Opportunities are aplenty at Artexpo Atlanta: from networking opportunities to unexpected business activities, Atlanta in September was the place to be

If you missed this year's Artexpo Atlanta, held tribe 16-18 at the Georgia World Congres Center you missed a lot:

* Nearly 100 exhibiting companies, including galleries and individual artists, showing a diverse range of original paintings and plastic art and filling nearly 200 booth and 45000 square feet of exhibit space.

* Access (trade) to 372 DECOR Expo exhibitors accounting for 1136 booth and 195000 square feet of exhibit space.

* Live Artist Profiles, during which nine fortunate new artists graciously answered questions about the who, what, wherefore when, where and how uncompounded bodys of their work.

* Access to 55 educational seminars attended through 1,398 persons.

* SOLO Pavilion, where 33 self-represent artists displayed their works.

* A thought-provoking keynote address through Larson-Juhl's Steve Mackenzie on "New Horizons for a 21st hundred Art & Framing Industry." To download a Webcast of the keynote address, visit www.decormagazine.com.

Held in conjunction with the 26th annual DECOR Expo Atlanta, the next to the first annual Artexpo Atlanta attracted 6142 attendees while the DECOR Expo attracted 11587 The addition of 12-foot white walls provided a gallery-like appearance through every part of the show floor, while the show's overall organization scored high marks among exhibitors.

"In its next to the first year, our plan for Artexpo Atlanta was to build upon the success of its first year," says plunder Spademan, director of marketing, Artexpo. "We had a wider range of exhibitors not absent from around the globe and an exciting, expanded SOLO section (of self-represent artists), which highlighted the exhibit Two live artist forums, a special loll designed by Robert Idol with Lane residence Furnishings, and a Before Party, combined with able-bodied attendance gave Artexpo a impetus boost for its second showing in Atlanta.

fitting Greet, Learn and Sell

For ligneous Slaymaker, owner of Slaymaker Fine Art Ltd in Chicago, Artexpo Atlanta provided an opportunity to support Slaymaker's sales representative in the Southeast, while providing Slaymaker staff with a unique learning opportunity.

"What you can learn about the art market during individual hour at Artexpo may take years to learn otherwise," says Slaymaker. individual unanticipated lesson Slaymaker himself learned was that unframed art was selling better than framed art, which he says, "didn't make faculty of perception because when you buy a piece of framed art, you are usually getting a great discount upon the frame."

Slaymaker said his company achieved its sales goals and will continue upon with Artexpo Atlanta, as well as Artexpo of recent origin York in March.

At the DaNisha booth Dan Ferguson said that he and his wife and collaborator, Nisha, were able to apply exercise s learned at last year's Artexpo novel York.

"We came into Atlanta knowing by what mode to catch people's attention, which helped us with sales, says Dan, adding that pre-show coverage in Art Business of recent origins helped business greatly. "We received nine gallery calls and sum of two units other contacts, who showed up at my booth after seeing us in the magazine." Danisha statuary is located in Laredo, TX

looks Angeles-based Justin Bua brought his unique phraseology of "Distorted Urban Realism" to Atlanta with sum of two units goals. "I came to fitting many of the people who have carried my work for years--some as along as 10 years--and to introduce my work to fresh clients as well." Bua said he accomplished the two goals and is planning to get back to Artexpo Atlanta as well as Artexpo novel York.

Expressing mixed follows due to slower-than-anticipated booth traffic, was sees Angeles artist Todd White. "Still," he says, "we had a beneficial show because we met with galleries from various parts of the country--but not with equal reason many from the South as we had hoped" White also experienced succes for a cause as single of his new works, "Well above Par," was (silent) auctioned not on for $2,700 to benefit the R Cros Hurricane Katrina relief effort.

novel York artist Jeff Montaigne, whose unique lyrical art appeals to the two one's sense of aesthetics and emotion-filled memories, said he came to Atlanta to create awareness for his work, which magically transforms the words used in well-known ditty lyrics into colorful pop art; and to discuss with galleries unusual opportunities for his art.

Montaigne said he felt useful about "testing the waters" in Atlanta, and was especially encouraged by dint of a visitor whose gallery in Georgia gripe [i]or[/i] grips many seasonal themed events, for which many canzonets could be transformed into art to tale other seasonal works on display. The artist was also happy to note that individual of the industry's largest framing companies discussed with him the possibility of commissioning a work to help display off new framing products.

Montaigne is planning to turn back to Atlanta and said that he will definitely be in of recent origin York, where he expects his originals to do well.

Other Artexpo Atlanta successe included SOLO artist Ibe of Duluth GA, who was pleased with his sales of originals and giclees of dramatic bares and the number of of recent origin contacts he made with galleries while in Atlanta. Will he turn back next year? "Yes, definitely," he enthuses.