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THE CROWDS, THE heat, the side-walk sales, street vendors, and of course, South University Ann Arbor Street Art-Fair (pictured above) is one of three
the artists. Every July Ann Arbor is overrun with artists and tourists alike fairs that make up the total Ann Arbor Art Fair.
when the annual art phenomena-the Ann Arbor Art Fair--takes place. The
Fair metamorphosizes

By LISA CRUMRINE
and MARY HALLER
Every summer towards the end of
July, the fairly quiet streets of Ann Ar-
bor metamorphosize as hundreds of ar-
tists set up shop, and hawk their wares
to crowds of tourists who flock to the
four-day three-fair extravaganza-The
Ann Arbor Art Fair.
The fair originated 21 years ago in the
South University shopping district as a
commercial scheme to promote area
business. It has since become a
nationally-known event drawing
professional and amateur artists from
across the country.
ARTISTS ARE JURIED not only
before the fair, but also during the four-
day exhibition. These requirements
enable the fair to maintain its level of
quality and make it worthwhile for both
artist and customers, according to Bob
Foster, a member of the Mayor's Art
Fair Committee. "We want an art fair
as good as the May Festival (a local en-
tertainment fair)," he said.
Young and old artists are represented
at the South University fair. The senior
citizens booth and the Ann Arbor high
schools' section, offer both groups an
opportunity to demonstrate their
abilities.
Meandering through the maze of
spectators, an Art Fair shopper may
notice that many of the impressive ob-
jects d'art carry equally impressive

price tags-some of the works may be
out of the average Art Fair browser's
price range. According to Foster,
galleries and manufacturing com-
panies scout the fair an-
nually-sometimes buying an artist's
entire selection of wares.
ALL ANN ARBOR Street Fair work
is guaranteed by the fair committee
which keeps records of each artist's-art
fair location and home address in case
defects are discovered or a buyer
wishes to purchase additional art work.
While the booths on South and East
University comprise a fair in them-
selves, two other fairs also await art
shoppers.
The State Street Art Fair, a short
walk through the engineering arch and
across the Diag from South University,
was founded in 1968 as an alternative to
the heavily-juried Street Art Fair. Of-
fering local and Michigan artists an op-
portunity to exhibit, it has evolved into
a more selective event with acceptance
based on the "merit" of the art work,
according to a State Street Association
spokesperson.
ASSOCIATION MEMBERS CLAIM
this method of selection allows them
"To maintain the high quality and
variety that has become synonomous
with the State Street Area Art Fair
throughout the years."
The State Street selection committee
looks for originality and balance of

media when choosing artwork for the
fair. Yet, art in this fair may be more
affordable than in the South University
fair. State Street displays in-
clude-besides paintings, pottery, and
drawing-fiber arts, photography,
jewelry, glass work, graphics, basket
weaving, and hand-made musical in-
struments.
Competing with the artist for atten-
tion are the merchants, whose "bargain
days" coincide with Art Fair dates.
Sidewalk sales and sale tables abound
as stores clean out their invenitories and
slash prices on summer merchandise.
ART AT THE fair is not only con-

tained in booths lining the streets; a
major part of Art Fair days is made up
of entertainment.- Several dance
troupes and instrumental performan-
ces are scheduled throughout the fair
and provide an opportunity to escape
the mainstream of traffic. One group,
Ann Arbor Circus Productions, will per-
form in the State Street area during the
day and in the Michigan Theatre at
night.
Folk dancers and musical groups
sponsored by Eclipse Jazz also will per-
form in front of the Union.
The youngest of the three fairs, the
See ARTISTS, Page 5

The Michigan Daily
ART FAIR GUIDE EDITORIAL STAFF
Editors
Elaine Rideout Kevin Tottis
Adyertising
Barbara Forslund
Photographers
Paul Engstrom Jim Kruz
STAFF WRITERS: Mark Coleman, Lisa Crumirine. Joyce Frieden. Anne Gadon. Su-
zaane Gottlieb. Mary Haller. Bonnie Juran. Nick Katsarelas. Susan McCreight. Tom
Mirga. JoshuaM. Pek. Maryem Rafani. Mitch Stuart.
Cover photograph by David Harris