Happy walls make happy people
By Shera Cohen
This successful Festival has taken place for many years in
the Berkshires at the July 4th weekend, which is why it should sound familiar.
However, this year marks the launch of BAF in Lenox, offering residents and
tourist more opportunities to experience fine art on August 17-20, 2017,
Eastover Retreat, Lenox, MA.
Why add a festival? According to Richard Rothbard, Executive
Director of BAF, who paraphrases the well-known saying about success, responds,
“Success breeds more of the same.”
ITS: How
did the Festival begin?
BAF: I was age 5 when I went to summer camp in Becket and
then for many years. It was a special place. Years later, it hit me that the
Berkshires is the right place for an arts festival. We opened at Ski Butternut.
Almost 5,000 visitors attended. It was a monumental success. The artists did
very well. It has pretty much gone that way ever since.
BAF: I have opened many art events. It’s a challenge that I
love, and it’s my career. Creating opportunities for artists to sell their work
is a remarkable and complex process. You become a go-to person for the wants
and needs of a lot of strangers who are counting on you to bring them crowds of
shoppers and hopefully buyers. Lenox is the cultural anchor of the Berkshires. When I
discovered the Eastover Resort & Retreat it became clear that I needed to
launch another show in Lenox. All the elements were in full boom in mid-August.
ITS: Was it
your goal to expand or did this happen because of the success of your prior
festivals.
BAF: It takes a lot of advertising and marketing to get the
attention of your customer. You need thousands of people to attend if your
artists are going to be happy. If people don’t buy, then the show won’t have a
future. I think the Lenox show has a lot of potential.
ITS: Who runs the show? Is it judged? What is the criteria?
BAF: We are the owners of An American Craftsman Galleries in
NYC and Stockbridge. We curate or jury our shows to create an experience that
has a broad appeal. Visitors will meet artists who exhibit in the Philadelphia
and Smithsonian Craft Shows as well as artists who design and make work that is
affordable and more utilitarian. Quality of workmanship and original design are
primary when selecting artists.
ITS: What is your background? Are you an artist?
BAF: I have always had a passion for theater. But, I did get
my degree in finance and then spent 7 years in NYC pursuing an acting career.
Played the Boy in“The Fantastiks” off-Broadway, had a lot of summer stock, and
some TV commercials. I discovered the wood working of George Nakashima, and
followed a path from furniture making to developing my version of the puzzled
box and miniature boxes that tell stories. Boxology.com. I have had a 40 -year
career exhibiting at fairs throughout the country, opening galleries, and
producing art events.
ITS: Why would you say it is important to purchase original
art?
BAF: Both fine art and fine craft are part of the mixed work
you will find in our shows. Purchasing a handmade object directly from the
artist will bring tons of pleasure year after year because you know the actual
maker. Buying directly from the makers has become a way of life for many
people. Here is some food for thought.
Owning original artwork has a positive effect on the environments
of people who own it, which inevitably makes life more enriching. Art is more
than just decoration; it inspires us to look at the world in a different way.
Buying art supports artists directly, allowing them to continue with their
creative process, which in turn continues to improve the quality of life for
all of us. Handmade anything beats mass-produced any day.
Owning something that's all yours is an exciting thing.
Explore the world of art if you haven't started already. Don't worry about the décor.
Just buy what you like. Happy walls make happy people.
For information on the Berkshire Arts Festival in Lenox,
check the following websites: http://www.berkshiresartsfestival.com or Americanartmarketing.com
Photos: from Berkshires Art & Culture Festival
