University of Michigan - Michiganensian Yearbook (Ann Arbor, MI)

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I his artist demonstrates the perfect techniques of throwing a pot. His pottery presentation was one of many that occurred throughout the four day festival. I IrtFairparticipantsprepareforopeningday. Vans filled with artist ' s works filled the streets of Ann Arbor, as signs lined neighboring streets painted Art Fair parking $15. Virginia Hiltz Jacqueline Mahannah Jhile the Museum of Modern Art usually domi- nates the corner of South University and State Street, during Art Fair all kinds of art reign the streets. This corner was the south end of the entire fair which extended as far north as Huron Street, as far east as Main Street and as far west as Washtenaw Avenue. 70 Special Events Virginia Hilt

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Ill ith the Fourth of July just around the corner, summer fever was at its prime. Temperatures finally escalated well into the 70 ' s, and there was a definite feeling that sum- mer had finally begun. Spring term had come to an end, and for many students who dared to stay in Ann Arbor for the remainder of the season, summer vacation was just beginning. Local residents awaited annual events that oc- curred only through the summer season, which brought the spirit into full force. The thought of hot dogs and lemonade, danced in the minds of local dwellers. Syndey Parfet, junior political science and women ' s studies ma- jor, said, People from Ann Arbor looked forward to it ev- ery year. It offered a change of pace from the things that go on in Ann Arbor during the summer. In a way, the Ann Arbor Summer Festival was much like a Macy ' s Thanks- giving Day parade. It gave people a imminent means of celebration for the sum- mer season as they filled the Fletcher Street parking structure for Top of the Park films and concerts. Others met at the Power Center to hear favorite musicians and performers. The planning and the performance of each event exemplified characteristics of the season. The sights, the sounds and the enthusiasm collaborated to form a stellar atmosphere that attracted numerous visitors. The Ann Arbor Summer Festival staff began one year ago to plan this year ' s event, and they started plan- ning for the next year even before the festivities had ended. Colleen Murdock, the festival ' s marketing director, noted that the planning of such a star-studded event was a con- tinual process throughout the year. Like the New York parade, the Festival was a tra- dition that maintained its devout following while simul- taneously attracting new visitors. Murdock said that thou- sands of enthusiasts from throughout southeast Michi- was the epitome of summer with an all-around relaxed setting. - Angle Wilier, junior, biology Major gan gathered to relish in the sounds and sights of the season, and to engage in the spirit that comes once year. The food and the activities were geared toward the feel- ings that thrive on the seasonal environ- ment; everything from bratwurst and beer gardens to ice cream and lemonade were available to pacify mid-evening cravings. With the absence of eggnog and roasted chestnuts, Ann Arbor had the aura of New York: holiday spirit and seasonal glee, amid talented musicians and movie greats. Musical entertainers such as the BoDeans, The Neville Brothers and Betty Buckley took over Power Center, while silver screen classics like Casablanca and Field of Dreams displayed eminence in their projection on the Fletcher Street parking structure. Junior biology major Angie Wilier, who saw Mothra and other screenings said that, It was the epitome of summer with an all-around relaxed setting and friendly atmo- sphere. ' ' Likewise, Parfet who saw singer Gordon Lightfoot said, It brought out people from all over to Ann Arbor. It was a great way to relax, be out and be entertained. Annual entertainers such as Capitol Steps pro- duced enough red, white and blue satire to compliment the unseasonable July 4th weather. Where Macy ' s had to face snow and cold, the festival met cold and hot, some days with rain and even a couple of tornadoes thrown in for some excitement. The week followed typical Michi- gan weather, where no standards apply. After the festivities had ended, Ann Arbor, like New York, returned to its normal state, with more locals than visitors, and with a regular parking structure for cars and not celebrities. By Kristin Long $ Year Established: 1984 o Nights of the Festival: 24 Number of Films shown at Top of the Park: 16 e Expected Attendance at Top of the Park: 2000 per Night cs Musicians in Appearance: 20 5 Restaurant Vendors at Top of the Park: 8 Nights with Rain: 7 ij Number of Tornado Warnings: 1 o Days below 60: 6 o Days above 85: 5 Highest Temperature: 89 c? Lowest Temperature reached: 61 0: Ann Arbor Police in Attendance: 2 per night Department of Public Safety in Attendance: 2 per night $ Organizers who plan Festival events: 4 full time members, 32 Board Members, Subcommittees with more than 64 Ann Arbor residents Source: Ann Arbor Summer Festival Summer Festival 69

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Ilfflft ' 37:fl IMIEE, fl had never seen anything like what I encountered last summer during the Ann Arbor rt Fair. The July l6th-19th festival that hit the local community was unlike any art estival that could exist in a University town. The days that preceded Art Fair were calm and placid; it was almost as if everyone who knew what would occur went underground, not to resurface until the bllowing Saturday night. There was an immense silence that permeated the air on Sunday and Monday. The tension began to build. The airport and highways were )acked with people and boxes of crafts. Some stores pleaded for last minute help vith their Art Fair Help Wanted cries, while others took the easy path, and merely eft a note stating they would be Closed for Art Fair. I consulted my friend, an Art Fair survivor, on whether this experience vould be as traumatic as I was expecting. LSA senior history major Dorothy Cham- bers, employed at the Espresso Royale Gaffe on State Street, said with a sinister yin, Art Fair is the source of all evil. She had been through the experience jnce before. She knew that we were to be invaded, pushed aside and bombarded, was not reassured, and continued in fear. By Wednesday morning, it was as if I lived in another town. The streets were filled with small white ents filled with a vast array of fine art and not-so-fine art, most at insane prices that made me laugh quietly |o myself. I took a moment to browse. Some of the silver jewelry was amazing, a result of talent and excel- ence. Other projects looked like remnants of child ' s play. I noticed over the course of the following four days that neither scorching sun, nor muggy humid- ty could stop the Art Fair nor the determined shoppers. Thursday was the only day of rain, and thankfully it imly poured in the morning. The effects, however, of the downpour on the remaining hours of the day was remendous. Imagine this: crowded streets filled with hungry people, rain, and temperatures in the lower 90 ' s. ;, I too cringed at the image, not to mention the smell. Some local residents, including University faculty Ann Arbor natives, compared it to times when the University is in full attendance, I could hear their nuttering amid my disgust. I, however, could only compare it to the emptiness that had pervaded the earlier ummer months. Local establishments could hardly resist the opportunity to show their fine products as well. Sales anged from 10-40% off everything. Footprints on South University placed a table of shoes on sale, as did ' rban Outfitters with a huge selection of their clothes. Bargain shopping, is what I thought, as this was an pportunity I did not want to miss. That was definitely an Art Fair highlight. By 5 p.m. on Saturday, activity nearly ceased. I thought someone hit the breaks, or sounded an ilarm because things came to drastic slow down. By 8 p.m., the visitors had dispersed and summertime Ann vrbor was back to normal a peaceful quiet. It was okay, LSA junior Anne Reader commented. I liked to look at the stuff, but it was so xpensive. She also noted, It was very crowded, but the (vendors) were nice, even though they were stressed. Another visitor had a similar attitude toward the event. There were a lot of unnecessary things, md everything was expensive, said Tanja Wenzel, an LSA junior. She also noticed, People were on a mis- iion. They weren ' t just strolling around like I thought I was doing. I must admit I was a bit sad to see the Art Fair end. Art Fair had its moments of turmoil and disgust, md amid my personal confusion over the popularity of the brass creatures on a stick, Art Fair was a definite xperience that one must endeavor at some point in life. It was a surge of adrenaline in Ann Arbor brief nd temporary, but with definite enthusiastic energy. By Kristin Long Years in existence: Ann Arbor Street fair was 30 this year: the State Street Fair was 38, and the Summer Fair section was 32. Q Days running: 4 (Wednesday July 16 to Saturday July 19) O Hour opened: 9 a.m. Wednesday Hour ended: 5 p.m Saturday Days with rain: One morning O Days above 90: One (Wednesday- 92) Average daily temperature: 85 $ Men juggling knives, on a tightrope, on one foot: 1 O Men juggling a knife and a bowling ball, while eating an apple: 1 O Hours per day: 12 (9 a.m.- 9 p.m. Wednesday- Friday) for three days: 8 (9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday) for one day- Art Fair 71