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Monday, July 23, 2001-- The Michigan Daily - 9
I
"Art Fair Parking" and "Mastercard/
Visa excepted" were the signs of the times
last week, as foot traffic around campus
came to a halt and street traffic
detoured.
Although not all of the
700,000 visitors of last year's
Ann Arbor Art Fairs were
present on campus this week, the 31st
year of the fairs was a success.
Area businesses and vendors, who filled
several blocks, activist groups, artists, and
the City of Ann Arbor all benefitted from
the fairs, either through profits or through
membership.
As more than 25 blocks of the Ann
Arbor campus closed
down to traffic, parking
lots filled up for $8-10 per space.
While some students made
extra cash by renting out their front lawns to
fair-goers, others said the congestion from
the Art Fairs created an inconvenience.
"The art fair is great - it's something
different to do," said LSA senior Joan
Dawes. "It breaks up the summer. But the
crowd is another thing. It's horrible not
being able to find a parking spot within
five blocks of your house."
Added attractions - including musical
performances and artistic demonstrations
- gave visitors a break from shopping
while still enjoying the festivities.
New York City resident Barbie Gelman,
an Eastern Michigan University alum who
said she was reuniting with some old col-
lege buddies, left the rows of tents to dance
to the Witchdoctors, a four-man blues band
that performed Friday afternoon.
"I'm actually here for the Farmers Mar-
ket, but you can't dress like this there,"
she joked, adding that she was enjoying
LEFT: Barble Gelman dances to the
Witchdoctors at the corner of
Washington and State streets
Friday afternoon. ABOVE: Andrew
Werderitsch, a Saline resident,
performs on a didgeridoo, a slide
instrument made out of a
Eucalyptus tree. RIGHT: A
partial body cast by artist Mar
Sijan.
herself. "Twenty-five years ago it was
better. We rocked the house 25 I
years ago. But this band was
good."
--,- I - " 1 11, : I, '/, ---77
7 ,7 7 71
kalledoscope of his glass creations. ABOVE: Marc Sijan
poses with one of his human scuptures, made from a full
body cast, while a sculptured security guard watches his
tent. Besides art fairs, Sijan's creations have been in 40
one-man museum exhibits. RIGHT: Lori LaPaglia, a full-
time artist from Delray Beach, Fla., takes time out
during the art fair to work, saying that the crowds of
people inspire her.
IARJORIE MARSHALL/Da iy