Artist Log, Chicago:
I was a little off my game this year I must admit because I FORGOT my labels! Yes, the ever-lengthening titles of my art (and their ever-increasing prices) were left sitting next to my printer in the studio where they had been freshly inked. I want to use the flood as an excuse-Fond du lac was hit by a massive amount of rainfall the day before I had to leave for Chicago, and many streets were underwater. The roof of the building where my studio is housed leaks like crazy. I was moving stuff around trying to keep it dry, and the constant dripping kept me up until dawn on Friday. I had it good, though. I am on the second floor. Many people around the city had serious flooding in their homes. But, dripping or no dripping, sleep or no sleep, I just plain forgot to bring the labels. So I just scribbled the prices on scrap pieces of paper and taped near each sculpture, but it certainly wasn't the same. Nobody mentioned the missing titles, but I think it may have hurt my sales a bit. It definitely took some of the fun out of the booth.
The weather in Chicago was great. Saturday was sunshine and temps in the mid-seventies. Sunday saw a strong thunderstorm blast through early, but by the time the show opened for day 2, the skies had cleared and we had another gorgeous day.
It was so good to see all of my collector friends like Alix and Steve, Terry, David and Rhonda, and all the rest. It was also great to be set up next to Darlene again. Mike from Austin was also great-he had a very nice display.
The COOLEST people of course were my family for converging on the windy city to visit and just have a good time. Present were: My brother Mike and his wife Medelice, my sister Sue and her husband Charlie, and my other sis Ann. Ann's daughter Alissa was supposed to make the trip, but she was washed away by flood waters. Just kidding. But she was in northwestern Wisconsin, and traveling would have been very difficult due to the flooding in much of the state. We missed ya, Alissa! The gang enjoyed the art festival on Saturday, and that night we all went to an awesome restaurant -The Capital Grille. Great food, great drink, and awesome company. Sure beat sitting in a hotel room with fast food like I usually do at these shows.
Big THANK YOU to all who bought my art over the weekend. I absolutely love this job, and it's people like you who make it possible for me to keep going. Thank you for having such good taste. Thank you Chicago for being so fantastic. It's always hard to leave you. maybe someday, I'll just stay...but until then we'll have to meet when we can. I'll be back!
-Steve Wirtz 06-19-2008
