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Over
the past 30 years of art shows my wife
and I have used several of the canopy
systems made by four or five different
manufacturers. Some have met
their fate at stormy shows, and few
have survived. We still use different
canopy systems for shows depending on
the type of setup and anticipated
weather conditions.
As
the systems take a beating and begin
to show their age, the survivors are
retired to the back yard to cover the
boat or to shade the workshop. They
don’t last forever. You need to keep
checking the fittings and materials
for wear and stress if you intend to
continue subjecting them to the forces
of nature.
As
this survey shows, canopy systems are
fairly complex tools of the trade, and
like all tools you need to know how to
use them properly. Think about that
Beaufort scale #6 as winds start
hitting 25 miles per hour, a few more
and it’s called a gale.
Review
the wind force table and check the
wind pressures affecting your system
against weight and structural strength
of your particular style of setup. At 25MPH
you have 200 pounds of force pushing
against your canopy, at 32MPH, over
300 pounds of force.
All
six manufacturers surveyed have done
an excellent job of developing
different canopy systems for artists. Our
readers need to keep in mind however,
that even with that great technology,
design, and quality construction, no
manufacturer can assure artists
that any canopy will survive
severe weather. After all, these are
lightweight display systems engineered
for the benefit of mobile artists
exhibiting in outdoor festivals. Their
portability precludes the strength
of brick and mortar stores and by
their nature certain limitations apply
that all exhibitors (and show
promoters) should keep in mind.
Ultimately
it is going to be your decision as the
outdoor exhibitor on when to hold and
when to fold. When made responsibly,
it is one the show promoter and the
public can appreciate and accept.
Sincerely,
Carl
Buehler
This
article has been reproduced with
permission by:
Be
Prepared for the Wind...
How
to Order
Pages:
1
2
3
4
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This
article was written by Carl Buehler www.jewelgallery.net
and is copyrighted by Sunshine Artist Magazine and may
not be reproduced in any form without written permission.
www.sunshineartist.com
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