When in the course of human events you’ve been rejected from one of your favorite shows for three years running, you can either (a) accept that it’s one of the hardest shows in the country to get into and try again next year, (b) curse the injustice and inhumanity of it all and wallow in self-pity, or (c) experiment with something completely different. It’s time for plan C.
We love the St. Louis Art Fair. It was the first fair we ever did, and it is consistently one of our best. Which is why it’s really annoying that, after participating in it for four consecutive years, now the jury won’t let us in. Especially annoying because my work is so much better now than when I started. I mean really, I look at the jury pictures I sent them the first year I applied and they must have been out of their MINDS to accept me. And after listening to the irate responses from our St. Louis mailing list after informing them yet AGAIN that we won’t be in attendance, I’m taking matters into my own hands. SO–on September 11 and 12, concurrent with the St. Louis Art Fair and one short block away, we’ll be having a trunk show at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Clayton.
Sure, it’s a risk. It could be high school all over again, and nobody will show up for my party. But for the last two years, as we’ve been driving home from Sausalito, we’ve passed right through St. Louis as the show was going on. We’ve even spent the night there. So, since we’ll be in the area anyway, we’ve reserved a suite at the Clayton Crowne Plaza at Carondelet and Bemiston, one block from the show, Friday, September 11 from 5-10pm, and Saturday, September 12 from noon to 10pm. Here are the advantages:
Air conditioning! (Honestly, I can’t emphasize that enough).
Wine and cheese.
Zero percent chance of storms blowing the tent over.
Free parking–if you buy a bot, we’ll pay for a day of free parking at the hotel. And since parking is tough near the fair, you can leave your vehicle at the Crowne Plaza all day while you shop the rest of the show!
A quiet, friendly, relaxed atmosphere. No pressure–you don’t have to buy anything, just come and catch up and see the latest bots.
Obviously, we don’t know the room number yet. You can check back here September 11, or email me at amy@ifobot.com and I’ll put you on the special mailing list for the event. So, aside from an extra night in a nice hotel, what have we got to lose? NUTHIN, that’s what!
Amy Flynn Designs 
I cannot believe that they reject your Bots. Are they NUTS? Is it at all possible that they have a select number of slots and when they get more super quality art than there are slots for, that they do a lottery? And so you only were unlucky enough to miss out on being picked by chance? Do they have a website to see what they have chosen for this year. I would certainly like to see it to evaluate what they consider “artsy”!
I wish you the best of luck on your new venue….I hope you sell out!!!!
Bless you, Robyn–it’s a very competitive show, with about one in ten entries being accepted. And it’s a different jury each year, with different tastes, so you just have to keep trying! I really don’t think it’s chance or a lottery–you can see this year’s artist list at http://www.culturalfestivals.com/saint-louis-art-fair/artists.html They are ALL excellent.