displays for outdoor art shows

[KathiRudko]

Does anyone have any effective ideas for displays to hang paintings - both watercolour and acrylic (some under glass ; some not) for outdoor art fairs??? I am doing 2 fairs in August , have a 10' by 10' canopy/quick gazebo tent and need to build something to hold the paintings. Preferably something easy to assemble, reasonably cheap, lightweight but sturdy...
Thanks!! Kathi

[mick11]

Hi Kathi,

This is how an artist friend of mine does it. They are just lightweight wooden frames with an open weave material stapled on.

[SandiH]

I do outdoor shows but hang stained glass panels but I got my idea for my racks from a lady who sold paintings. We made frames out of pine and attached hardware cloth to the frames. The hardware cloth lets you hang your art work anywhere on the frame without having to carry alot of extra fixtures. My husband hinged two of the frames together so they fold easy for me to handle in and out of my car. The third one he put two eye hooks where the hinges go and I slide a bolt thru them and attach a nut to secure it. These frames are very lightweight and install in seconds. We also screw nailed shelf standards on the front of the middle section so that I can place a shelf or two if I need them. Hope this helps.

[gingery]

I have a friend who uses metal framed wire...finer mesh than chain link, but I don't know what it's called. It works great, because if it gets windy, it lets the air flow through. She also takes black fabric & puts in over the containers that she has her unframed, but matted and covered in acetate work in. It looks very professional. She uses hooks, because her frames have wires, ready for hanging. That way, she can hang her art on both sides. I hope this helps. If you go to a builders supply, you can look around & get some ideas. It keeps it lighter weight, which makes it easier to handle & assemble as well.
Best of luck,
ginger

[mick11]

Originally Posted by gingery

I have a friend who uses metal framed wire...finer mesh than chain link, but I don't know what it's called.

I have seen it done with chicken wire on pine frames, but think the cloth looks better.

[bohemian3]

Hi Kathi!
This is too funny. I will be at the Miracle Beach show in July 29. What a small world ( and huge forum)!
I was wondering the same thing about hanging pics outside??.
This will be my first show so I have a lot of bugs to iron out!!
Are you exhibiting in Courtenay in August?
linnea

[katz]

Look in the art business forum.

Larry Seiler had a thread on panels and tents for outdoor shows.
Great information.

Gay

[skipstah70]

mICK... cool idea.. thanks for posting that pic.. my imagination is running wild
!

Skips

[mick11]

Hi Skips,

If you use door hinges with a removable pins you can easily take them apart for transporting.

[chewie]

there are some fairly cheap panels made by gridwall. i've never seen them used, so can't vouch for them. i use grapic display panels, and LOVE them--shoulda bought them years ago, and not gone thru the home-mader versions first, it just wasted my money and time. these babies are so easy to use!

[Rynnakat]

I found mine on ebay. Search for Skyline. I found a lady selling one about 5 miles from me, and made her an offer, brought cash and took away a skyline backdrop kit worth $600 for $175. (She had bad pics, but I took a chance) Little did I know that velcro stuck to it too!! So I bought a 50 yd roll of adhesive velcro from ebay (the hook side) for $7 and hung all of my canvases on it. The backdrop was 8 foot high and set up in little over 6 minutes. Take down was about 6 minutes too. I did my first art fair last weekend. WOW!

p.s. I got Canvas Racks on sale at Jerrys Artorama site for $112 for two jumbos (he had a sale) and they shipped within 3 days. I got the most compliments on these black canvas racks, they look so professional.

[Tusitalo]

I found this old book that might help everyone, "The Artists Guide to Sidewalk Exhibiting" by Claire V. Dorst (c)1980. Watson-Guptillm Publications. If you can find it, it is an interesting read.

[RvnErn]

You might check out this ad on eBay: ART DISPLAY PANEL PLANS FOR ART/Craft FAIR EXHIBITS

[Tattau]

http://faso.com/fineartviews/20870/a...-art-festivals

http://www.squidoo.com/OutdoorArtShowInfo

http://www.ehow.co.uk/info_8170340_a...lay-ideas.html

http://www.sheilaevans.net/2009/03/3...rt-fair-booth/

http://www.canadiantire.ca/browse/pr...=1312833749878

http://www.ehow.com/how_4478967_disp...door-fair.html

http://artshowtips.blogspot.com/

[Tattau]

Originally Posted by Tusitalo

I found this old book that might help everyone, "The Artists Guide to Sidewalk Exhibiting" by Claire V. Dorst (c)1980. Watson-Guptillm Publications. If you can find it, it is an interesting read.

ebay has one for around ten bucks.

Amazon has 'em for 0.02 plus shipping.