Business booster has
gained artistic repute
Well, it's interesting . . .
Browers and buyers persue the fair's wares at the corner of South and East
University Streets.
By MITCH CANTOR
Once again booths will line the
sidewalks, people will crowd the
streets, and some jerk will mutter,
"Y'know, some things never change.'
But the fact is that the Ann Arbor Art
Fair, now composed of three fairs, has
changed since it began nineteen years
ago. Originally planned by local
businessmen to attract more people to
the city for summer sales, the Ann Ar-
bor Street Art Fair grew each year until
the number of artist stands was limited
to 300 in 1963. Since then the Street Art
Fair Acceptance Committee has been
screening applicants in order to keep
the number of artists at a working
level.{
The success of the Ann Arbor Street
Fair on South University prompted the
State Street Area Association, a group
of local merchants, to found their own
exhibition in 1968.
"It (the State Street Art Fair) started
as a promotional idea for bargain days,
to bring people into the area," accor-
ding to John Schreer, one of twelve
directors in the association. Schreer
said the State Street Fair, which
featured less than forty artists its first
year, now showcases the works of over
150.
"We stress originality and quality of
the works," Schreer said of the fair
which, like the Ann Arbor Street Art
Fair, screens its participants before
granting them space.
The third fair to display works during
the four-day art fair period is the
University Artists and Craftsmen Guild
Fair, located downtown on Main Street
and along the north end of East Univer-
sity. ,
According to Ann Roth, assistant
director of the Guild, the newest of the
art fairs will feature the works of about
700 artists this year. Roth added that
the Guild Fair does not screen entrants
as do the other fairs. Instead, artists
must be members of the Guild to be
allowed space to show their work in the
exhibition.
"They get into the guild by being a
University student or hearing about it
and applying for membership," Roth
said.
Roth said the beginning of the Guild
Fair is a "bit hazy."
"It was loosely organized in the
beginning. It's my impression that a
small group of maybe six or eight
University students started it (to
exhibit their own works)," Roth said.
One problem each fair has had to
tolerate throughout the years is Ann
Arbor's often merciless weather.
"We usually have rain and wind,"
according to Esther Rainville, historian
for the Ann Arbor Street Art Fair Ac-
ceptance Committee. Rainville recalls
one year in which the streets were
flooded up to the curbs.
"After a bit people didn't care - they
just slushed through it," Rainville said.
She added that one of the beneficial
changes in the fair throughout the years
was a city ordinance 'which prohibits
artists from selling their wares on the
sidewalk without licenses.
WE'RE TAKING OUR ART
TO THE STREETS!
This year six of our artists will be
exhibiting in the Ann Arbor Art Fair.
Look-for their booths at the following locations . .
U-M Artists & Craftsmen Guild Fair
Darry Dusbiber Photography Booth E-2, Waterman Gym site
Joe Hippler Woodwork Booth C-10, East University
& Pat Thurkow
Rishar Miranda Gold& Sitversmith Booth A11 , East University
Wayne Vergith Leatherwork Booth N-22, East University
George Tudzarov Pottery Booth B-1, East University
Ann Arbor Street Art Fair
RoseAnna Tendler Worth Enamels Booth 41, S. University & Church St
Altn.-Fri.
it youcant 11:30 to.9:W
nake it to the fair, 1036to 6.0 Sat.
please visit our shop, 161109W. Washington
1I Hands. It's Ann (acrass from the
rbo7s.ilo HANDS Old German)
owned and run by 1 Ann Arbor 48106
i@*Ul isans. kit1111.
r
July 19th only
You can't pay regular price
All regular priced-merchandise
on display-Save 20%
Sidewalk tables-
A wide assortment of gifts, handbags,
billfolds, assorted luggage
reduced 50%
Assorted odd-lot Luggage
SAVE 40% to 60%
Large men's & women's
Billfold Selection
'% PRICE
July 19 to 22
WI~aW