The Michigan Daily-Wednesday, July 21,1982-Page 3
Art fair overtakes A2
By FANNIE WEINSTEIN
It's almost enough to make you forget the heat and. Actually, the annual event is three fairs in one. everyone, even the curiosity seeker who already has
nearly 100 percent humidity. And for a four-day " The State Street Art Fair, located on stretches of the ideal sculpture or wallhanging they always want-
stretch in late July, almost half a million people do. North University, State Street, East Liberty, and ed
The annual summer art fair, now in its 23rd year, Maynard Street, open 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Wednesday n recent years, tne sair nas arawn, in anmuon to
draws an estimated 300,000 to 500,000 art lovers trom through Friday, and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday. the artists, hawkers soliciting everything from the
throughout the country, crowded into the streets of . The Ann Arbor Street Art Fair, located on South wildest of t-shirts to volcanic ash from Mount St.
Ann Arbor. and East University, open 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Wed- Helens.
Putting on this extravaganza, which is considered nesday through Friday, and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Satur- For those who prefer more mobile art, plenty is
among the top three of its kind in this country, is no day. available. In addition to organized concerts there is
small task and requires a year-round effort from all " The Summer Arts Festival, located on State a le Int dtin t o organized .
those involved. This includes the organizers who start Street and Main Street, open 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Wed- aTerereinme wotortenise.
to plan next year's fair as soon as last year's is over, nesday through Friday, and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Satur- street festival keep you from exploring the beloved
the Mayor's Art Committee, which handles many of day.
the behind-the-scenes activities, and of course, the It is impossible to list all the artifacts that can be Diag. Sometimes the flame throwers, sword
found at the fair, but there is certainly something for swallowers, and jugglers are the best acts in town.
artists themselves.
State St. Ann
Art Fair: Arbor
Smaller street air
in size started
only it all
By GREG BRUSSTAR By GREG BRUSSTAR
Bigger does not always mean better. Like many fine wines, the Ann Arbor
Such is the case with the State Street Street Art Fair, now entering its 23rd
Art Fair, the smallest of the three fairs year, has only improved with age.
beginning today in Ann Arbor. "We do not buy the idea of bigger and
The fair, whichis in its 21st year, will better every year," fair coordinator
feature 141 artists exhibiting leather Richard Brunvard said. "We just try to
work, ink prints, batik, and wooden put on as good a show as we can.
toys, to name a few. About one-third of THE FAIR, the oldest of this week's
these artists come from Michigan, three, actually began as a supplement
while the rest travel from throughout .,xto a summer sale held by local mer-
the United States and Canada. chants. Ninety-nine artists exhibited
IN ADDITION to displaying artwork their work the first year and within two
from their booths, a number of artists years, there were several hundred ap-
will conduct street demonstrations in plicants for the show.
areas such as glass blowing, pottery This year, the fair, which must limit
making, and woodcarving. itself to 250 artists because of space
Those participating in the fair are availability, received about 800 ap-
juried by merchants, and professional plications, according to Brunvand.
and amateur artists, according to State Although many exhibitors return
Street AreA Association President year after year, the fair takes on a dif-
Kevin Sheets. Artists are also reviewed ,nferent flavor each year, Brunvand said.
during the fair by a 12-member panel, For example, he added, this year the
Sheets said. fair's jurying committee-which is,
About 400 artists applied to show in made up of local merchants, educators,
this year's faib ir Coordinator Pat artists, and members of Ann Arbor's
Kemeney said, but more than half were 4art community-accepted 60 new
turned down due to a lack of space.-4 exhibitors.
ALTHOUGH many artists earn a "ANY LEGITIMATE art media is
large portion of their yearly income at DaIy Photo by KIM HILL found at our's," he said. "We have
the fair, the artists are not the only ones demonstrations on glass blowings .
who do business during the four-day ex- The annual summer art fair virtually takes over Ann Arbor, turning nor- wood carvings .. any medium you can
travaganza, as the fair coincides with mally placid summer streets into a carnival of shoppers. think of."
See STATE, Page 14 See ANNUAL, Page 15
Artists Guild: A real rags to riches story
By GEORGE ADAMS calling it 'Free Fair' ... It was horrible for a while "We're a local artists' organization with a national
It began with a few students selling their artwork and we were not in a position to earn respect," she membership," Bartolo explained, adding there are
onblansithfeDiguntseinguth12iyarsth said. guild members throughout the United States. "We
on blankets in the Diag; but in just 12 years, the Guild Director Helen Welford, who has been with even have a member in Japan," she said.,"Of course,
University Artists and Craftsmen Guild s Summer the guild since its inception, said there was a great most (members) are in Ann Arbor."
Arts Festival has grown into the largest exhibit at deal of pressure from members of Ann Arbor's art Of the guild's 1,100 members, 700 are "exhibiting
Ann Arbor's annual event. cmembers," who can show their work in the guild's
"It (the guild) started as a reaction to the art fair, community to turn the guild into a real thing," in- various fairs and shows. Students are automatically
with people just setting up on the Diag to sell their art stead of the haphazard event it was. qualified to become exhibiting members upon joining
works," said Rita Bartolo, associate director of the "It was really bringing down the quality of the the guild.
guild. "Within a short time, it got to be hundreds of other shows," she said. ORIGINALLY, the guild chose not to jury the
people" works of the artists who wanted to appear in the
THIS YEAR, more than 600 artists will be THE GUILD was officially formed in 1973 in festival. "That was what everyone wanted to get
displaying their works, ranging from leaded glass to response to this pressure and the increasing interest away from," Welford said. "We couldn't very well
fiber art, at 515 booths. among young arists, especially students, in having jury artists when we started as a reaction against
Te early exhbis 'in' the lIiag - were poorly -an organization to aid themniexibiting their work,, thatvel'y idea."
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