Art Fair Notes

Thoughts and observations from a (hot) day strolling around the Salem Art Fair.

• Stood in awe before a beautiful old violin on a table at the Salem Symphony Orchestra's booth. The instrument itself, a work of art!! It's presence, I think a ploy to get people to stop and vote on their new logo ideas. Hate to say that I was tempted to grab the violin and run. If only I were younger and full of spunk, daring and stamina. It's a good thing that I'm basically an honest person. Many years ago, Catholic school put the fear of consequeces for my actions into me.
• I enter with no plan of action and searching for nothing specifically. Just to wander open mindedly until coming across items that speak to me.
• Stunned by one artists work with bronze. Stunned by the prices also. Quality and originality obviously don't come inexpensively.
• I can't help but notice where all the artists come from. From all over the western states. Two years ago there was a lady from either North Carolina or Georgia. That sounds like quite the summer life ... to pack up all your art and travel from festival to festival. The last three or four years, I've attempted to make it worthwhile to at least one artist. 
• Walking around, can't help but wonder where the inspirations and ideas come from. It's almost like you can feel them floating in the air and with so many creative people present, unspoken and invisible ideas crossing and mixing with other ideas, just waiting to be realized.
• Overheard one artist greet a potential buyer with, "Welcome to the inner workings of my mind." 
• Comparing the festival weekend setting full of artists and vendors booths to what it will look like tomorrow (Monday) evening with just the trees and paths, it seems like two completely different places. Each possessing its own atmospheres and attractions.