Hazel Berger Photography Opening Octane Coffee 03/12/2011 Octane Coffee ...

Preparing an Art Show

I am about to hang my second photography show tomorrow. I learned a lot the first time, and I took a different approach for this show. I thought I would share the information here.

Just to give you the time-line:

June 2007 -- Trip to Barcelona (I decide to start selling my photography)
Sept. 2008 --Women in Focus juried photography show (Faye Gold selects 3 of my images for group show)
May 2010 -- Magnolias on Magnolia Street (32 images of magnolias at the Roswell Tea House)
July 2010 -- Sunflower Farm Festival (Rutledge, Georgia)
March 2011 -- Floral Photographs on Canvas (12 images at Octane Coffee Bar & Lounge)

My first show was in May of last year and the first art festival that I started learning "what sells" was in July. I definitely have a good record of what images sell and know what to expect at an art festival now. My priority is selling art at art festivals, so that is my means to an end. I think art shows are about getting the word out and into the community. A lot of people will visit Octane Coffee between March 12 and April 3 (my show dates), but there won't be a sales person to close the sale.

The Magnolia show included different treatments: unframed canvas works and framed fine art paper photographs. My goal with the show was to illustrate how varied the gorgeous magnolia flower was. My goal today is different. I want to display a representative sampling of my work. I am selecting art that hasn't been shown in Atlanta. My show is more gelled. I know that I am selling 12" x 18" canvas works regularly, so I am displaying 10 works on canvas that size unframed. I am certain that I will be able to sell this size image in an upcoming art festival, so no worries about the investment, which was limited.

My 24" x 36" canvas titled Magnificent pulls people right into my photography booth at art festivals, so I will display this work at Octane. And, I created another 36" x 24" canvas titled The View, below, for this show. It is my newest image. This work will be super to add to my show booth. Yes, this portrays what I felt looking at those gorgeous trees in Griffin, Georgia.

For this show, I purposely selected four of my best selling images as a base. The owner of the coffee shop likes my works which are mixed medium, so I have included four images where I was able to add acrylic paint on top of the photograph. I personally have a "love affair" with my latest image until I take the next one that I like better, so I have included four brand new images. For this show, I selected a variety of flowers (subject matter within my specialty), not all magnolias. Lately, I have been more conscience about looking through previously shot work, which I did not release, for something I might have overlooked. This show will include one new image from my archives.

Magnolias on Magnolia Street

Dear Carine, Thank you so much for allowing me to hang my images in your tea house. I am crazy about magnolias and how fitting the restaurant is on Magnolia Street. I have polished up thirty-two of my images that are of the beautiful tree. This is a very exciting happening in my life. I hope that your customers enjoy the art. Hazel

Dear Gittel, Thanks so much for your hours of volunteering as our president for Women in Focus. I am so glad to have joined the Women in Focus board as Vice President. Thank you for helping me procure this show at the Teahouse. This is a great opportunity that you have opened the door to. Hazel

Dear Jim, Thank you for having such a beautiful tree on my street and introducing me to these glorious flowers. Hazel

Dear Children, Thank you for all your opinions about my photographs, your ever lifting and carrying my boxes and your swift setting up and tearing down my tent to enable my art career. Thanks. Love, Mom

Dearest Reader, Thanks for following my blog and viewing my art. I am always open to feedback and appreciate your support. My show opens today May 3rd and I hope you live close enough to stop in for lunch one day this month. Hazel

Magnolias on Magnolia Street -- May 3 - 29, 2010 at The Roswell Teahouse -- 108 Magnolia Street in Roswell. Learn more on my site. Here are a couple more images to wet your appetite.

Dear POE team, Thanks for all the advice, ideas and support over the past year on Etsy. It really has helped me professionally to be on the team. Hazel

Wesleyan Reunion Weekend Full of Art

I attended my college reunion this weekend and it was really special this year because the school has added an art show to the line up and an artist market as well. Fitting that I took my first photography class at Wesleyan College in Macon, Georgia that I return with my photographs.

Here is an image of my art in the wonderful gallery the alumnae volunteers created with reunion year artists' work featured. Pictured here are Mystery Bloom, Spring and Waltzing with acid free mats and black frames. The works are about 20" wide and retail for $180 framed. On the right is my latest creation. It is a 16" by16" version of Perfect printed on canvas with acrylic highlights. This sells for $200.

While I was at the alumnae weekend, I took a few photographs. Our school color is purple, so I thought to pull the purple in this image. It's too bad you can't read the year on the sign on the right below as that it my graduation year. ;) A special thank you to my classmates for all their purchases at the art fair.

Chastain Green Market is Fun!

Enjoyed meeting all the dog walkers, artists, collectors, and moms and dads at chastain park this past Saturday. Just checked and the weather is supposed to be sunny for the weekend in Atlanta. I am printing more images to take to the show on Saturday, and painting! Hope to see you there. Here is a picture of my tent at the show.

Saturdays 7:30 AM - 11:30 AM
Chastain Park's Horseradish Grill
Sponsor's page with directions: Atlanta Foundation for Public Spaces.

I purchased my pop up tent from my local costco warehouse and the mesh panels from http://www.flourish.com/. My banner was printed by Don Neder of SpeedPro Imaging in Atlanta. This is a great entry level tent for selling art and crafts.

Juried in SouthEastern Flower Show

Wow! I applied to the SE Flower Show recently, as my biggest work of art is flowers, and 4 of my images were juried into the show. Here is a list of images that were juried in and will be on display at the show. It is February 4-6th at the Cobb Galleria.
Pictured to the right is Waltzing. The links below are to listings in my Etsy shop.
Christmas Mag P09 Flowers, Flowers, Flowers
Waltzing P09 Flowers, Flowers, Flowers
Joy P13 People and Other Critters (not for sale)
Spring P09 Flowers, Flowers, Flowers
 
And, as if that weren't enough... three flower canvases (and other works) sold at the chanukah bazaar last weekend: Perfect, Zinnia c/o City of Pittsburgh and Spinning. I'm not sure if I should spend the day celebrating or working! I have printed 13 more canvases and am painting away!