Wednesday, July 16, 197 Page Eighteen THE MICHIGAN DAILY Art Fairs highlight summer By SUSAN ADES Summertime in Ann Arbor is somewhat of a paradox. Many people remain in town long after the school year madness has degenerated into an unfa- miliar lull - they enjoy the relaxed atmosphere. Yet, the excitement and frivolousness of the annual mid-July Ann Arbor outdoor art fairs seem to high- light the season for everyone. "All of a sudden quiet little Ann Arbor is flooded by thou- sands of people," exclaimed Geri Rickman, an Art School junior. "Booths start going up and people are camping out and there's all kinds of art all over the place." - THREE independent art fairs descend concurrently upon Ann Arbor streets, bringing displays of wood carving, log sculpture, water colors, macrame, leather- craft, pottery and paintings by artists and craftspersons from all parts of the U.S. The event has a fifteen year history which dates back to the time when Ann Arbor mer- chants, wishing to attract pa- trons to the town during the annual mid-summer "Bargain Days," decided to hold a juried art fair. Today, the extravaganza is a nationally-known arts festival which has grown to overshadow its reason for being. The Ann Arbor Chamber of Commerce estimates that nearly 200,000 ,b SAM'S STORES, INC. 207 EAST lIBERTY people pass through the city during the fair, viewing and buying the works of more than 950 exhibitors. THE ANN ARBOR Street Fair, sponsored by the South University Merchants Organiza- tion, is the oldest of the three fairs while the State Street Fair and the University Activities Center (UAC) sponsored Free Art Fair developed as less re- strictive alternatives to their stringently juried forerunner. Held on South University and East University, the Street Fair includes 156 uniformly construct- ed booths sheltering the crea- tions of 250-300 renowned artists, the majority of whom come from Michigan (including sev- eral Ann Arborites) while over 20 states and Canada are also represented. The Street Fair is juried in the sense that participants are chosen on the basis of slide en- tries of their work as well as on their reputations. Artists who are placed on the invitational list are then asked to pay a $25 registration fee. "OUR ARTISTS have gone through a rigorous process an that shows up in the quality our fair," said Dick Brunvan coordinator of the Street Fai "The Fair is designed to fluid to show what art is today not to give artists a chance t make a lot of money In fou days," he added. Meanwhile, around the corne down East University, the Fre Arts Festival flourishes with i blend of displays. This fair i easily distinguished from th juried fair by the array of on ginal booth designs. "SOME PEOPLE do elaborat geodesic domes and multi leveled structures, and some still back in the days of blanket and tables,"' said Chris White co-ordinator of the UAC Artist and Craftsmen Guild, the ganization to which all 500 Frei Arts Festival participants mus belong. The festival abounds with ex hibits by University faculty an students, among others, provid ing amateurs -- closed out o the Street Fair by the tight jur system - a showcase for thei] artwork. See FAIRS, Page 19 ml ART FAIR SPECIALS ao M '. 500 E. Liberty-Ann Arbor 761 -6212 Open Wed., Thurs, Fri. till 9 p.m., Sat. till 5:30 .... .. ... .. "... ... ...u.- ....::: .v:: ! . . J... v':.1 . "". .. ... .. ., .... ..rte 1 WEEI( For Readersof AJIAges tomre ANN ARBOR baobab FOLK ART GALLERY 123 W. Washington Ann Arbor, Michigan 48108 (313) 662-3681 INCLUDED IN THE PRESENT COLLECTION ARE: South American Antiquities Woolen Weavings from the Bolivian Andes Bolivian Colonial Silver Work Molas: textile art from the San Blas Islands, Panama Makonde Sculpture from Tanzania Senufo hangings, graphic representation from the Ivory Coast Afghani rugs and weavings Hand carved Peruvian gourds Jewelry fashioned from African and Latin American beads and silver GALLERY HOURS: tuesday-friday 12-10/saturday 10-6