Faux Event-ful

The third annual Faux Event had all the characteristics of a sumptuous buffet - instead of "all you can eat" it was "all you can paint." From hands-on classes to busy demo rooms to an exhibit hall that promoted the concept "try it before you buy it," none of the attendees could walk away from this event saying there was not enough to do.

The Faux Event, hosted jointly by ProFaux and Perfetto, took place September 20-25 at the Embassy Suites in Deerfield Beach, Florida. While the second annual event was cut short by a hurricane evacuation in 2004, the 2005 event dodged the threat of hurricanes and went off without a hitch. Still, ProFaux's John Catalanotto acknowledges that hurricane anxiety does add an unwanted element of uncertainty, and thus the fourth annual event will move to the outskirts of the hurricane season. The 2006 event will take place October 16-22. The location will stay the same, since Catalanotto noted that the Deerfield Beach location has met with a highly favorable reaction from the approximate 300 people in attendance. That attendance figure represents about a 50% growth rate from the estimated 200 people that attended the 2004 event.

And what was the verdict from the scores of people who attend? "Awesome." said Catalanotto. That was the word used over and over again. "People kept commenting on how well-organized everything was, and they just loved the classes."

The classes are a reference to a new element that was added to the proceedings: full-day professional workshops from such renowned instructors as Melanie Royals of Royal Design Studio; Michael Cooper of Murals & More; Rich Fischer of Deco Illusions; Isabelle Truchon of Artistic Living Studio; Donna Phelps of Sarasota School of Decorative Arts; Ted Heath of Perfetto, Inc and Blue Pearl Paint; Kathy Carroll of the Chicago Institute of Fine Finishes; Barth White of Barth's Faux Studio; and the ProFaux duo of Catalanotto and Greg Frohnapfel. Virtually all of the classes had capacity attendance, with students eager to have some in-depth instruction from la creme de la creme in the faux-finishing, decorative painting and mural painting universe.

The guest speaker list was equally impressive, including such industry notables as PDRA's Nicholas R. Cichielo; Leonard Pardon of Pardon Studio; Victor Pachade of Colormaker Floors Ltd.; Keith Cornelius of Wooster Brush; Richard Hardy of XIM Products; Trisha Collins of Artisans International, Inc,; as well as the aforementioned Ted Heath, Kathy Carroll and Michael Cooper.

The exhibit hall for the third annual Faux Event was enlarged significantly from the 2004 event featured a total of 26 booths, many of which were active with hand-on painting activities. Several exhibitors put up easels so that attendees could create demo boards on the spot. Among those participating in the exhibit were Artistic Living Studio, Blue Pearl Paints, BGI Decorative Coatings, DecoFinish, Golden Artist Colors, Greco Coatings Ltd., Jan Dressler Stencils, Leonard Pardon Faux Finish Studio, Modern Masters, Modello Designs, N. Cody & Associates, PDRA/The Faux Finisher, Perfetto, ProFaux, Ralph Lauren Paint, Recol Ltda., Royal Design Studio, SkimStone, SALI, Stoney Brook Wall coverings, The Faux School, Turner Acryl Gouache, The Wood Icing Co. and XIM.

And what would a Faux Event be without a little bit -- well, actually a whole lot -- of fun? Evenings were a time when the group let their collective hair down. Musical entertainment and cocktails parties were a highlight, but so, too, was the canoe race across the hotel swimming pool. For this repeat of last year's uproarious event, participants made their canoes from cardboard, plastic, flotation devices and other materials. Some boats proved more pool-worthy than others, but sink or float, everyone had a good time.

Catalanotto and partner Frohnapfel already have their thinking caps on regarding how to make the 2006 event even more special. Once again, the exhibitor area well be expanded -- this time encompassing an entire additional room. A good assortment of classes and workshops are also in the works. And the entertainment just might involve fun elements as karaoke and a talent show. There also will likely be an expansion of roundtable forums, since the interaction amount participants is one of the most prized benefits of this great buffet of faux-finishing activity.