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

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Summer Art Fair The fair still draws huge crowds very year around the end of July, a cur- ious pilgrimage to the streets of Ann Arbor takes place. Over 400,000 people flock to Ann Arbor for a common pur- pose to take part in the an- nual Art Fair. The Art Fair combines artwork, music, and cuisine to create a unique atmos- phere of creativity, original- ity, and excitement. The Art Fair consists of three regions. The Michigan Guild is responsible for the State Street area between East Williams and South University as well as Main Street. The Guild officially terms its section the Sum- mer Arts Festival. The State Street Merchants and the South University Street Fair (the original site of the fair) account for the remaining area. Summer Arts Festival coordinator Mary Strope noted, Our (the Michigan Guild ' s) part of the fair con- sists of approximately 540 artists and all three sections of the fair account for a little under 1000 artists. Crowds were somewhat smaller than usual at this year ' s fairs, during their 28th year, but the unusually unre- lenting heat of this past sum- mer probably contributed to that. The diversity of art found at the fair ranges from the more popular media of painting, sculpture, ceramics, and jewelry to the more un- common art forms of batik, metalwork, weaving, and stained or blown glass. Music can be found to suit any mood or taste. Groups could be found performing crowd-pleasers that ranged from folk favorites to soulful ballads. In addition to the indepen- dent performers, Eclipse Jazz also scheduled many musi- cians and bands to play on the lawn of the Union. Creative jugglers enter- tained the crowds with feats involving items such as knives, bowling balls, and watermelons. Mimes also roamed the streets entertain- ing bystanders. The Art Fair ' s artists over- whelm the eye with pleasur- able images, the music of the festival appeals to the taste of any ear, the foods that the vendors provide please even the most discriminating pal- ate, and the combination of all these factors cannot be described. It can only be ex- perienced. 4 By Jennifer Worick MR.B ...Mark Braun (left) played his blues piano in the center of the South University-East University intersection. jfHE ABOVE CARVED FI- ' j CURES are indicative of the type of I art that makes the 28 year-old fair i so unique. ART FAIR 21

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THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASSES ... and other assorted: artworks on sale on East Universi- ; ty during the Art Fair. MARC RUSSELL of the Blue Front Persuaders, a popular local rock-n ' -blues band, performed at the Graceful Arch at the Art Fair ast summer. TAKING A BOW . . . This violin- ist played on the intersection of State St. and East William. 204 ART FAIR

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PROGRESSIVE DANCE AND DRESS is seen on New Music nights at The Nectarine. A CASUAL, CAREFREE mood is typically present on the patio of The U-Club. CHARLIE ' S IS MORE of a pick up place, feels S. Amboian, M. Rauner and M. Pegnore. COMFORTABLE CLOTHES are worn with intentions of dancing at the U-Club ' s Reggae Night. 22 BAR SCENE