The latest issue of Sunshine Artist, a leading source of information for the art fair
circuit, delivered good news for two Wood County art festivals.
The Black Swamp Arts Festival, which opens in two weeks in Bowling Green, saw its
ranking in the magazine’s list of the top Fine Art and Design Festivals edge up
to number 60 from 61st.
The Levis Common Fine Arts Fair, held last weekend in Perrysburg, cracked the list in
its eighth year placing 99th.
Brenda Baker, who chairs the Black Swamp Arts Festival’s visual arts committee said:
"I believe the BSAF has the highest ranking in Northwest Ohio for two
reasons. One being the amazing support the festival receives both from the
patrons of our festival and the volunteers. The second being the legacy and
spirit of service by those that run the festival towards the community and all
the artists (both musical and visual). … The solid history of success and good
rankings show our strength as a community and the economic vitality of our
city."
Max Clayton, the executive director of the Guild of Artist and Artisans which
produces the Levis event, attributed the show’s placement in the top 100 to the
strong community support.
The other area festival on the list Crosby Festival of the Arts, held at the Toledo
Botanical Garden in June, ranked 77th, the same as last year.
Taken together, the rankings indicate a boost for all the art festivals after a
couple years in which both Black Swamp and Crosby had slipped in the rankings.
Black Swamp was 53rd in 2009 and 55th in 2010. Last year Linda Brown, who led
the visual arts committee from 2007 through 2011, attributed that to the poor
economy.
The rankings are based on reports from artists of how much they sell. According to
the magazine: "Ballots only ask about sales because that gives the best
indication of the event’s past success."
Reports from previous years peg Black Swamp sales at about $2,400 per artist.
The rankings only cover the juried show at the Bowling Green event, which includes
108 artists. The festival also features the Wood County Invitational Show which
is open to artists living within a 30-mile radius of Bowling Green. That area
has 52 booths this year.
The Levis show features 125 artists.
The Black Swamp Festival is the second highest ranking of any art fair in the state.
Only the Summerfair in Cincinnati, ranked 23rd, placed higher.
The magazine also includes a separate list of the top 100 contemporary and classic
craft shows.