My craft buddy and I had just finished setting up our tent in the drizzling rain, so I made my way over to the welcome tent where they were having free coffee and muffins. As I poured myself a warm, wonderful cup of coffee, I heard the woman next to me complaining loudly to the art fair organizers.
"I didn't know there would be jewelry makers here. You just didn't make that clear in any of the literature you sent me. If I had known there would be jewelry makers here, we probably never would have done this show. I don't think it's fair that my husband's $4,000 paintings should have to be next to a booth selling $14 dollar earrings!"
Trying not to choke on my coffee, I calmly looked at the woman and said:
"Excuse me, I actually happen to be a jewelry artist with a booth here. I just wanted to say that I am an artist, and some of my smallest pieces take hours to complete. It took me years to develop my techniques, just like your husband, I'm sure. And, obviously I managed to find the jewelry category on the registration form, so if you couldn't find it, you must not have been looking very hard."
The Artsy Farsty Lady huffed a bit and left the tent. I quickly apologized to the registration ladies if I had seemed out of line. I told them that I just couldn't keep quiet. They assured me that I was in the right, and I scurried back to my booth with my hot coffee.
Later that morning, I realized Artsy Fartsy Lady and her husband had there booth only one over form ours. I couldn't help but watch Artsy Fartsy Lady throughout the day as she tried to hawk her husband's overpriced paintings in her filthy, cut-off, denim shorts and grungy tank top. I couldn't help thinking that she could really benefit from a $14 pair of earrings....
So, my question to my fellow jewelry makers is, do you consider yourself to be artists? I know I do, but I see a lot of people labeling jewelry design as strictly craft. What do you think?
