Hi, My name is Jim DeLutes and this is my very first blog. I’m sure as time goes on and my knowledge of how this all works, this will have a lot more bells and whistles (maybe even some pictures!) Anyway, with that illustrious introduction, here we go….
After a bumpy road for the last few years for the Downtown Denver Arts Festival (formerly the Colorado Arts Festival), I felt it was time to step up and do something about the course this show was on. I have felt for many years that this show could be one of the best in Colorado and was disappointed with how it had turned out in recent years. This year when I heard that the show was without a director, I decided to put my time and energy where my mouth was and take the helm. I have been pleased with my meetings with the Pavilions (where the show is held) and the vision they have for the show.
What I want to do with this blog is keep people informed as this show starts to come together. Also, I would love to share ideas with the Colorado Artists who have participated in the past or would like to participate. Most of us know all of the things that went right and wrong with the show in the past, so I would ask you to give your most positive visions of how this show could be. We will have a website for the show up soon, so stay tuned…..
I have always thought that this show had tremendous potential. If it remains open to only Colorado Artists and we can get the absolute best in the region to exhibit at the show it should be extremely successful. I would suggest that the show advertising focus on the fact that it is all Colorado artists. I know for a fact that many customers seek out the Colorado artists at the Cherry Creek show and there are only 6 or 7 from Colorado invited.
I’m glad to see a promoter that has actually done art shows will be taking the helm.
I’m really looking forward to this growing into something great!
Comment by J D Hillberry — December 5, 2006 @ 1:25 am
Jim….Though we have never met, I have heard many good things about you, and just the fact you get this booklet of shows out to all of us each year is a miracle. Therefore, I am very happy to have you take over this show. It has so much potential.
Thank you….Betty Ardnt
Comment by Betty Arndt — December 5, 2006 @ 1:33 am
Jim,
We are very glad to hear that you are taking over the show. We know that you are extremely aware of the ups and downs of the industry and the life of an artist. It will be good to have someone on our side.
Thanks in advance for all the upcoming hard work!
Beth and Dennis
Erlund Johnson Studios
Comment by Beth Erlund — December 5, 2006 @ 2:34 am
Jim,
Congratulations to you and this IS great news for all of us! You have the show experience for it and this show has so much untapped potential for local artists. I agree with JD that a quality show featuring only Colorado artists could be huge.
Thanks for taking this on!
Comment by Charlotte Fleharty — December 5, 2006 @ 2:49 am
Yee Ha!! Great news Jim – Boulder in ‘96 was a great example of a very well run show. I thought all shows would be like that – you spoiled us all.
I think the show has terrific potential – now if we can get the street people to go somewhere else – it will be perfect!
Comment by Judy Hoch — December 5, 2006 @ 3:27 am
Yay Jim. I’m glad you’re taking over. We need someone with integrity to put this show on the right track. It was such a disappointment when Howard Alan ran(?) it last year. We were not planning on doing it again, but now we have hope that it will be a successful show.
Comment by Susan Garson — December 5, 2006 @ 3:30 am
I would love to see a really GOOD art festival that is actually affordable to artists in Denver. The Cherry Creek Art Festival is just too expensive and frankly, I am not impressed with the work. Keeping it to Colorado Artists would also be great.
Comment by Joanna Whitney — December 5, 2006 @ 4:53 am
Jim, I was excited by your choice of words in the email. So excited I clicked to come to this blog.. A follow-up action i seldom do..
I have been listening for several years now (by reading the emails, thank you) of the various activities in Colorado and have been waiting for an exciting opportunity to participate. The show is my nearest, geographic, opportunity. And even though I am repeatedly invited to many good shows. Pre juried into most (because of my web site, I guess), I can ill afford to spend thousands that are requred to make attendance. Besides.. I am fortunate and grateful to be very busy,full time , doing what I love.
I was disappointed when I saw that I do not qualify for the show.. sad.. Sorry I live in Kansas and miss that Colorado border by a few hours drive.
I do, however feel you are on to something there.. and would encourage artistic creator’s to participate… and , if ever the horizon is broadened,, would give serious consideration to attending and helping to promote.. however I could..
Good luck to you all,,, God Bless, and have fun!!!!
My kindest of regards,
Mike Just
Wilson, Kansas
http://www.treetables.com
Comment by Mike Just — December 5, 2006 @ 12:01 pm
Appreciate your hard work, Jim, as I said in my email to you, and look forward to seeing the comments about your new venture on this blog. I agree with the Cherry Creek comments. I did not see much there that I HAD to take home, and the artists definitely had an attitude. Also, no fiber worthy of mention, which is strange, but then fiber is not the flavor of the month these days, it seems.
Comment by Phillippa Lack — December 5, 2006 @ 2:01 pm
Thanks for keeping us all in the loop on the status of this show. It truly does have the potential for being a fantastic show if we can get past the management and advertising snafus.
As an artist, I welcome an affordable, effective and positive venue to show and sell my work in. I, for one, would be willing to participate and support the show again with the hopes of making it a profitable and positive experience for all. Thanks again for the updates and your promise to do your best to make this happen.
Sincerely, Dale Honning
Comment by Dale Honning — December 5, 2006 @ 2:32 pm
You go, Jim. You did a great job in Boulder, and because of you, I developed that show into one of my most successful. Sorry to hear I don’t qualify because of living in CA, but I wish you all the best with this endeavor, and like one of the previous comments, I too would participate if you ever open it up. Gee, maybe I should move to CO!!!
Comment by Laurie Bender — December 5, 2006 @ 2:37 pm
Jim — I, too, am very excited about your position as Director of DDAF! I participated in CAF many times and was always excited about the “exclusively Colorado” requirements for entry. We have an amazing selection of talent in Colorado and I know that is a major selling point to the visitors to this show.
Thank you for your dedication to the success of showcasing Colorado artists.
Evette
Comment by Evette Goldstein — December 5, 2006 @ 2:41 pm
I’m glad to see this show will continue and will be handled by someone that understands what artists want!
I’ll be looking forward to the information on applying.
Comment by Bev Haring — December 5, 2006 @ 3:19 pm
Jim–I get the feeling you are good at whatever you endeavor–for example just the way you get the CAT packets out to us. I’ve given your name and address to many other artists. Please consider–at some point–opening this show up to those of us beyond the Co. border. I would love to do it. And thanks for those email updates you send out, too.
Best wishes,
Linda Vozar Sweet
Comment by Linda Vozar Sweet — December 5, 2006 @ 4:05 pm
Wow! I can tell already with all these great comments that this
will be the most successful show in Colorado.
If anybody can do it….Jim can!!!
Comment by Kristin DeSantis — December 5, 2006 @ 4:32 pm
Thanks Jim for taking on such a huge task. I have done this show now 4 years and have developed a following (as I know other artists in this show have) of customers who attend to purchase from myself and many other artists in this show. I have always known that Colorado is bursting with fine artists who need a local, reasonably priced, well run, of high quality art show to showcase their talents and offer the locals some great art work to take home with them. I have heard over and over from visitors to my booth, that this show is better than the Cherry Creek art show and that they are amazed at the amount of talent there is in Colorado, so the potential is already present. I feel for the artists who do not live in Colorado, yet, I know that one of the special aspects of this show is the fact that it is all Colorado Artists, because I have heard that comment from the visitors in my booth for years. I know people come out to support local artists and appreciate what outstanding art is present here in our lovely state. Darlene Armstrong
Comment by Darlene Armstrong — December 5, 2006 @ 6:15 pm
Jim,
This is fabulous news! After 2 really bad experiences, I had given up on the show. Now I know it will be great.
Thank you so much for doing this.
Pam Caidin
Comment by Pam Caidin — December 5, 2006 @ 11:47 am
Jim, it looks like you have lots of people rooting for you. And these are the people who count. God bless you for taking on such an enormous task. I know you’re up for it!
Comment by Alyson B. Stanfield — December 5, 2006 @ 12:18 pm
Jim, I’m soooo glad to hear that you are the new director for this show!!!!! I agree 100% with Darlene. I have done this show for 7 years and have a large number of customers who return year after year. Many have commented on how glad they are that there is a such a showcase for Colorado talent. That is a big part of what makes this show special.
Comment by Suzanne Williams — December 5, 2006 @ 2:52 pm
Thank you for your committment. Good luck! It appears from all the comments entered before mine that your timing was warranted and everyone cheers your choice. Congratulations.
Comment by Sheila Brachfeld — December 5, 2006 @ 6:00 pm
Thank you Jim! The potential of this show is great, especially with the right promoter – you. Your familiarity with the location, artists, and what is needed to make a successful show is much appreciated. I look forward to your direction and applaud your gumption to take on this show. Yes, to the Colorado artist involvment – it makes this show different from the rest of the summer show offerings. This can become the premier Colorado show with your guidance!
Comment by Mary Staby — December 6, 2006 @ 9:02 am
We’d done this show successfully for several years, and after it started to decline, thought we’d give it one last shot – at a cheaper location (yep, dumb move, I know). Between the street people, the “win a trip to Breckentridge” booth and the Pella Windows display, vowed never to set foot near it again. Damn shame ’cause it seemed to have so much potential.
Well, maybe it’s worth another look. Jim, I don’t know you, but if you think you can do it, count me in. Whether it’s exclusively Colorado artists or just mostly so, I’d love to see it happen – a real-live, high quality juried ART show! Woohoooooo!!
Comment by Jan — December 6, 2006 @ 11:13 am
I have a suggestion. I know the original manifesto of the show was for Colorado-only artists, basically to counter Cherry Creek’s elitism against CO artists. And I support that to a degree…
Perhaps there is a middle ground: Accept Colorado artists of the highest caliber, even if that means not filling the entire show, and
then allow applications from around the country, but hold them to even higher standards, or only allow in truly unique regional work? (e.g. The guy from Kansas that put something above, if that’s unique enough…I didn’t check out his work).
Just thinking outside the box on this one… I hope the show is raging success. Please keep everyone apprised of the dates and application process. Don’t be disappointed if it takes a year or two to help build up the confidence about the show’s integrity again…it will take time. Brian and Howard did some pretty heavy damage to it…
Comment by Dave R — December 8, 2006 @ 4:38 pm
Jim,
Excited for an actual artist taking on this show. The show was pretty good under Brian until he dropped the non-profit. And how, Howard screwed it up so bad is beyond me. Anyway, good luck and if you need any input or help, let Karen or I know.
Steve
Comment by Steve & Karen Smith — December 12, 2006 @ 6:51 pm
Jim
Yes! Thanks for taking this on. I believe in the potential of the Denver show and have respect for your
job on the Boulder show so I’m behind you 100%. This show has worked for me because of my mailing and despite former management. I have great hopes for what can be done by a dedicated director who understands the needs and desires of participating artists and is willing to do the necessary work. I have always thought that the “Colorado Artist” aspect of this show is what distinquishes it and hope to see that maintained and promoted.
Comment by Terry Groseclose — December 13, 2006 @ 2:45 pm
Jim,
Great news! We need a flagship show to get into when cherry creek is so difficult to deal with.
Haven’t been that impressed by it anyway.
I’d gladly volunteer to jury, as I never have done it, and would love to participate.
Keep up the great work!
Hill
Comment by Hill Brin — December 26, 2006 @ 5:41 pm
I was really excited about the new Colorado art show downtown considering my experience with the previous manager, until I saw the dates. Four days is just too much, there are many of us artists that have jobs and cannot take off of work. I suggest keeping the show to three or two days like many of the other art festivals do.
Comment by Rose Goldberg — December 29, 2006 @ 12:44 pm
Thanks for your comments, Rose. Let me address the four day issue. As an artist, I too do not like 4 day shows but in this instance I believe it is necessary. Opening on Friday is important because it is a way to let all of the people who work in Downtown Denver know that there is something going on for the weekend and hopefully they come back with their spouse/families. Monday is a short day for the show but it still is a holiday so it’s important to be open. Also, the hours are somewhat dictated by the Pavilions which have been quite gracious and supportive of the show. I hope this helps. Jim DeLutes, Director
Comment by jim4ddaf — December 29, 2006 @ 1:34 pm
I’m putting together my show schedule for 2007. I’m interested in hearing what makes your Boulder Show a great show and what aspects you intend to improve at the Pavillions Show. I didn’t participate last year but was unimpressed by the turnout the year before when I was there. Obviously the weather was lousy for half, but the rest of the time was not much better in the way of interested attendees. In 2003, my first time there, it was a good show for me.
I guess I’d like to learn a little bit more about your philosophy. What makes a great show for artists and attendees alike?
Comment by Willi Eggerman — January 3, 2007 @ 5:13 pm
Willi, thanks for the chance to explain my philosophy. I have been doing art shows nationally for the last 16 years, I ran the Boulder show for 2 years in the mid 90’s and my background before that was business and marketing. There are many aspects that make a great show, some tangible and some not. The show has to deliver to the public that it is being marketed to, the best product available. In this case the product has to be fine art and fine craft. I have run the Colorado Artist Tour for 12 years and have access to a vast number of artists throughout the state of Colorado and I believe we have a vast resource of high quality art and artists. Secondly, the PR and advertising has to be geared towards the right demographics. We need clientele with disposable income and a taste for Art. This is achieved by strategic partnerships with corporate sponsors and creating an environment that is attractive and interesting both visually and socially. In other words, the longer you can keep people at the event, the better the chances are that they will want to buy something. Fine art, fine music, fine wine and fine food is the goal. All of this will take a couple of years to accomplish but I believe the artists in Colorado will support this show and in turn the show will support the artists. Hopefully this answers some your concerns, Jim DeLutes, Director
Comment by Jim DeLutes — January 3, 2007 @ 5:36 pm
OK, now we know who is in – where do we send the checks? Judy
Comment by Judy Hoch — March 11, 2007 @ 3:13 pm