The Riverside Art Market was a HUGE success this past Saturday. The grand opening of the market was expected to host a turn out of about 4,000 people. The market actualy had 40,000 people show up for the food, crafts, art, impronv, music, and just plain fun! This is a huge cultural step forward for Jacksonville. It is absolutely wonderful to see so many folks show up to support the RAM. I expect good things to come from RAM in the future. After things die down a bit with everything I have going on, Im seriously thinknig about getting involved with the RAM and display some work or maybe set up a group booth or something. Missed the opening day? No worries. The RAM is open every Saturday from now til mid December(i think). Here is some of the news posted up on the RAMS official website, also stop by there blog to check out some gret video coverage.
From The Riverside Arts Market blog-
In a city where huge crowds typically signal a Jaguars game or a Monster Truck rally, 40,000 people showed up under the Fuller Warren Bridge on Saturday, April 4th for the opening of a free outdoor marketplace featuring local art, fresh produce and live entertainment. The crowds shattered all attendance projections. Designed to provide to provide local artists and farmers with a viable marketplace in these difficult economic times, the Riverside Arts Market included local painters, bakers, sculptors, growers, potters, herb gardeners, wood carvers, jewelers, weavers and more. Guests were entertained throughout the day by live bands, face painters, jugglers and other street performers. Many artists sold out before noon.
“In today’s challenging economy, it has never been more important for our community to come together and support one another,” said Doug Coleman, chairman of the RAM organizing committee. “We’re blown away by the attendance on opening day. Clearly, we’ve touched on something that is not only important to our local artists, but our community at large.”
Kathy Stark, a Jacksonville-based artist, was one of more than 160 vendors who had a booth at the market: “This is an exciting day for our city,” said Jacksonville Mayor John Peyton on opening day. “It is a great example of the type of public-private partnership that will have a lasting, positive impact on our city. The market provides a great venue to showcase our talented local artists and is another great downtown destination for citizens and visitors to enjoy.”
The Riverside Arts Market was the brainchild of Dr. Wayne Wood, a Jacksonville resident and stalwart community volunteer. It was modeled after the Portland Saturday Market, which he visited 16 years ago.
Riverside Arts Market official site
.
B.Gray
edbot5000
Crusher
Josh Hoye
It was really fun. Not to be a jerk or anything, but I give this event four months, maybe. Jacksonville residents are fairly fickly re: their entertainment. Also, it is going to be a challenge to get visitors out when a Florida August hits.
Does once a month sound stupid? The Art Walk is monthly, and that’s a hit.
YIKES!
To keep it fresh and interesting, I really hope they pump new entertainment in it CONSTANTLY. There will be other fairs and markets going on…..
I got there just to catch the end and was impressed. I feel the fresh produce and turnover of artists renting booths will keep things fresh. I’m sure today was huge to catch the grand opening but from all accounts people wanted to come back. Also it was less pressure if you couldn’t make it knowing you stop by again next week. The variety of ways to get here made it great too. Drive, walk, bike, riverwalk it was awesome to see the families and dogs making there way under the bridge.
glad to hear it went well! never had a chance to make it out there but definitely next week.
Hey Jackson. I hear ya. Its hard to tell how well the art market will do over the next few months. I have to say though…for a grand opening to have 10x the turn out than what was expected speaks volumes to me. I think Jax really needs something like this and it does need to be consistant, fresh, and hip. Do they really need to do this every weekend? Not sure, I guess its good to keep it going every weekend for the farmers market alone. I defenitly plan on going out there next weekend to check it out. I know they have a lot planned in the future with the market. I hope it continues to grown and prosper for a long time!
This was a unqualified success for J’ville. But for the Artist ?
between the constant roar of over head traffic, the terrible acoustic situation for the main preforming band, the drummers ( got’a go!), and the trumpet player, I couldn’t hear a thing.
Without the ability to talk to our customers, how can we sell ?
We don’t get asked questions like ” how much is your soap’. No one points at our work as signals ” I’ll take two” ( wish !).
And to the Artist who got stuck buy the , food vendors, preforming artist, produce vendors, I feel your pain. Staring at the backs of the heads of a bunch of people, clogging the isles, preventing interested people from even getting to your booth, let alone wanting to spend time there viewing, and discussing your work.
This market is 100% vendor supported, many vendors will not return under those conditions, no vendors, no market. Many of the v’drs are in for 5 – 10 week packages, after that there will be a noticeable drop off, unless a major re vamp of the layout is done. I expect some of them that don’t sell the lower priced art, will cut their losses and move on to somewhere that offers better sales . I didn’t see much, if any of the better art being sold, it was all part of the entertainment, not an artist sales venue.
I see from the RAM e-news letter, that they are already soliciting more artist, in spite of the fact they claim a waiting list.
Most of the Artist were Pro-show vendors, and won’t put up with these conditions, too many other shows/markets on the circuit to choose from. It’s all about sales for most of these Artist ( myself included) we have to make a living, we can show our work almost anywhere. I hope RAM can overcome these problems. Otherwise it will end up being an ” Open air market” rather than an ” Art Market”.
Thanks for an artist perspective on this art dog. Its for the same reasons you outlined that I decided not to jump into RAM just yet. It does seem that they need to rethink the placement of artists,from what i have heard to. I think they just werent expecting such a huge turn out for the grand opening. It will be interesting to see how many folks show up for RAM over the next few weeks. Its a brand new venue, something to do in Jax, and a good time so, there gonna have bigger than “normal” turn outs for a little while. Right now its hard to figure out what the average amount of visitors will be in the future. Im sure RAM will have BIG days and not so big days…just depends on the events and artists there that day.I agree with what your saying…I like to sell my work, I dont want to just set up a booth and have people just hang out and stare at me while eating there hotdogs and listening to jazz and then say, “wow, this is cool” and walk off or have a real buyer not notice my set up due to the huge crowd or awkward placement. Like I said though, I just dont think RAM thought sooooo many people would show up and that may have been a bit of a snag for the artists. I think RAM is a great idea and ya gotta figure this is all new to Jax and the organization. It will only get better with time Im sure. Only time will really tell on how this will work out for vendors, artists, musicians, and the patrons.
I spoke to one artist (who usually doesn’t do this type of thing) and she sold 6 paintings. Another artist sold several works, including a $5,000 piece. Most vendors I spoke with sold way more than they expected, rather than less. Of course, there were some kinks, and I think a lot of the problems had to do with the unexpectedly huge first day crowds. Getting the balance right in future market days is going to be a challenge, become some visitors are only there for the produce and food, others for the free entertainment, and perhaps only a subset for high-end art. However, I think the market can more than sustain itself if the mix of pieces, music, etc., remains fresh. I, for one, am impressed by the whole enterprise.
well said Jean. Either way I look at it…the RAM is a very good thing for the Jacksonville art scene thats for sure!
After two weeks of working my bum off all week to prepare,then getting up @ 5am to drive an hour,setting up very heavy stuff, standing up all day talking to people,taking down and loading up very heavy stuff,driving an hour to get back home,just to do it again for the next Saturday…it was well worth it all!
It’s all a crap shoot these festivals. You don’t know if the
weather will hold out,if the crowds will continue to come,if a
holiday weekend will effect the business,if,if,if. Gee, kind of like our economy. Personally I am putting my odds on myself,my ability to figure out what people want,the need of folks to treat
themselves to something that makes them feel good. That may be
a small little painting that speaks to them,a little sweet tatter
pie or just being out with other people(which doesn’t cost a thing).
I believe this Market has come at just the right moment in time for all of us. I lost my job this year and I am trying to make what was a extra money thing into a full time thing. This is certainly stimulating my economy.I buy gas, breakfast,and a treat
from the antique store all in Five Points so that’s stimulating the community’s economy. I started doing recycled art so that’s a good thing. Try and put positive messages out in the universe…that can’t be bad.
All Ye Nay Sayers and Doom and Gloom Folks get with it.
Have Fun!
See ya at the MARKET
MIss Kay
very cool Miss Kay. Nothing rewarding ever comes without some hard work thats for sure. Thanks for sharring your take on the RAM.
Thanks B Gray…liked your myspace page!
Hope your show did well in ATL,just returned from there myself.
Told my nephew to look at your myspace site and to look at the gallery in ATL for ideas for his outsider art.
We’re all in this together.
See ya!
misskay
Right on Miss Kay positive thinking and hard work. I think again I will say this is FOR SURE an asset to the community. Whether you are a fine artist, food vendor, craftsperson or farmer it gives you a fairly inexpensive venue to interact with shoppers, people walking dogs, hungry people and everyone else.
Attended the RAM for the first time today and what a fabulous addition to the JAX art and market scene!! And to capitalize on that gorgeous St. John’s river on a picture perfect day…WOW! I have been to the wonderful Portland Saturday Market and the Seattle Pike Place Market and JAX has a great start of a tremendous success! The produce was fresh and terrific…some great art and wonderful food and live entertainment!! Think it was certainbly worth the 16 years in getting this gem through for the great city of JAX! CONGRATS to those who have worked so hard to get this event open!!! Wishing you many years of success with RAM!!
I’m close so I have been every weekend except my wedding weekend. When I have time I hit all the rows when I don’t I at least get some produce.
I was in a real hurry yesterday but still picked up a 1/2 flat of the small perfect strawberries for $12 from the guys from starke just selling strawberries. I also for the third week got Russian red leaf kale from Down to Earth which is just on the westside and I saw they have a blog http://downtoearthjax.wordpress.com/. I got tomatoes and green beans from the lovely group that is half down produce row they also have salsa and a bunch of jams I want to try. Then there’s the hydroponic guy who has awesome herbs and spinach he gropws them up by the airport. There are still lots of other veggie people whose stuff looks great as well this is just my must haves.
I can’t wait for next week. More produce to try, the nuts/brittle ladies stuff looks awesome the hubbard house bakery had insane stuff (cherry sage bread!) Let them eat cake has blueberry lemonade (real lemonade with a fresh blueberry compote scopped in). So much more to explore… there is a girl who has great earings I want, I bought a tote of an art print my friend Amanda will die for, and I found a woman who makes awesome handmade tutus which will be perfect for my friend’s little girls second birthday. Oh I also wnat to treat myself to some really great Olive oil from the olive Oil booth.
After a few weekends i saw it all but haven’t scratched the surface. I also saw a ton of cool art and I want to know about the hotdogs that go into the closed buns and there is so so much more.