Thrursdoy, July 19, 1973
THE SUMMER DAILY
Page Three-s
Thursday, July 19, 1973 THE SUMMER DAILY Page Three-S
Artists take
to
streets
for
14th annua
I
fair
The art fair cometh.
For the 14th time in as many years,
swarms of artists-250 in all-will desert
studios, garrets, workshops, and cellars,
gather tip whatever it is that they do best
and seize control of Ann Arbor's streets.
SPECIFICALLY, the ranks of the talent-
ed from 30 states, Canada, and England
will descend upon East and South Uni-
versity Sts. today for the Ann Arbor Street
Art Fair and remain until the fair closes
o, Saturday.
Weavers, glassblowers, potters and
painters -- many will be demonstrating
their work. Virtmilly every art medium
will b renrsent-d at the fair.
One hundred thatisnd people are ex-
pected to arrive over the five day show
to stroll throagh tha booths, listen to music
anl anybe briag home a souvenir.
11,101E 'TItAN ONCE 1--iledt as the best
fair in the state, the Ann Arbor Street
Fair attracts visitors from distant parts
of the co-'try as wlt. Nany retarn year
after year becatse of the festival atmos-
aha,-- ndn excitasemant.
The fair begaas toast snaItsneo sly in
1959 with nothinamore than roaes strung
betw=:yen prrki'g meters and 145 artists.
Dsnite its disar--i-tion, this early fair
embodied man iftt he nlitis which
hve coati-led to -as'iaag-ish the Ann Ar-
lar a'ir. It tanti-li a chance for the
1's1l'-'a to meet. - a1V ad by original
works from prof-ssitaal and am-atetr ar-
tists. Even ti"an its enhasis was largely
ed tationa with demonstrations playing
a large role.
By 1963 the fair h d )Isast outgrown
itself when 363 artists tried to s'eeze into
the available snace. A decision ha d to be
made. Wouald the fair grow in size or in
ailsait'. The osernint committee decided
to limit the size of the fair and msaiut'sin
a high quality of art work.
THE 1965 FAIR was the first i"ried fair.
Each April, a committee of at least eight
persons view the slides of nearly 1000 as-
plicants. This committee has the difficult
job of narrowing down the number of par-
ticipating artists to 250. This system
assures that the work exhibited will be the
best available.
Some of the attractions of the fair in-
clude the booths of the Ann Arbor Potter's
Guild, high school stadents and senior citi-
zens. This year a slide show depicting the
background and highlights of the fair will
he shown.
Visitors to the fair c'n take more than
artwork and emnty wallets home with
theat this ver A 'anmnrehensive book
fatarig ni-t"r-, 'af tie works of artists
's tv^1I "a hiasasa' aht"'1 information and a
ta1thataresof the st5,wstill he avail-
TIIE HOURS of the fir are from 9 -}((
a.m. to 10:00 n m. Wednesdaev, Thasrsday
and Friday and 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on
Satiarday.
rnoI y L KK T C -,K I t
Booth after booth after booth after .. .
Workmen begin construction of the repeating rows of booths that have since become the fourteenth annual Ann Arbor Street
Art Fair. Shown is the first phase of physical preparation for the fair. After the frames were built and the electrical wiring
installed, the individual artists moved in and began putting up the walls and tables necessary to display their work.
OP PORTUNIT FOR --AMAT
OPPORT U NITY FOR AMA TEU RS
OceainomlFree- Fal,
By REBECCA WARNER lection of musical an
Once an informal congregation of local meat.
artists on the Diag, the Ann Arbor Free AS NOTABLE side
Arts Fair, a smaller, un-juried event run- fair's planners have
ning simultaneously with the street fair, section in front of t
has grown to mammoth proportions in a children's participa
only three years of official existence. The food area will
The free fair was established as an riety of delicacies in
alternative to the growing "professional- die Eastern, and Me
ism" of the regular art fair, says free and also soul food an
fair co-ordinator Vic Gutman. Its display The dishes will be
space is open to "everyone who makes fair exhibitors who sit
their own handcrafted art." The regular cooking as well as th
fair only accepts exhibits after screening. the week.
THE FREE FAIR, however, is de- THE ARTISTS' and
signed to allow participation in the week's Gutman explains, is
events by amateur artists, students, and fair on funds it has g
morn city and county residents. bership fees. The U
Situated on E. University between the Center (UAC) has do
Physics and Astronomy Building and N. $1000, and participa
University, the free fair this year will in- each toward the fair's
clude "everything" Gutman says: ma- The Guild was fc
crame, batique, wood cuts, weaving, jew- when Gutman called
elry, painting, sculpture, belt buckles, free fair participants
leather work, even Tiffany lamps. lishing. a group which
Participating artists range from an on a permanent basis
11-year-old girl to two retirees. About half operative was forme
of the 320 entrants are from Washtenaw grown to include 210
County, 105 come from the rest of the The organization pr
state, and the remainder hail from all services for its mem
over the nation, with representation from operative buying of a
states as distant -as California and Flori- nai -tain communica
da. Professional artists as well as stu- artists and its office
dents and amateurs will be represented. solving agency for the
THE FREE FAIR is sponsored this year THE GUILD compil
by the University of Michigan Artists'-and throughout the U.S. w
Craftsmen's Guild, a newly formed group participating artists a
of city artists, mostly composed of stu- letter in conjunction a
dents. lery.
a As well as marking off space for the In the future, Gutm
artists to display their work, the free fair hopes to start a store
organizers are providing a massive col- the community in pr
expands
d dramatic entertain- the arts. At present
to start an art pr(
attractions, the free jail.
arranged for a food The first official I
he P&A Bldg., with 1971, sponsored by
tion area nearby. and UAC. That fai
feature a wide va- nanced by the Univ
cluding Indian, Mid- tists participated, a
editerranean recipes extremely crowded,
d organic food. As a result, this
cooked and sold by 1aid out in the hors
gned up to sell their space for visitors a
heir art work during booths, Participation
320 artists, with firs
d Craftsmen's Guild, ing given to students
sponsoring the free
athered from mem-
tniversity Activities
onated an additional -
ting artists pay $5
s expenses. j
ounded in January
a meeting of past
in hopes of estab-
a could run the fair
. At that time a co-
d which has since
members.
ovides a number of
sbers, including co-
rt supplies. It helps
tion between local
acts as a problem
artistic community.
es a list of art fairs
Vith comments from
nd puts out a news-
with the Union Gal-
san says, the group Electrical wiring is
e and to work with from area business
omoting interest in the works of art sot
t the Guild is trying
ogram in the county
free fair was held in
the Free University
was completely fi-
ersity. Nearly 500 ar-
nd the grounds were
Gutman says.
year's fair has been
eshoe pattern, allow-
to walks among the
has been limited to
t priority in register-
and Guild members.
Wiring up a festival
an important part of a fair that runs until 10 p.m. Here workmen
es are shown putting up the wiring t string lights to illuminate
in to be placed in the booths.