Display Tips and Tricks

I started doing art shows about 1 1/2 years ago. I really enjoy them - it's so refreshing to interact with people, talk about the creative process, and, of course, get some positive feedback.  I have always been lucky in that regard. People have been very complimentary about what I make. What I wasn't prepared for were the amount of comments I would get about my display. I figured people would ask about resin and PMC at shows, but wheat berries? That I didn't expect. (You'll see what I mean in a minute.)
Before I started doing shows I did a LOT of research, especially when it came to displays. I looked at tons of pictures and blogs from other artists for ideas. I had several criteria in mind. My display had to:

• be easy to set up so I could do it on my own if necessary
• travel well
• not take up a lot of space when storing
• be relatively inexpensive
• Be fast to put up and take down

I know myself. I'm not a morning person. I want to get to a show as late as I possibly can. To accomplish that I really wanted to find a display method that could also serve as storage, so I would not have to set up each piece every time.

Enter: IKEA!  I'm an Ikea junkie. I actually worked there for awhile. (side note: Ikea is a GREAT company to work for. They have incredible benefits, even for part-time employees.) Anyway, I found these wooden drawer inserts with dividers that had glass covers. I switched out the glass for plexiglass, put in some wheat berries to hold the jewelry cards and to add a little visual interest and Voila! Instant display. For earrings I added hooks to the dividers so the earring cards could hang.
When I get to a show, I pull off the plexiglass covers, put the earring displays on an easel and I'm 75% done. I bought the easels at Michael's using my 40% off coupon. They are only $3 to start with, so it's not a very big expense.
These displays allow me to display a large amount of items at once without being too cluttered. Each piece of jewelry has its own home, so it looks pretty streamlined. Plus I can tell at a glance if a piece is missing, which is great for preventing theft.

On the end of the table I have busts to display a few focal pieces. I wanted to find things that were unique and attractive without being overpowering. I purchased my blue & white ceramic figures and the tall newspaper-covered figure at my favorite antique/thrift store, Sophie Joe's Emporium. If you're in the Twin Cities area and have a few hours I highly recommend visiting the store. You never know what you are going to find. The ceramic figures have sort of an Asian feel, so I display my Chinese Character pendants on them.
I've recently started making resin magnets (one of my new favorite things to make!) and I wanted to find a convenient way to show them off. I went to visit another one of my favorite stores, Accent Store Fixtures in Minneapolis. I found a wooden sign holder that had an opening in the top. I then went to Menards and bought a piece of sheetmetal which I cut to the size of the opening. For $15 I made this fabulous magnet display.

Another Accent Store find was this spinning display, which I use for my Chinese Character necklaces. I have multiple styles of each word, so I put a label on the window and the pendants behind the labels. It's a great way to keep them organized and to show them to customers who are interested in specific words or symbols.
I picked the fabric for my tablecloths at Joann Fabrics and bought it with my 40% off coupon. I combined the patterned fabric with navy sheets and had 2 6' tablecloths made which fit the table exactly. (Thanks, mom!) The side panels close with snaps, so I can unsnap them to get things out from under the tables easily.

Here's the cost breakdown of my display:
IKEA displays  $12 each - total $72
Spinner  $10
Magnet Holder  $15
Busts $30
(ceramic - $12 each, newspaper $6)
Wheat Berries $8
Easels  $5.40
Joann fabric  $8
Sheets $12
Total Display Cost: $160.40

The best advice I can give for creating displays -

• Think outside the box. There are lots of creative ways to display things using unconventional items.
• Know yourself! How much time do you want to spend unpacking and setting up? You will need to do that at every show.
• Don't forget about transportation and storage.
• Displays are a work in progress. As you do more shows you will find out what works and what doesn't. The more shows you attend the more display ideas you will get. Don't worry if your display isn't perfect right away.

Hopefully that will give you some ideas as you create your displays for your art shows. If you have any ideas or resources, please share them here!