Des Moines Arts Festival / June 27-29
Des Moines Arts Festival
I’m honored to be counted among 197 of the nation’s top artists this weekend for the Des Moines Arts Festival. I’ll have my textile artworks with me at this prestigious, juried festival.
Find me on Grand Ave, near 12th Street, Booth 55.
Friday, June 27, 11am-10pm
Saturday, June 28, 11am-10pm
Sunday, June 29, 11am-5pm
Thoughts and Musings
As I travel the country, carting around my artworks -worrying about what the bad weather, humidity, and moths might be doing to the fabrics- I’ve been thinking about the challenges of selling textile art.
One thing I’ve learned: textile art is a hard sell. It’s a medium that comes from a history “women’s work”. Think: quilts, clothes, curtains, embroidery, and everything else that was needed in the home. Women made these beautiful items without getting paid. It was what they did for their families.
What does that mean for me - and other textile artists? It means that our labor-intensive, high-quality art is simply not valued in the same way as other art.
I once had someone stand wide-eyed, open-mouthed, gaping in disbelief as she pointed to the price tag by my largest, most detailed artwork. Do you think she would have reacted in that way to an oil painting of the same size and price? I’m not sure.
My journey continues…
And now it’s time to leave for Des Moines! (Fingers crossed for low humidity - and no moths.)
I hope to see you there!
xo Mary
My event schedule has been adjusted slightly, check out the latest here.
