 years so we’ve got the display as we like it and it’s easy to handle now. Our earliest displays were not so professional looking! It just took some time to figure out. I do like being in shows and the right display makes it easier.
Congratulations on the win and I wish I could have stopped by your booth (if I lived in your part of the country and had attended the show!) Awesome art!
Thank you. I would love to see you in my booth! Who knows, it could happen! The show was a good experience and it felt like a throwback to normal times.