Picture this: a beautiful, rustic, old, Spanish-style motel that screams character. Tall, 50 year-old palm trees decorate the open courtyard that houses the pool. The rooms, though a bit musty, take you back in time with gothic arch cut-outs in the walls, the Spanish tile showers and lead-plated glass windows. Now picture this same motel taken over by dozens of artists. Inside the rooms, artists set up mini-galleries. Outside, in the grassy courtyard, pop-up tent booths surround the gated pool. A Cantina and Taco truck flank the south side. A man sits under a tent and plays beautiful, calming, Spanish-style guitar. THAT, my friends, describes the wonderful "Art Fiesta" that is happening this weekend in Chico, CA. I am sharing an outdoor booth with Linda Smith, an amazing mosaicist/photographer/painter, (and who happens to be my mother). What a turn out this first night brought! Dozens of people (maybe even over 100) poured in and out of our booth, and several made purchases. In my opinion, even if tomorrow and Sunday are slow, the whole thing was worth it because of how well tonight went.
So what is the secret to the success of THIS art show? I've been to other art shows that were attended by less people the whole weekend than came through tonight at the Art Fiesta. I chalk it up to these three ingrediants:
1) Amazing, unique and "artsy" venue (The Matador Motel in Chico)
2) The "Cantina" selling margaritas
3) Great weather!
Thank you ChiVAA for putting together such a great event for Chico Arts! Thank you also to the Matador Motel for opening your doors with such warm and generous hospitality!
