2010 Sugar Creek Arts Festival – Normal, IL

I had driven past Normal, Illinois many times before. Hell, half the country has – it’s at the crossroads of I-55 and I-74.

I had only seen the town from the interstate until my first show there almost 10 years ago. My first 12 hours or so in Normal were pretty much worrisome to me. Crumbling streets, closed restaurants and businesses across from the worst hotel I had ever seen in my life (that is until I got to Ft. Pierce, Florida a few years later). Let me illustrate it this way: to cover a toilet seat with toilet paper before using it is one thing – in fact it’s a pretty common practice among the ladies as I understand it. But, for a guy to do so before STANDING to use it – that’s a whole ‘nother level of contempt and it is just plain wrong on so many levels!

The morning of the show way back when – it was ungodly hot and I was setting up my trusty EZ-UP (“Easy Down” as they call it if a rainstorm with some wind comes by). I ducked into the coffee shop behind me and asked for a coffee and a roll.

“What kind of roll?”

“I don’t know, any kind – just grab one please and I’ll get back to setting up right outside the door.”

(Hands on hips) “I’m not going to pick your breakfast for you!”

I wondered what I had gotten myself into on that morning. I had driven 5 hours, stayed in a hotel that needed a priest and a barrel of holy water badly, plus I nearly got into a fist fight with an anger-drenched coffee shop diva with dreadlocks – I was worried about what I was up against.

The sun beat down like a drunken stepfather and the crowd literally poured into the street. I had never seen such a crowd in such a small space since the rumor got started that I was to be escorted out of Des Moines. Thousands of people were at that Sugar Creek show that year!

But here’s the point: They were not only knowledgeable and savvy regarding art, they were interested and they were buying, not complimenting, not thanking the artists, not saying they didn’t have wall space – they were buying, collecting, and cherishing!

My first two customers ever in Normal, Anne and Wendy – went nuts over my paintings back then and they are still great supporters of my work! Anne came back to see me this year yet again! Wendy could not make it because she was in Michigan – but get this: another one of her friends came by and purchased a painting for her as a present because she knew how much Wendy loved collecting my paintings! There are others: the fantastic family from Morton who come see me every year, the social worker from south of town, and many more!

This town loves art, loves their art festival, and they really admire and respect the artists that visit their town!

Fast forward to Sugar Creek 2010

Doug Johnson and the MCAC (McLean County Art Center) are still running things – he knows just when to get involved and when to step back. Always friendly and approachable, but just distant enough to keep an eye on everything. He’s an artist and he thinks like one, a good one. There are always new ideas and angles from him each year. The volunteers are enthusiastic and friendly. Not that fake friendly stuff – they really want to be helpful. I never use a booth-sitter or anything like that and these volunteers seem to get a broken heart each time you say “No, thanks.” to them.

The town has gone through an impressive and major, major renovation. I have seen the progress once or twice a year over the years – except for the one year I went to Madison (what a mistake that was!). This town has gone from a dingy, dirty, crumbling midwestern truck stop to an absolutely beautiful small city. The arterials are no longer looking like gravel roads. The “uptown” area near Illinois State University is cleaned up, fixed up and built up. New buildings, new streets, flowers, trash bins, everything is first class and the people of Normal seem to reflect that.

After loading up Sunday night I was waiting for some friends to finish up so we could go to dinner at Medici’s (a really nice place, go there if you are ever in Normal). I was watching people filter in from the parking areas to go to the movie theatre. Who has a renovated movie theatre in their downtown area anymore? While I was waiting, I got to visit with a policeman who was walking the area. He was very proud of his city as well. A great town with great people going through some great changes.

Sales at the show? It’s never been known for large items, but I saw some go by. One artist who I really do not respect very much sold a large painting and I was actually happy for him. My photographer friends did very well. This is the midwest, abstract doesn’t do quite as well here as in other venues. I sold a lot of smaller work. A LOT of smaller work. This year they really responded well to original work on paper from me. A traditional glass artist I know did very well, another one who is more modern and abstract in her design did not fare as good. No one was in tears, no one was throwing stuff around and cursing at the end of the show.

It was a good, strong profitable show for me. I’m not going to address the weather – it’s July in Illinois, for crying out loud.

The show is extremely well organized and you have to be in a coma or the cemetery to not know about it – this town lives for this show!

As far as judging goes – I will not address it because I do not participate in competitions at street shows. This has nothing to do with Sugar Creek – it’s my policy for all shows.

The put on a really nice artist reception at Medici’s on Saturday night this year. I don’t know if it will be there next year, but it has been for the last couple.

Artists – you gotta love ‘em because you can’t shoot them in Illinois. Here’s why they should maybe amend the law:

Medici’s put out a really nice little snack table Saturday night with the smaller bread plates so that there will be enough for everyone to have a pass through before things run out. Jesus Christ! – pack a lunch or buy something to eat before the end of Saturday you guys! It’s an awards reception, not an “all you can eat” Sunday buffet! There were people balancing things on those little plates and carrying so many of them – it was an amazing sight! It would have made the Cirque de Soleil people green with envy if they were there! Medici’s went ahead and made more when they obviously did not have to do so. Great attitude shown by the waitstaff there too.

The show people really try to stay out of the way of the artists. You can really tell they expect professionals to come to their show and set up their booths – no barking about parking here or doing this or not doing that. Yet, still – artists will pull up and not move their damn vehicles so others can get in. I think anyone that still does this “set up and then move the vehicle routine” should be tied to a pole in the middle of the show and horsewhipped for being an inconsiderate moron and I encourage Doug to look into this policy. The same goes at tear down. There’s always some people that feel they cannot tear down without their damn van in front of their booth and people bitching all around them. The best this weekend was the guy who was blocking the lane while he was packing up and the two girls who were yelling at him for doing so – when they were coming in from the opposite (i.e. “wrong”) direction with a trailer! Along with the application, jury fees, images, etc. Doug and the other staff people may want to consider a simple instructions in English test for next year because some people just don’t get it.

Sugar Creek is a good, strong show. It’s not a carnival or a circus – the focus is on art and they have the support of the people that live there. I turn a nice profit every year and I feel welcome because of the customers and friends I have made there. These people have gone through a lot to make their town a nice place to live and I feel it is a privilege to come see them at their spring show and their arts festival every year. They appreciate and support artists at the art center and at the patron level.

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