This year, the Weems Artfest is celebrating its 25th year of operation— 25 years of making dreams come true for both artists and art lovers. “It is like one big family when we all come together. I have volunteers and artists coming in from everywhere. It is very energizing. Our artists and volunteers know exactly what they are doing and they have a blast doing it,” says Mary Ann Weems, in a voice whose enthusiasm has become a trademark.

Mary Ann Weems, who is owner of the Weems Galleries in Albuquerque, and Laurie Fernandez are the masterminds behind the Weems Artfest. It was their wish to create an event that folks of all ages could attend, and be entertained, and enjoy face-to-face meetings with artists, all with a very global flavor.

The magic invoked for this incredible event is actually birthed through 365 days of intense planning and hard work before the Artfest doors can be opened for the first visitor in November. Mary Ann (an artist herself and former art teacher) claims her organizational abilities were cultivated back in the late ‘50s, when she had a passion for working as part of the high school yearbook staff. Today, she is the Weems Advertising Agency. And with the support of friends and coworkers who have been with her through thick and thin, she has grown the Artfest from a colorful display provided by 40 artists to an event featuring 263 artists who will be exhibiting their marvelous and diverse art this year.

Besides the artists and volunteers who participate in this experience, Mary Ann says she could not handle this mammoth event without her longtime friend and one-time business partner, Laurie, and computer whiz and volunteer organizer Luann Blea. Laurie came to work with Mary Ann at the Weems Gallery 25 years ago, and has been working with Mary Ann ever since—organizing events, managing the finances, and keeping track of it all. With the help of Luanne’s computer skills and gift of managing people, this dynamic team has everything it needs to get all ready for Artfest.

Besides this dynamic trio, Mary Ann and her crew select a board of 12 artists, including photographers, jewelers, and painters, to jury the prospective participants in the Artfest and choose the finest for the show. They entertain artists from Israel, England, Wales, and other places all over the United States and the world. (Last year, 1,500 artists applied.)

The jury process lasts from January through May. Some artists who have displayed their work in previous years find themselves unable to participate due to family responsibilities or other changes in their health or schedules. According to Laurie, “If we lose a potter, we replace (him or her) with another potter. If we lose a watercolor artist, we bring in another watercolor artist. It is a very tedious process.” Of course, each artist is unique, and truly cannot be replaced, but a new artist can come in and fill the gap.

The show does not come without cost. The advertising alone this year will run close to $100,000 in order to allow the participating artists the best possible exposure. Cost of renting the fairgrounds booths averages around $25,000. Laurie keeps a careful watch over the money to make sure there is enough seed money for next year. This is a not-for-profit show, and there are many sacrifices involved in putting on an event of this size.

Mary Ann generates the art for all of the advertising by hand and then Maria Lopez, her ad assistant, translates it into print on the computer. After Mary Ann has created the logo, the t-shirts, and the brochures, has written the script for the commercial and any other collateral for the show, packets are created for the artists. These packets contain a t-shirt, parking passes, and critical event information. The charge to an artist to rent a booth is $450. Unlike other art shows, where artists are relegated to a backboard, a table, and a chair, the artists at Weems Artfest each receive an 8-by-8-foot white wooden booth with three walls. The walls are like doors, so that each artist has his or her own little display “room.”

While Laurie is counting the beans and making sure everything is lined up and set to go, Luann trains all the volunteers who will work the show. If someone is running behind, she helps him or her catch up. According to Laurie, “Luann is a person with a powerfully positive attitude and a ‘go-getter’ spirit.”

By the time October rolls around, this trio is tying up the loose ends and the excitement is beginning to build. A breakneck schedule is in full swing just a few days before the Artfest is to occur. It goes something like this:

• Tuesday: Work from 7 a.m. to midnight preparing the space at the fairgrounds for receipt of all the equipment necessary to run the fest.
• Wednesday: Load the trucks that will bring the artists’ packets, the chairs and tables, and walls for the show.
• Thursday, paid security arrives and the artists begin to trickle in to set up their booths.
• Friday morning, Mary Ann, Laurie (and her husband and her brother), and Luann are ready to greet the first person. Luann’s parents and friends fly in to Albuquerque to work as volunteers as well. Truly, it is a family affair.

By the time the first week of November rolls around, the plans are complete and the show is ready for art lovers to enter and enjoy. When Mary Ann is asked about the best way to enjoy the Artfest, she has this advice:

“Don’t just walk around. Talk to the artists, enjoy them, and let them enjoy talking with you. Allow it to be the fabulous experience that it is—and bring your spouse or significant other, children, nieces, grandchildren, and friends.”

Menaul High School, PAPA (Public Academy for Performing Arts) and Eubank Academy, all of Albuquerque, participate each year with student artists who hope someday to make a career out of the arts. All space is donated to the schools.

Every year, the Artfest donates space to the Animal Humane Association, Our Animal Friends, the Wild Wolf Sanctuary, and the Wildlife Center. The center actually brings in wild eagles, bobcats, and owls. Last year, 40 animals were given homes and adopted out as a result of the show. Going to see the animals is an especially nice thing for kids to do.

Speaking of kids, to support future artists and animal lovers, the Weems crew annually invites 1,500 children to come in from Albuquerque Public Schools to interview artists, shop, and enjoy the animals. The kids are encouraged to ask questions and the artists make it a priority to take time to talk with them. There is also a special gallery for children only. The children can go into this adult-supervised gallery (without their parents or chaperones) and purchase artwork for themselves. Nothing is over $10. What a gift! This section is called “Art Smart” and is one of the highlights of the show.

It doesn’t take an artist to see that the Weems Artfest has come a long way from the time it was conceptualized 25 years ago, when it was held in a tiny studio crowding 40 artists on a floor sporting red shag carpet. Truly, today’s Artfest is one of the finest events of its kind in the country.

This year, the Weems Artfest will be held Nov. 9, 10, and 11. For more information, visit www.weemsgallery.com online and click on Artfest.

Weems Art Gallery
www.weemsgallery.com
Albuquerque Eastdale Shopping Center
(505) 293-6133
Plaza Don Luis, Albuquerque Old Town
(505) 764-0302

Connie Thompson is a writer, director, and producer of creative, corporate, and motivational video scripts, articles, and press releases. Contact her at (505) 944-1977 or at multimediasavvy@aol.com.