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July 25, 1979 - Image 9

Resource type:
Text
Publication:
Michigan Daily, 1979-07-25

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The Michigan Daily-Wednesday, July 25, 1979-Page 3
People, pleasure, and profit
Artfair '79 intoxicates A2

Three for the show
You may have heard it-the sounds of hammers beating nails,
and people laughing and shouting.
The set-up started yesterday morning, and by last night
everything was ready for today, the first day of the 1979 Ann Arbor
art fair.
The potpourri of art and craft exhibits, demonstrations, enter-
tainment and sidewalk sales is a result of carefully coordinated
cooperation between artists, merchants and various departments
within the city and University. The annual fair is actually com-
posed of three independent art fairs which have been running con-
currently since 1971.
Approximately 300,000 free-spending tourists are expected to
converge on the city streets during the next four days.
Saturday night the clean-up crews take over. By late Sunday,
the city will return to normal-until next summer...

Doily Photo
YESTERDAY THE TRANSFORMATION of the city was just beginning as streets were blocked
and booths were constructed. Today multitudes of buyers and browsers start treking through
the streets looking at the artists' wares and checking out merchants' sidewalk sales. In past
years, the annual art fair has proven profitable for artists, merchants and bargain hunters.

'U' fair caters to student artists Exhibitors,
By BETH PERSKY years ago to help students exhibit in the Development. Membership includes
First-time student exhibitors are fair, is devoted to developing the talents University students and other artists fl ir3 fS
displaying a wide spectrum of arts and of student artists. from Ann Arbor and throughout the 4EU S'.
crafts alongside the works of Representing a vast range of skill and country.
established masters in the booths lining experience, 700 members of the Guild The bands Gemini and Footloose will
East University and Main Street. this year are exhibiting a "wide variety perform live music. Guitarist Dave es a l h
Sponsored by the University Artists of folk to fine art," said Melis, Zabroski will play during the four day
and Craftsmen Guild, the Summer Arts director of the Guild. fair and Pam Schlom will contribute Farl
Festival is the biggest and most The Guild is a non-profit art her vocal talents. rap p ort n
student-oriented of the three indepen- association operating within the Jerry Berta, a ceramic artist, will
dent fairs. The Guild, formed nine University's Office of Student present a demonstration of "ceramic
drive-in movies" involving Saturday S tate S t.
Night Live characters: "Mr. Bill visits
f the Potter's Studio," and "Samurai By TIM YAGLE
Music, demos high light
d os llCeramics."
A highlight of the festival will be the Quality and continuity keep the
city' s oldest street festival "Create a Patron Contest," pitting a patrons and artists coming back to the
G em of artists from the East Univer- State Street Area Art Fair year after
sity half of the fair against a team from year. And this summer the smallest of
By ADRIENNE LYONS are even accepted for exhibition at the Main Street. the three art fairs is bigger than ever.
When it all began 20 years ago, 99 ar- Ann Arbor Street Art Fair. Working one hour per day, each team The area of the fair has been exten-
tists displayed their works on ropes Fifty of the artists are from area high will create a life-size figure of any dod northward to Washington Street
strung between parking meters along schools, the Senior Citizens Guild and material on hand. The "perfect making room for 19 more artists to
South University. the Potter's Guild. Bottum said they patrons" will be judged by "surprise exhibit than last year, according to
Two decades and thousands of art- are invited to exhibit each year to judges," and the winning team will State Street Area Association member
loving tourists later, the 1979 version of provide "more community input." receive prizes donated by area mer- John Schreer.
the Ann Arbor Street Art Fair-gran- Although the fair does not have a cen- chants. A total of 175 artists and craftspeople
dparent of the city's annual arts tral theme, some of the special features The younger participants in the are exhibiting in the State Street Area
festivals-lines the streets of South and will focus on specific issues. For in- Festival will not be ignored, as two Art Fair in booths on State, North
East University with 300 specially con- - stance, street fair coordinators chose to children's centers, the Child Care Ac- University, Liberty and Maynard
structed booths. recognize the International Year of the tion Center and Corntree, are super- Streets.
Twenty summers ago merchants on Child with special events for the vising art activities for children, with SCHREER SAID the 12-year-old fair
South University asked the Ann Arbor children attending, Bottum said. materials donated by local companies. has been successful because of "the
Art Association to sponsor an art fair in Children between five and 12 years of After hours of gazing the hungry art quality of artists that we have."
conjunction with annual summer sales. age are invited to participate in these fair observer can visit one of ten food Most of the artists return each year
As the successful Ann Arbor Street activities which include painting, booths at the festival. A wide range of because they have developed a special
Pair grew rapidly over the years, drawing, and modelling clay. . treats, from tacos and chippaties to rapport with their patrons. The artists
everyone wanted to get in the act and Along with the Children's Activities, Pennsylvania funnel cakes, and hand- are familiar with their clientele and the
two more art fairs were formed. another popular feature of the fair is squeezed lemonade are being served. art buyers like to see the same artists
Today, in addition to showcasing the the demonstrations. This year 23 artists Although the Guild festival was every year, said Schreer.
talents of artists and craftsmen, the will demonstrate work in such fields as originally geared almost exclusively to "The key is the continuity," he said.
sreet fair features art demonstrations glassblowing, Chinese paper cut-outs, University students, more "Some of the people have been here a
and entertainers. and photo etching and tinting. professionals than students now display long time."
The majority of the artists are The Ann Arbor Street Art Fair is also their works, said Melis. She explained THE ARTISTS also come back
professionals who must undergo strict noted for its special events. Dancers, there aren't enough student members because of the location of the State
4.gn~poj~ .05foi~e their 'works ~ A.Pb1. °.t ,f v 40 t~ " .454 . aU,',.pi ge }2 ~. "ee0!vTR~gev ' ,-..

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