Lost and found

Two years ago, Ceramic Showcase, the all-pottery show in Portland, moved to a different venue. The costs at the old place were skyrocketing, the new place was in a nearby neighborhood, we wouldn't be competing with the other craft guilds...

Sales fell through the floor. Things were a litle better this year, but still well off of the old place, so much so that in 2017, they're moving back to the original location. And sharing the venue with the other guilds again.

So when it was announced that Clayfolk, another all-pottery show in southern Oregon, would be moving from its traditional location--the Medford National Guard Armory was undergoing renovation--no small number of us were a little worried. Especially as they didn't announce the replacement location until a little over a month before the show.

I've told about the venue before--the Brammo building in Talent, Oregon, a former Walmart. But I had never been there before setup on Thursday. Was a little concerned about the absence of power to the booths, and dithered for weeks about buying a battery and inverter to power my spotlights. Finally decided go trust there'd be enough light from the ceiling fixtures, as I couldn't see investing a couple of hundred bucks on a system I'd only use once.

Mostly, though, I worried whether our audience would find us. Clayfolk customers traditionally are lined up outside the doors Friday evening, but we were two exits down I-5, two towns away from our usual site. Would they find us?

Apparently, they would. At 4 pm, the line ran the whole length of the building (a former Walmart, mind you). When they opened the doors, it took fifteen minutes for everyone to get into the show. I timed it.

I guess they found us...