Story by Emily Schaur
Photos by University of Idaho Visual Productions
Moscow has a wide range of appreciation for the arts. From the Hartung Theater and the university’s strong music program to places like the 1912 Center and the Farmer’s Market, the town presents many opportunities for those artistically inclined to get together and share what they have to offer.
One such event is the Starving Artists Sale held by the university every Spring which is an art sale featuring work done by students at the College of Art & Architecture across several different mediums. Works on sale last semester ranged anywhere from crochet, jewelry and physical prints to taxidermy, wood carvings and even hand soap. Vendors set up shop inside and outside of the Clearwater-Whitewater Room in the Student Union building.
Recently I spoke with participants from last semester’s Sale to get answers to some questions and to get their opinions on how the event went for them.
“I’ve been wanting to participate in conventions as an artist for a while,” one student said. “I thought this would be a good opportunity to try out something similar for the first time, and it absolutely was!”
Outside of the Farmer’s Market in the fall and the Winter Market early in the new year, there aren’t many opportunities for artists to showcase their work. So, having an event like the Starving Artist Sale, held on-campus especially, is a great way for artists to put themselves out there and make some money as well.
In addition to simply getting their name out into the art scene, the Sale was valuable for growing the technical skills needed to be a vendor. “We had to have a temporary sales permit and our own forms of payment,” Ella, a third-year student who participated in the Sale, said.
When walking around, many students can be seen using card readers for payment. “[The people running the event] also asked professional vendors to give the student vendors tips and tricks.” In addition to figuring out their own payment methods and receiving instructions from experienced vendors, artists could use this sale as valuable resumé content.
“It was also very good to be able to make a table setup for the first time — a lot of conventions ask for previous table pictures as part of their application, so I found it very useful to get that figured out,”
one student said. We’ve all been there: in need of previous experience when applying for any job, be it fast food or a corporate position. If a candidate doesn’t have sufficient experience relevant to the job they are applying for, they often don’t get hired. The Sale provided participants with valuable experience which they can carry with them throughout their careers as artists.
While the event sounds like it would be full of positives, there were a couple of negative aspects present. Ella said that her overall experience was positive, especially considering the two booths next to her.
“They were both more experienced vendors, but they really liked my work, and we had good conversations throughout the event. They were both older and had their children there, and all the children ended up buying something from me. The only negative thing I experienced was that the room we were in was small and there was no AC, and at the busiest time there were a lot of people in there and it was very hot and crowded.”
Speaking from experience, the room itself was quite small for the number of artists participating in the sale. The booths were set up very close together, and the walkways were just wide enough for a few people at a time. It was inconvenient when there were four or five people walking up and down the aisles, while the customers were stopping at booths. “Luckily they have already booked a bigger room in the Pitman center for this year,” Ella added.
To account for the large number of artists participating in the sale, the event organizers had some people set up in the hallway, which was where one student was. “I had a table outside in the hallway, so I got a lot of foot traffic, which was nice! However, I was running my table alone, so I didn’t get to explore everyone else’s displays as much as I would have liked.”
One of their main pieces of advice for the future is to bring a friend to help run your booth, both to allow you to take breaks when needed and so that you can make the most of the event by checking out other vendors you might miss otherwise.
As mentioned, events like the Starving Artist Sale are good for promoting artists wishing to put their names out there and for gaining useful work experience. They also encourage artists of all levels and mediums to keep pursuing their craft. “I think it’s very important to encourage young artists,” Ella said, “especially with events like this where it provides more of an art community and a look into how artists go about selling their work. Also, with the rise of AI generated art, I think people find a lot more value and connection in handmade stuff.”
Having a community of people dedicated to making art, especially without the use of AI, is very beneficial, especially for those just starting out. One can find stability and connections within a community, and as a bonus, people within those communities tend to be very welcoming towards others that share their interests. “Personally, I met so many skilled and cool people who I still keep in touch with,” a student said. “It’s a great environment, everyone was very willing to help each other out and cheer each other on. And, as a customer,” they added, “you get cool local art!”
Our two students concluded with tips for artists in general, as well as for those interested in applying to next semester’s Sale. Ella tells students to apply if they want to. “Your art is better than you think! You are your own worst critic; when you make [art], you can see all the little mistakes and only focus on that, when in reality, most people see all the good parts! Also, try not to just make stuff to sell, but make stuff you enjoy making. Don’t let the pressure of selling take away the joy of making. And,” she added, “if you do sell, I do recommend a card reader, [as] most people don’t carry cash much (but still have some just in case).” One participant in the Sale gives advice on artists and/or vendors specifically, saying to “Plan ahead, bring a buddy, remember to drink water and have fun!!!”
One student, who has wished to remain anonymous, works with a medium of digital illustration with fantasy-themed work. Ella works with crochet and can be contacted at [email protected].
For those students who would like to participate in the upcoming Sale on April 12th, they should keep an eye out for information regarding the event. The entry process is simple: a student told me that last year, they sent out a Google form and had applicants pay a one-time fee. There will be rejections, but in such a case, those who get rejected should use it as an opportunity to improve their art, keep their head up, and keep trying. No one who succeeds does so by giving up before anything good happens.
