Went early(7:30 show to start at 8pm) to get a good parking spot and vantage point for Art On Water. As I pulled into park I realized that a fellow artist was getting out of her car beside me. Linda had driven into town from St. Catharines. Linda asked where the event was being held. I knew from talking with AJ that the show was going to be on the canal behind City Hall in Welland, however there was no signage to direct people to exactly where the event was taking place. I saw a "chip truck" and a black tent with a large sign re. Volunteers facing the parking lot. When I walked up to the tent, I realized that it had been set up so we artists could put out our business cards or other advertising for our respective businesses. I also noticed two banners flanking the side of the tent facing the bridge over the canal not the parking lot! What were people thinking???? These signs could not be seen from the parking lot where everyone was arriving to see the show!
I met another friend ,Tom who had been hired to photograph all the artists work. This was being done so there would be a consistent end product. While talking with Tom, another artist spoke up and said all she did was sent in 4 jpegs as she could not make the photo shoot. Did consistency go out the window?
In the background, someone began to sing( no idea who this was, she was never introduced to the audience), we continued to chat and watched as a few more people came and they began to wander down the hill closer to the canal. Tom asked me as he looked at his watch,"What time does the show start?" I replied," 8 pm." "What time is it?" "It's quarter after eight," replied Tom. We decided that when the singer started to sing, that was the opening. Weird, right. No fan fare,no speech from the mayor of Welland or even his deputy or a council man. No one from the organizing committee to welcome everyone or thank the participating artists- nothing.
A half hour goes by, Tom checks his watch again, lots of background singing - same preforming artist. Nothing is happening - more waiting, waiting - see a boat move on the far side of the canal. My friend Jean joins us. Jean said, as she was walking towards us she could see the water wall was working on the far side of the canal on the large screen area. Time passes,more singing, nothing is happening on the screen and no one is saying anything about what's happening. I'm getting tired, I have a busy day on Monday ( classes all day and a 5 o'clock meeting tomorrow night for Niagara Night of Arts with the Town reps from Pelham and two regional reps.) I tell Tom, Jean and Linda that I'm tired and I'm thinking of going home. Suddenly, out of the corner of my eye I see a small screen on the far side of the canal come to life. Can't make out what is happening on the screen and there is no sound. Then we see what kind of looks like a strange world map show up on the big screen -- then nothing. I leave - it's now 9:30pm
Today (Monday) I received phone calls and emails from several of the other participating artists. All saying they were very disappointed and thought that the $169,000 could have been put to much better use.I was told that the artists and their families(the majority of the audience) all began to leave after the singer announced that there were technical problems with the audio component. This is something that should have been said by an organizer not a performer.
A couple of lovely friends went on facebook to let me know they'd seen my painting. The reason they new it was mine was because they had viewed it previously at the Pelham Art Festival.
Absolute disappointment!
NOTE: I did find out that the event was In the Tribune and a friend has cut out and saved the article for me. I also heard that it was on Cogeco.
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