There’s a lesson in loss and it may just be that all loss has a purpose. We were very disappointed to learn we lost a much loved public arts project bid for which we had expended a tremendous amount of research and legwork. Our intuitive reaction, that the organizers wanted permanent sculptures and local townspeople to construct them, proved dead on correct when the final results were published.

Not unexpectedly though was the fact that the finalists for this particular competition were all extremely insightful, talented individuals with unique ideas, and giving of their time and efforts. We were well pleased to be in such great company. So it turns out that one of our top competitors, a woman I can only describe as literally having had thought about every single available facet of her proposal, also lost.

You know when you hear a competitor’s proposal and you’re thinking to yourself, GULP? We couldn’t understand how her idea could be passed by. Well, where the door was closed, the window opened. This woman (an events coordinator) and her truly fantastic public art festival not only secured an alternate site for her event, but graciously invited us to bring our loved luminaria proposal along with her.

That’s collaboration at its best, and the winner in this case will be the families who attend our breathtaking evening event in July. Stay tuned for more about Starry Teller Festival and our Luminaria highlights.

We were thrilled recently to be contacted by one of the most interesting trend management companies to come around the block lately, http://www.thefuturelaboratory.com. Editor Miriam Rayman is associated with a division known as http://www.lifesignsnetwork.net. Seems they’re working in part on understanding, qualifying, and quantifying art acquisition and the growing use of art consultants and art advisors. In some circles, personal art buyers are akin to personal shoppers, personal assistants, or personal concierge services. We feel the root cause of this growing trend is the necessity for arts specialization as opposed to generalization. Understanding trends in art business just makes good sense and great reading.

One of the reasons we love yard art is because once the weather breaks, you can actually get out of the house to see it. This winter we were missing the smell of fresh cut lawns and the site of madonnas in the bathtub. Here’s a few great web places to check out truly creative yard art in all its independent glory.

http://www.narrowlarry.com
http://www..literate_lemur.com/yard_art_project
http://www.unusuallife.com/richarts-yard-art-ruins

And here’s a few finer publications available covering the origins, status, and future of yard art.

Yard Art and Handmade Places: Extraordinary Expressions of Home
Detour Art: Outside, Folk Art & Visionary Environments Coast to Coast
Self Made Worlds
Sublime Spaces & Visionary Worlds: Built Environments of Vernacular Artists