Art Fair 1997

Artists, spectators participate in an A2 summer tradition

BOHDAN DAMIAN CAP/Daily Eve Fleck from Yellow Springs, Ohio, prepares her contemporary porcelain selection for 1997's Ann Arbor Art Fairs.

It's time once again for one of the largest and most frequented events in town during the summertime, collectively known as the Ann Arbor Art Fairs. The event promises to be as wide-ranging in artistic media as it is in offering a multitude of events to satisfy all age groups and personality types. The three art fairs, covering 24 city blocks of downtown and campus, attract more than 1,000 juried artists from all over the United Sates and Canada, as well as more than half a million visitors.

The Ann Arbor Street Art Fair, in its 38th year, was ranked the No. 1 Fine Craft Show in 1995 by Sunshine Artist Magazine. The Ann Arbor Summer Art Fair, in its 27th year, is listed by the Harris List as one of the top five fine art shows in the country. The State Street Area Art Fair, in its 30th year, ranks in the top 10 best shows in the country and also displays 10 University art students' works.

PREVIEW
	Ann Arbor Art Fairs July 16-19

Besides the wealth of art, a certain charm pervades the exhibit, all connected with the many hands-on events offered as well as ever-present community involvement.

For those interested in observing artists at work, most of the fairs contain demonstration booths, where artists show their skills in many areas like printmaking, ceramics, photography and watercolor-painting. Children can visit the hands-on children's booths, where art teachers lead them into a world of discovering the fun of art.

The Imagination Station, part of the Summer Art Fair, provides entertainment, such as jazz music and gymnastics shows, all performed by community groups. Fairgoers can listen to guitar, jazz, rhythm and blues, classical, New Age, steel drum, and folk music, just to name a few, on seven stages throughout the fairs. Special food vendors, as well as many local restaurants, offer a variety of culinary experiences.

A special part of the art fair, according to the Art Guild's Art Fair Director, Shary Brown, is the local nonprofit organizations booth set up in the center of the art fairs, where the audience can go to find out about volunteer opportunities and where the nonprofits can "send a myriad of messages out -- something which is very Ann Arbor," Brown said.

Local vendors also share in the festivities, with many hosting sidewalk sales and profiting from the large influx of people. Merchants largely contend that the fairs are great for business, drawing in a diverse clientele.

Although the art fairs are an enjoyable part of the summer for most people, a few contend that the fairs are a hassle, especially students who have to battle crowds and traffic jams to attend summer classes or jobs. LSA junior Jennifer Curren, a waitress at Seva Restaurant, said, "The art fair annoys me because there are too many people, but at least IÕll make more money at work." However, perks, such as big sales at popular stores, make the art fairs more appealing to students.

With so many skilled artists attending, everyone should make it part of their summer plans to attend this nationally acclaimed celebration of art. Whether you make a large purchase, or just enjoy the show, the art fairs are a necessary Ann Arbor summertime experience.

BOHDAN DAMIAN CAP/Daily
Jean-Pierre Weill hangs one of his multidimensional paintings, which include three or four levels of painted glass or plexiglass atop one another for a three-dimensional appearance. His assistant Heekyu Hong looks on in the reflection.

BOHDAN DAMIAN CAP/Daily
Doris Gould from Houston, Texas sets up her sculptures with her brother Dan Sekellick from Albany, NY at the Art Fairs, which will run through July 19th.

07-16-97