Monday
July 17, 2006
arts.michigandaily.com
artspage@michigandaily.com
ATS fidiiga Iail
Art fair to flood the
streets once again
By Caroline Hartmann
Daily Arts Writer
It's that time of year again.
Visitors will flock to the city in droves,
and even the locals will have to fight for a
parking spot. The reason behind this crowd-
ing is to discover what
the Ann Arbor Street
Art Fair has in store Street Art Fair
this time around. Wednesday through
The fair will grace Friday 10 a.m. to
North University Ave- 9 p.m.
nue, Ingalls Mall and Saturday from
the Diag for four days. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The festivities begin Free
on Wednesday, and At North University Ave.,
continue through the Ingalls Mall and the Diag
week until Saturday.
Triumphed as one of the nation's premier
art shows, the Ann Arbor Street Art Fair has
been one of the city's most distinctive events
since 1960, when the show was established
to help new artists break into the art market.
Now boasting 175 artists, the fair has grown
to include hands-on crafts projects for kids,
art technique demonstrations, live music and
guided walking tours.
Second only to the artists and their art-
work is the comprehensive variety of musi-
cal performances scheduled to take place at
Ingalls Mall near the Burton Carillon Tower
throughout the fair. The Canterbury House
Concert Series, coordinating the music for
this year's Street Art Fair, hopes to provide a
sonic background that will both complement
the show's artistic integrity and appeal to all
ages and interests.
While artists and performers at the art fair
hail from a variety of backgrounds, many
creative participants are students and others
new to their craft.
Among the performers will be School of
Music alum Luke Gyure, a singer-songwriter
accompanied by School of Music junior Theo
Katzman on guitar and percussionist School
of Music senior Mike Shea. Gyure's latest
work, after graduating from the University's
School of Music this year, focuses on religion
and sexuality.
"Of all the protest artists and people who
are trying to iniate change in this world, Luke
is one of the only people I've met who has a
chance to intiate change through his honesty
and his desire to create dialogue," Katzman
said. "He's not just a protest singer-songwrit-
er, this is just one facet of his life."
School of Music junior Aaron Gold, the book-
ing and promotional agent for Canterbury House,
is highly anticipating the group's performance.
"Their style is along the lines of musical
storytelling," Gold said. "It's incredibly emo-
tional stuff."
The group is scheduled to perform at 4:00
p.m. on Wednesday.
Other performers will include the fair's peren-
nial pianist Mr. B., who will be "tickling the
ivories" outside Burton Tower, according to the
Ann Arbor Street Art Fair's website. Ohio native
Russell Donnellon will play solo classical guitar
and Circus Twerkus will perform for families in
the mornings.
In addition to the medley of musical acts,
the remaining branches of fine art will be
adequately represented with several dance
group performances and circus entertain-
ment geared toward the fair's younger audi-
ence, such as jugglers and a live statue.
Year after year, the Ann Arbor Street Art
Fair continues to draw thousands to our
quaint streets. The fair's enduring signifi-
cance is a welcome relief for those in the grip
of summer's humid lull. Even if you only pass
through on the way to class, it's doubtful the
festivities won't leave you in a better mood.
Additional information, including perfor-
mance and demonstration schedules, an art-
ist directory and maps and directions, can be
found at the Ann Arbor Street Art Fair's web-
site at www.artfair.org.
ABOVE: Artist Marc Sijan's human sculptures were constantly mistaken for performance art.
BELOW: Ron Vanasdien and Shirley Bistline of Howell, Michigan admire Michael Gard's work.
Ohio bluesmen give pier an honest tribute
By Andrew Klein
Managing Arts Editor
It's hard to give Chulahoma, The Black Keys' recent EP,
three stars - the ultimate rating for a middle-of-the-road,
could-have-been-great-but-just-didn't-have-enough-of-some-
thing kind of album. But the Black Keys,
hailing from subterranean Ohio, do have The Black
something. Just like certain Detroiters, Keys
they represent the extension of the electric
blues from its roots in Chicago and Detroit Chulahoma
into today's music. Fat Possum
The Big Come Up, their 2002 debut album,
boldly set the pace for a band reclaiming the foundations of blues.
Their raunchy, lo-fi sound comes from a two-man team: vocalist dripping with the sweat, dirt and humidity of classic blues rock.
and guitarist Dan Auerbach and drummer Patrick Carney. Eschew- The album's strongest track by far, though, is "Meet Me In The
ing the tradition of the bassist holding down the groove, Auerbach's City." Heavenly tremolo-infused, the track is a country lullaby of
extremely tasteful guitar work couldn't work better under his voice, a groove. It's reminiscent of "Act Nice and Gentle," from 2004's
which can range from crooning soul to overdriven hard rock. "Rubber Factory," but goes far and beyond the traditional groove.
Chulahoma, a six-song EP, is both a dedication and tribute to Auerbach's starts with a gentle tone, but builds to the climactic
Junior Kimbrough, a blues heavyweight who passed away in 1998. chorus with a fury that stretches his voice to the breaking point. If
You don't need Auerbach's explanation in the liner notes to hear this horrible, bug-ridden, humid summer needed a saving anthem,
why his music is important the group. The opening groove, "Keep this would be it.
Your Hands Off Her," immediately makes an undeniable connection The six tracks are all solid statements, but each could be placed'
between the man and the band. The guitar riff full of reverb and within the context of the group's past albums. As a singular state-
rock-steady beat create the types of intoxicating textures that drive ment, Chulahoma certainly makes clear the group's debt to Kim-
the blues. The Black Keys have taken Kimbrough's tunes and, while brough, but aside from that, it doesn't say anything new for the
keeping intact the feeling and the groove, added their own addictive band. But there certainly is no loss of momentum. There is much
spin. "Have Mercy On Me" and "Work Me," the album's second and to expect from these two Ohio boys - this latest release having
third tracks, could have easily fit on 2003's Thickfreakness, an album barely whetted the palette.