8D - The Michigan Daily - New Student Edition - September 8, 1998

'U' museums' exhibits.
range from dinosaur
skeletons to Monet

MUSEUMS
Continued from Page 1D
Eastern artifacts, including figurines of
gods and goddesses, as well as mummy
cases, occupy another gallery. A tempo-
rary exhibit, entitled "Reconstructing
Personal Style in Late Antiquity"
shows decorative garments of clothing
worn from the 4th to 7th-Century
Common Era, and examines how fash-
ion could express social identity and
individual personality in those times.
If students are interested in science,
evolution, ecology, biology, astronomy,
geology or a few shrieking elementary
children, the Exhibit Museum of
Natural History is the place to be.
Many students don't realize the value
of the fourth floor, where most con-
cepts of introductory biology, from
genetics and development to principles
of evolution, are visually displayed.
Fossil evidence of prehistoric life and
its gradual development into modern
life is the focus of the gallery. Large
dinosaur fossils are on display in the
middle of isles.
Throughout the exhibit, reconstruc-
tions of landscapes lend a believable
aspect to evolution. Skeletons and
drawings of invertebrates, fish,
amphibians, reptiles, dinosaurs, birds
and mammals are chronologically
shown.
Local flair abounds on the third
tloor, where 72 cases of wildlife and
ecology of Michigan and the Great
Lakes region is displayed with
stuffed animals and birds, and
plants. An exhibit of Native

Americans, with reconstructionof
daily life and many artifacts. suci
canoes, explains the history of the
earlier inhabitants of the Anmericas.
The two black lions guarding the
entrance to the Museum are of local
fame, something which all students
come to know in their stay at the
University.
The exhibition hall with the most
student and faculty involvement is
the Slusser Gallery. Typically dis-
playing art of Bachelor and Master
of Fine Arts students and facuit-t
the University, the gallery also holds
temporary traveling exhibition, and
installations.
The gallery received its name
from the oldest emeritus faculty
member of the School of Art, Jean
Paul Slusser.
Slusser was renown in many
areas, including having been ate art
critic for the Boston Herald 1
New York Sun and becoming t
director of the University Museum
of Art from 1947-1957. The Gallery
was dedicated in his honor on his
90th birthday.
Future and present exhibitaich
as Rudolf Steiner's blakh'dird
drawings and furniture d'sign4' by
Charles and Ray Eames coiue
through this year at the Galfery.
With its large windows, white ,walls.
hardwood floor, and futuristic-
port channel ceiling, the Gdellry
creates a space within a sea of hall-
ways devoted to student exhibition
in the Art and Architecture
Building.

STEVE GERTZ/Daily
The University museums have numerous different exhibits to offer, including prehistoric bone structres. The Exhibit Museum of Natural History, for example, offers an
extensive collection of prehistoric society and its evolution into modern life.

U

WATCH I
weli
.-c,,
LL.O0 _..
HOURS: M-F
09
ZZROS
S4
*"u
rie

FOR OUR NEW LOCATION
STUDENS
WE RECYCLE FOR THE FUTURE "
PRESERVE THE PLANET'S
RESOURCES BY RECYCLING
Sr UR PROET
7:30 am to 4 pm; Sat. 7:30 am to 11 am
PUBLIC WELCOME
AxeArh~
YOU think this ad is I. FUIEDNAN
crowded- you should COMPAN .
see our LOT! ML In.

Summer art fairs attract visitors, vendors

By Anna Kovalszki
Daily Arts Writer
Each year one of the largest and most frequented events in Ann Arbor dur-
ing the summertime, collectively known as the Ann Arbor Art Fairs. The
event annually promises to be as wide-ranging in artistic media as it is in
offering a multitude of events to satisfy all age groups and personality types.
The three art fairs, covering 24 city blocks of downtown and campus, attract
more than 1,000 juried artists from all over the United Sates and Canada, as
well as more than half a million visitors.
The Ann Arbor Street Art Fair, in its 39th year, was ranked the No. 1 Fine
Craft Show in 1995 by Sunshine Artist Magazine. The Ann Arbor Summer
Art Fair, in its 28th year, is listed by the Harris List as one of the top five
fine art shows in the country. The State Street Area Art Fair, in its 3 1st year,
ranks in the top 10 best shows in the country and also displays 10 University
art students' works.
Besides the wealth of art, a certain charm pervades the exhibit, all con-
nected with the many hands-on events offered as well as ever-present com-
munity involvement.
For those interested in observing artists at work, most of the fairs contain
demonstration booths, where artists show their skills in many areas like
printmaking, ceramics, photography and watercolor-painting. Children can
visit the hands-on children's booths, where art teachers lead them into a

"The Art Fair annoys me because
there are too many people
- Jennifer Curren
LSA senior
world of discovering the fun of art.
The Imagination Station, part of the Summer Art Fair, provides entertain-
ment, such as jazz music and gymnastics shows, all performed by cQmmu-
nity groups. Fairgoers can listen to guitar, jazz, rhythm and blues, classical,
New Age, steel drum, and folk music, just to name a few, on seven st s
throughout the fairs. Special food vendors, as well as many local restaura s,
offer a variety of culinary experiences. Fairgoers taking a break from the
activities can also be seen in the Diag throughout the fair.
A special part of the art fair, according to the Art Guild's Art Fair Director,
Shary Brown, is the local nonprofit organizations booth set up in the center
of the art fairs, where the audience can go to find out about volunteeroppor-
tunities and where the nonprofits can "send a myriad of messages out -
something which is very Ann Arbor," Brown said.
Local vendors also share in the festivities, with many hosting sidewalk
sales and profiting from the large influx of people. Merchants largeJy Co-
tend that the fairs are great for business, drawing in a diverse clienteeW
Although the art fairs are an enjoyable part of the summer for mast peo-
pie, a few contend that the fairs are a hassle, especially students who have to
battle crowds and traffic jams to attend summer classes or jobs.
LSA senior Jennifer Curren, was waitressing at Seva Restaurant during
last year's art fair, said, "The art fair annoys me because there are too many
people, but at least I'll make more money at work." However, perks such
as big sales at popular stores, make the art fairs more appealing to stu-
dents.
With so many skilled artists attending, everyone should make it part of
their summer plans to attend this nationally acclaimed celebration of art.
Whether you make a large purchase, or just enjoy the show, the Art fairs
are a necessary Ann Arbor summertime experience.

UI

n.

M.

lU