P&L Art Fair

[KCLofts]

The first annual(?) art fair in the P&L district takes place this weekend, June 28-29.

I have been unable to out much info about the fair and it doesn't seem like they've been doing a whole lot of promotion.  About all that I have been able to find out is that it runs from 10-5 Staurday and Sunday.  There will be about 150 artists, of which about 1/3 are local.

I assume the tents will be set up in the streets, a la the Plaza.  No idea if there will be additional entertainment, food & drink booths, etc.

Admission is free.  Should be a good way to spend some time outdoors and it looks like the weather should cooperate.

[DaveKCMO]

i got an email looking for volunteers to work the info/t-shirt booth. i deleted it, but it seems like the hours were 10-5 on both days.

[KCMax]

Sounds great! Can I wear sunglasses and baggy pants?

[49r]

Sounds great! Can I wear sunglasses and baggy pants?

Sure!  Just don't plan to go the Live block or inside any of the establishments in P&L - the jack boot thugs there will surely throw you in the slammer if you do!

[DaveKCMO]

the art fair will span 14th between grand and main and walnut north to 13th.

[KCPowercat]

Art fair is going strong....from the comments in the crowd, this is a lot of people's first chance to see the district and they were eating it up.

Lots of unique art and seemed more reasonably priced than the plaza art fair....definitely much smaller but still cool to have downtown.  Should do a couple of things like this throughout the spring-fall to get people down that just don't want to go to bars.

[geeman68]

Art fair is going strong....from the comments in the crowd, this is a lot of people's first chance to see the district and they were eating it up.

Lots of unique art and seemed more reasonably priced than the plaza art fair....definitely much smaller but still cool to have downtown.  Should do a couple of things like this throughout the spring-fall to get people down that just don't want to go to bars.

Just got back from the Art Annual and it was pretty crowded.  Even the restaurants were full at 2PM.  It was amazing to see something like this happening downtown.  Saw quite a few vendors I'd never seen before too.  I wonder if the Art Annual will really draw out people over the evening hours?  Cheers! 

[PumpkinStalker]

Gf and I are looking forward to going tomorrow.

[grovester]

Art fair is going strong....from the comments in the crowd, this is a lot of people's first chance to see the district and they were eating it up.

Lots of unique art and seemed more reasonably priced than the plaza art fair....definitely much smaller but still cool to have downtown.  Should do a couple of things like this throughout the spring-fall to get people down that just don't want to go to bars.

My wife said the same things about the prices, more what she saw as a kid at the plaza.  We bought two pieces, not local, we'll make up for it next first fridays!

[KCLofts]

We checked it out on Saturday.  It was a nice day and good crowds.  Not very impressed at all with the overall quality of the art.  I had higher expectations from a national juried show.

I feel bad for some of the folks carting their stuff all the way up from Florida.  I didn't see much of anything getting sold.

[dangerboy]

As a novice, I thought the art was comparable to the Plaza.  It was really nice to see a new mix of artists.  The Plaza show has become really predictable with the same group of artists on that circuit every year.  It was also surprised how many local artists were there, I wasn't expecting that from a nationally produced event.

[PumpkinStalker]

I too was very surprised at the number of local people.  There was some stuff I had never seen before and having been to nearly every Plaza and Brookside art fair for the past 15 years this was a welcome change.  New venue, new artists.  I was disappointed that there wasn't really an "information booth" that I saw.  There was a t-shirt booth but while I was looking at t-shirts a family of 4 adults and 4 or 5 kids asked the all too common question "what is there to do here, we're from out of town."  The ladies behind the t-shirt booth had no idea what to do with that type of question, didn't do any probing, etc.  When they were stumped I jumped in and helped them with some ideas and even gave them a visitors guide.  (I actually carry one in my cargo pocket whenever I go to events like this).  Too bad that there wasn't much of a tourism/information presence here.  For what I thought was a lack of advertising for the event, there was a very nice turnout today.

My favorites were the giant kinetic animals.  Also dug this booth that had swirly paintings that hid a different painting that was put on the canvas before the swirls.

And this guy had the best shirt I've seen in a while.

[rxlexi]

looks like a surprisingly solid addition to the P&L.  We need to get the retail block leased and in place, the Cosentino's open, and the theaters finished, so that the image of P&L isn't simply that of a giant corporate Westport.  This is nice, small step in that direction, that brings some family friendly daytime activity to the area and shows it off without forcing people into large lines and loud concerts, etc.  Plus, the more places that local artists can be seen and supported, the better for the them, and the city, IMO.

[moderne]

I haven't seen that many people strolling around dt kc on a Sunday afternoon in 30 years or more.

[dangerboy]

I haven't seen that many people strolling around dt kc on a Sunday afternoon in 30 years or more.

So you were never downtown for a  Big 8 or Big 12 tournament?  Or any of the times St. Patrick's Day was on a Sunday?  Or the Urban Homes Tour? 

I think it's great, but certainly not the biggest crowd in 30 years, unless you haven't been downtown in 30 years.  Comments like these annoy me because they perpetuate the myth that downtown was absolutely dead. 

[Beermo]

I haven't seen that many people strolling around dt kc on a Sunday afternoon in 30 years or more.

is that k.c. dt or p&l dt. there is a difference. the p&l dt is a lot smaller.

[trailerkid]

Comments like these annoy me because they perpetuate the myth that downtown was absolutely dead. 

Downtown still is dead relative to dozens of other U.S. cities.

[rxlexi]

come on now, lighten up on moderne.  He's got a great point.  Yes, parts of downtown have maintained a relatively lively weekend presence through the years (city market comes to mind), but events such as this, and the P&Ls evening crowds in particular, bring a whole different, mainstream popular feel that has been largely absent DT for years.  It is now becoming a focal point for the metro again, and for that, if nothing else, Cordish and KCMO are to be commended.

[dangerboy]

I get the point, I just meant to say that I thought moderne's comment was a little overwrought.

[kcjak]

I went down on Sunday and have to agree with the post that it was nice to see some art that differentiates this art fair from the Brookside, Cedar Creek, Plaza, and others.  Even though most of the art wasn't necessarily my style, it's great that this event had a niche.

The only downfall for me is that the main aisles were too cramped - can't imagine how it would be if any more crowded.  But the new P&L District sign/pole on the south side of the district on Main looks great!