St. Paul, Minnesota
Our booth.
Why we were there: American Craft Council Show - American Craft Made
When we were there: October 2022
How was the show: The American Craft Council is still recovering from the pandemic shut down. In my opinion they have work to do to bring their shows back to the level they were once at, if that is what they want to do. And there is still that unfortunate rebranding they did which makes the organization look like a 4-H showcase, read more here. That said, even though the attendance was lower than expected, I was able to connect with amazing artists who I admire and value. Being with a community of artists who I respect and cherish for the weekend was enlightening, educational, and refreshing. Understanding that all other artists, no matter how accomplished, struggle with acceptance to shows, displays, traveling, and sales is so important. We are not alone and talking through these difficult parts of our careers is very useful. I was introduced to the National Association for Independent Artists and their podcast, which I have been listening to on our trip home from MN. I highly recommend it. Another high note were the patrons in the St. Paul/Minneapolis area. Very engaging and fun, several pieces of our work found forever homes and we are very glad to have added some collectors to our list.
Where did we go: The main goal of this trip was to visit Paisley Park and paid homage to the beloved late Prince. He was, as probably the case with most of us GenXers, a huge part of my formative years and influenced me in ways beyond the music. The only thing I can think to compare Paisley Park to is Graceland. And unfortunately, this was no Graceland. The exterior of the building looks like a big box store, and the inside is like stepping inside a defunct office park from1985. Very cold. Not a ton of personality, as you would expect. It is very locked down. They secure your cell phone before you enter and don’t get them back until the last two rooms of the tour which is a stage and small club. The tour only shows you the ground floor of the facility which includes his office and several sound stages. Even there the main control room is dimly lit with candles and has mirrors obscuring the view. Granted we only paid for the entry level tour, $50 each, but the tour guide said that the other tours did not have access to the upper level which has two bedrooms, his wardrobe collection, and symbolic doves in cages. Nor the basement level which is home to the vault of music recordings you can hear about on This American Life. We did see miles of Princes shoes, which was a fascinating window into his performances and work ethic. In the end, my take away is that we know Prince best through his music, not through his stuff and surroundings. Take a listen to this sweet episode of the podcast This is Love, this is the Prince I love.
What is on our list for the next visit: North shore of Lake Superior for rock hunting is a MUST for the next trip. We need to add on at least 2 days for this. Starting to plan now!
Snapshots: I didn’t take too many photos this trip. The autumn foliage was stunning and I am sorry that it will stay in my head and not be shared with all of you.
