The upcoming Chicago International Show is my first show of 2015 and it will be my 10th anniversary as a dealer at this, the biggest miniatures show in this hemisphere. As I’ve been making and selling my miniatures for about 15 years, almost everything to do with that has evolved. Because what I make has changed, what I need to display it effectively has changed as well, so this year, a good bit of the time spent preparing for this show was devoted to developing and constructing a new display. When that was done, any remaining time was spent building up inventory. I am not alone in that.
If you visit the IGMA Facebook page, you will notice a number of dealers are busy putting together new pieces for the Chicago show and are posting photos on the IGMA page to help build interest and anticipation amongst those who will be attending. It is an exciting time for all of us; dealers and shoppers alike. I remember how exciting it was when I was a shopper and it is still just as exciting on the other side of the table. There will be well over 150 dealers at this show. Glancing at the dealer list, it is a pleasure to see so many IGMA members among them.
The Guild will also be represented by a Membership/Guild School table staffed by the Guild School Director, Barbara Davis, the Guild Administrator, Carol Hardy, as well as other member volunteers standing in for them over the weekend. Side by side with that table you will find the Gallery of the Guild, which will be selling the work of many IGMA Artisan and Fellow members who are not otherwise represented at this show.
On Friday, at the close of the show, there will be an IGMA Gala Fundraising Auction held at the hotel just around the corner from the show entrance. Tom Bishop has kindly made space available to the Guild for this event, and the generous members and friends of the International Guild of Miniature Artisans have donated an amazing selection of pieces for the auction. With Duffy Wineman as the auctioneer, it promises to be a rollicking good time.
Saturday evening, at the close of the show, there will be another IGMA function designed to acquaint miniature aficionados with the Guild and its many programs. Much of the focus will be on the Guild School-and if you are unaware of what that is, I sincerely urge you to attend the program and find out.
Time to get back to work, only 4 more days to build up that inventory!
Read with delight the news of new Artisan and Fellow members, as well as the information regarding submissions for evaluation, with one small bit of concern over wording. In the second to last paragraph, where the number of members was stated as being unlimited, the final line reads: “…if there are 10 submissions, then IGMA has 10 new Artisans or Fellows.”
This might lead some to believe that everyone submitting for evaluation WILL be granted Artisan or Fellow status, so perhaps it can be edited to read: “….then IGMA POTENTIALLY has 10 new Artisans or Fellows.”