I still have the free-standing setup I constructed for my first Kentucky Sampler Art Show held in the Infield of Churchill Downs. Part of it is my living room holding small paintings. Maybe someday I will haul the other half up the steps from my basement. At the moment it is not so important.
The Infield Art Show was to be held undercover, so I would not be able to use my pop-up tent to which I always attached my racks that were made of open-wire closet shelves turned lengthwise. The shelving was lightweight, was easily secured to the tent frame with electric ties, and could be stowed in my van with ease. These worked perfectly when affixed to a tent frame but were useless without that supporting tent frame.
I had a magic van. From it, I could pull enough gear to set up at least three booths with easels placed around the edges. Since booth areas varied according to location, I learned to be prepared to expand or contract my exhibition signature. At times I could lend an extra tent or part of a setup to an exhibitor who needed one.
Artists become creative when faced with making a respectable-looking display presentation.I got the aha! idea for constructing the black setup while walking through Levy’s Hardware Store, one of my favorite thinking places.
There it stood, a nice wooden bi-fold screen with fabric inserts. I brought two home, took out the fabric, replaced it with pegboard sheets cut to size, and painted the entire thing black. By butting two bi-folds together and placing braces across the top, I had an adequate display.
After the Churchill Downs Show, the black pegboards were handy to place in a square when some exhibition areas provided extra viewing space. Electric ties bonded them together. They held an honored place in my magic van.