The Live Oak Music Festival is known for sprouting a culture of friendly, happy folks leisurely enjoying a weekend of live music and camping. But for several of the artisans who sell their clothing, fine art, and other textiles at Live Oak, the festival also holds a reputation for generous and eager customers looking to add the perfect tie-dye to their wardrobe or a even a new work to their art collection.
For Pismo Beach-based artist Chris Pedersen, who co-owns the Forever Stoked art gallery in Morro Bay, Live Oak was his introduction to selling his surreal landscapes at an outdoor event years ago. He returns annually to sell his own artwork alongside the work of other artists who show at Forever Stoked.
“Every weekend we have a festival to go to, but this was the very first festival we ever came to, and we’ve been out here for like nine years,” he said. “It seems like it’s a tribe, the same people every year, almost like a family.”
Pedersen’s partner at the gallery was at another outdoor festival to the north, the painter explained, doing the same. Outdoor festivals make up a considerable amount of annual sales for the entrepreneurial creators.
The climate and tone of an outdoor event is well suited for showing and selling art, Pedersen explained, especially at camping or live music events like Live Oak.
“I think everyone is just having a good time, they are relaxed, and they are in the right frame of mind to take the time and look at some artwork,” he said. “I’ll meet people six or eight years from now who may have saw me for the first time here, and they can’t make a purchase now, but they will remember me later.”
For artists like Christina Finley, who sells her work under the moniker M.I.A., an event like Live Oak is filled with people who certainly want what she’s got. With guitar pick earrings, butterfly broaches, and themed headbands, it’s worth the three-hour drive from Fountain Valley in Orange County to the Santa Ynez foothills to sell her wares, Finley explained.
It’s also a relaxing weekend for her, Finley added, even though she is technically working.
“It’s good to feel free, avoid the corporate world,” she said. “It’s nice to work for yourself; it’s not life in a box.”
Some artists are picky as to where they set up shop. Not every outdoor event is created equal, explained Ventura-based jeweler Betsey Holt, who has cut a few festivals out of her schedule due to growing numbers of more commercial vendors.
Festivals like Live Oak don’t have that problem, she explained.
“I do lots of festivals; it’s what I do most of the year for my living,” Holt said. “And if everyone around you is just buying imported, well, their costs are much lower than yours, but here, everyone makes what they are selling, and that’s good for all of us.”
Holt also appreciates the relaxed, family atmosphere of festivals like Live Oak, and the people she gets to meet while selling her rings and earrings.
“Kids actually get to run around, they are free here,” she said. “The people here are really great and friendly and nice, it’s just a great event.”
Arts Editor Joe Payne peddles the articles he writes weekly. Contact him at jpayne@santamariasun.com.
This article appears in Jun 25 – Jul 2, 2015.