It’s not that Leslie is particularly demanding. She’s not. But I’d like to get her something she really likes and I have a hard time deciding what that might be. I could ask her but that seems like cheating to me. It doesn’t really feel like a gift to me if I just buy what I’m told to. Where’s the fun in that?

So I try to guess. And, though I’ve had a couple of winners over our 30 years together, I completely miss the boat often enough.

See, I can’t read minds.

You may think you need to read the minds of our jury to choose the images to submit with your application. And I bet you’re not any better at it than I am. What do those crazy people on the jury really look for, anyway?

Here’s what I think.

We want our festival to reflect high quality and be diverse in offerings. It’s the job of the jury to help us make the choices necessary do that. No surprise there.

But we also want to make sure that your work fits the tastes of our patrons. We know you won’t come back if you don’t sell your work. We know our visitors won’t come back if they don’t see the kind of work they like.

So we need to be partners in this deal. We want to keep going. We want to be known as a festival worth attending, both for artists and patrons. You want to make money. We both get what we want when you get what you want.

So here’s how I’d suggest you make the choice of images to submit.

Don’t try to guess what the jury wants. Just pick the best representative samples of your work.  You don’t have to read anyone’s mind. Think about the kind of work your customers praise (and buy). Better yet, ask your best customers what they love about your work. Send that.

If you do that, we’ll know how you’re good: your loyal followers wouldn’t buy bad art. And we’ll be able to do a fair assessment of whether our patrons match your work.

No mind reading required.

Applications close April 10, 2012. Get yours in early. Go to zapplication.org now.

Read the Artist FAQ to get all the information you need, then go to zapplication.org and fill out the form. Then take a look at our new series on how to make the most of Hopkins Arts Festival.

Okay. I’ll tell you. It’s displayed on the front of our refrigerator. It’s there because 1) we can’t miss seeing it several times a day, and 2) it was created by our two-year-old niece on the table in our kitchen.

I bet you have art like this in your house, too. Or you have had. Or you will have.

What can we learn from this?

We chose this piece because we have we have a personal relationship with the artist. We find it powerful and meaningful because of that. As it turns out, many of the other pieces we own are also by artists we know.

The visitors to the Hopkins Arts Festival (and to any fair or festival) are a lot like us. They’re more likely to buy art if they feel a connection with the artist. Sure, your work is powerful, insightful, and beautiful. And there will be people who must have it as soon as they lay eyes on it. (That’s why we want you in Hopkins.)

But there will also be people, probably a lot more people, who will be more likely to buy if they feel they know you.

In order to feel they know you, buyers need to know something about you. Of course, you get to choose how much you share. But let’s face it, making art has a central place in your life: otherwise you wouldn’t be doing it. And that means you always have things to say about about your work and your process and your ideas about art. People find this stuff fascinating. They see your passion. They feel your energy. They feel engaged. And then they buy.

We want to help you sell at the Hopkins Arts Festival. We love artists. We like it when you make money. So help us help you.

Here’s the first step. As you complete your application on Zapp, take the time to provide as much information as you can. We get applications with no artist statements, no web site info, nothing. If we don’t know anything about you, it’s hard for us to promote you and your work as we recruit the buyers.

Help us out. Give us what you can. Think about the art on your refrigerator. Think about those buyers who will be fascinated by you and what you do. Help us find them for you.

NB: You are allowed up to 100 words in your artist statement. Use them. Here’s what 100 words looks like:

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Nam dui augue, tincidunt in consectetur quis, aliquet in erat. Cras lobortis facilisis congue. Morbi felis massa; eleifend quis ultrices id, vulputate nec nibh. Sed eu justo non orci luctus interdum sed vel neque? Mauris sagittis interdum nulla eget lacinia. Ut ullamcorper metus vel diam euismod euismod? Ut mollis scelerisque lorem vitae viverra. Donec at purus suscipit massa suscipit varius. Curabitur suscipit porta massa, sollicitudin ullamcorper justo viverra at. Cras eget mauris ut nisl luctus blandit eget et felis. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Nam dui augue, tincidunt in.

Festival:  Saturday, July 7 & Sunday July 8, 2012

January 5, 2012:  Artists applications acceptance begins via Zapplications
April 10, 2012:  Artist application deadline
April 16-20, 2012:  Jurors review submissions
April 27, 2012:  Artists notified of acceptance into the festival
May 15, 2012:  Deadline to accept invitation and pay booth fee
Friday, July 6, 2012:  Artist & Patron Reception, Artist booth set-up

Check back  – further information will be provided as plans progress!

The 2011 Hopkins Arts Festival is 0ver. Thousands of visitors and 50 wonderful artists have gone home.

But we’re still here. The Hopkins Center for the Arts is open all year with exhibitions, concerts, children’s theatre, author readings, classes, and much more. Check the schedules, see what’s happening now, consider becoming a member.

We’d love to see you any time. Art isn’t just for July.

Painter Chris Abigt demonstrates her technique

Painter Chris Abigt traveled all the way from Ottumwa, Iowa to exhibit her work at the 2011 Hopkins Arts Festival. Now she’s showing visitors how she works.

Visit Chris’s booth on Mainstreet today and you’ll  see a selection of the work she’s produced this year. You’ll also be able to watch Chris as she creates a new work.

Watch the artist at work. Ask questions. Get up close.

Benjamin Olson

Elizabeth Novak

Melody Tudisco

Jo Severson

Five artists were recognized for the outstanding quality of their work at the awards ceremony yesterday for the 201 Hopkins Festival of the Arts. Bob Carls won the award for Best in Show.

Best in Show winner Bob Carls

The judges had a difficult time making their selections. “It was a very competitive field,” said one judge. “There was a wide variety of outstanding work in every category.”

Nature photographer Benjamin Olson won an Award of Merit, an award he also won last year.

2011 Hopkins Arts Festival Winners:

• Bob Carls, Best in Show
• Beth Novak, Award of Merit
• Bejamin Olson, Award of Merit
• Jo Severson, Award of Excellence
• Melody Tudisco, Best Presentation

Come on over to see the work of these great artists and 50 others. It’s a beautiful day to be outside. It’s a beautiful day for art.

It was a busy day on Mainstreet Saturday as crowds gathered for the Hopkins Arts Festival

We open at 10:00am on Sunday. Get here early: beat the crowds, beat the heat, and see the art before all the best pieces are sold.

Plenty of opportunities to refresh yourself on a hot day

What do these things have in common?

Fresh squeezed lemonade, snow cones, turkey corn dogs, cheese curds, Cold Stone Creamery ice cream, smoothies and floats, old fashioned sodas, Cajun food, Greek food, burgers, kettle corn and more!

They are all tasty treats that will be available This weekend at the Hopkins Arts Festival. Visit historic Mainstreet in Hopkins for art, music, and a taste of summer.

Preparing the West Stage for Saturday's performances

The stage is set. It’s almost time. The 2011 Hopkins Arts Festival officially opens for business (and fun) in five minutes.

We’re open 10:00-6:00 today and 10:00-5:00 tomorrow. Food, music, and lots and lots of great art and great artists.

Don’t miss it.