What do you get when you combine 52 years of art, over 1,100 artists and half a million visitors? The Ann Arbor Art Fair of course!
History of the Art Fair
The Original “Ann Arbor Street Art Fair” began in 1960 and hosted 132 artists. A second fair, “The State Street Area F
air,” was added in 1967 and by 1970 there was a third fair, “The Ann Arbor Summer Art Fair,” with crowds reaching the 70,000 mark. “The South University Art Fair” was added in 2003 making the event really four art fairs in one.
The event has won numerous awards and is currently on AmericanStyle Magazine’s Top Ten list of Art Fairs & Festivals.
The Art
Both two-dimensional and three-dimensional mediums will be on display: Metal works, ceramics, glass, photography, paintings, drawings, prints, stone works, jewelry, and wood works.
Professional artists, gallery owners and professors make up the independent jury which selects over 1,000 artists on display each year. The streets of Downtown Ann Arbor and the area around the University of Michigan will be lined with booths of various forms of art – there will be something for everyone – including music and food.
The 2011 Featured Artist
“I use collage, printing, resist wash, and papier mache, gouache, pencil.” States Julie Fremuth, this year’s featured artist, “Each piece is unique.” Julie is from Ann Arbor and will be at booth A131.
Julie graduated from the University of Michigan with degrees in Fine Art and History. For more than 20 years she has worked at the William Clements Library as a paper and book conservator.
Fremuth designed the official poster for the event. It’s cartoonish in nature and displays a collection of empty pairs of pants suggesting, “The human character and presence without literal figural form”.
Art Demo Zone
Artists will demonstrate their techniques under the big maple trees on North University. Watch how to hand-build or use the potters wheel to make ceramics. Learn how to hand-paint black & white photographs. And view fine art being made with oil, acrylic, and fiber.
More than Art
150 Restaurants will offer their culinary delights in three outdoor food courts throughout the festival and street performers try to dazzle onlookers as they meander from booth to booth. From Irish Step Dancing to Jazz, three live music stages also provide a variety of entertainment during the four day event.
When to Go
The art fair runs Wednesday, July 20 through Saturday, July 23, 2011. Open Wednesday-Friday from 10:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. and Saturday from 9:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m.
Expect to pay to park. Many shuttles offer an alternative. Maps and details available at www.theannarborartfair.com or you may call 734-994-5260.
Art Fair Breakdown
The Ann Arbor Street Art Fair, the Original
The State Street Area Art Fair
The Ann Arbor Summer Art Fair
Ann Arbor’s South University Art Fair
By Michael Dwyer
About Michael Dwyer