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

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AQT FAIR PROVIDES ENSOQY UTDAVAGANZA he art fairs are an assault on the senses, claimed WEMU Music Director Landa Yohn as she surveyed the crowds and dis- plays on East Liberty. Everything is going at once: eyes, ears, nose. Most visitors to the 1993 Ann Arbor art fairs expressed a similar feeling, as they came to find a single present or particular art form, but soon found themselves overwhelmed by hundreds of innovative and cre- ative attractions and performances. The sensory extravaganza began even before visitors made their way to the shops and displays, as the sounds of dozens of bands and singers filled the streets from the Hill area to downtown. Vet- eran performer Mr. B. again wheeled his piano into the center of South University five to six times a day to entertain visitors. Newcomers like the Venus Ensemble and Phillips Fiddlers performed everything from Reggae and jazz to gospel and French ballads. It ' s like spinning your dial through every station on the radio, said LSA junior Sarah Shin. You get a taste of just about every style and variety of music you can imagine. The sense of smell and taste were particularly stimulated by fair organizers, as traditional res- taurants and dozens of street vendors offered traditional cotton candy and pretzels and dozens of more exotic fruits, foreign pasteries, shish-ka- bobs, and candies. It ' s a good thing these fairs require so much walking, because it ' s going to take a lot of exercise to work off all these calories, said Detroit resident Julie Thompson with funnel cake in hand. But Thompson was not the only one who indulged: An Ann Arbor Transportation Au- thority survey estimated that over $10 million was spent on food alone during the four day event. Although most people associate art with strict hands-off policies, the fairs did their best to accomodate the sense of touch as well. The Ann Arbor Art Association, for example, invited visi- tors to make paper molas, a Mexican-Indian art using cut and layered paper. The fair particularly encouraged children to create sun visors, origami, and jewelry at the popular Imagination Station and children ' s activity booths. Children and adults alike drew everything from traditional mountain sunrises to cartoon space creatures for the Chalk the Park program. The sense of sight, of course, was over- whelmed by tens of thousands of paintings, sculptures, and other works of art. The visitors who came expressly to buy an artwork were not disappointed. The only problem is that there is so much good art it ' s hard to decide what ' s best, said Ann Arbor resident John Olans, who finally decided on a blue and green glass paperweight. Those who came just to survey the variety of creative expression were likewise satisfied by everything from tiny houses for pet insects to life- sized clay models of human heads and bodies. Whatever their intent, visitors said they were amazed by the number and variety of works on display. It ' s like the biggest art gallery in the world, whispered Olans, gathering strength for the long march down Liberty and its side streets. At the WEMU music stage Linda Yohn complained that she couldn ' t concentrate on her job with so many tempting distractions around her, but her words belied a satisfied grin that was shared by many visitors. Although most days they shunned large crowds, greasy foods, and expensive pur- chases, the art fairs allowed participants to escape their usual worries and enjoy the sounds and sights of hundreds of different cultures and imaginations. You don ' t have time to worry about work or the economy or anything, said former student Sean McCready. The fairs keep every part of the mind and body completely occupied so all you can do is let go and enjoy the sensation. by Rdam 0-iundky 30 Michigan Life

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(STUDENTS GET TASTE OE U-M When Detroit na- tive Jeremy Johnson visited the Wolverine campus for the first time, he felt like he had entered a foreign land: People kept saying things like, ' Let ' s meet at the Fishbowl and go hang out on the Diag, ' or, ' Let ' s check Mirlyn and Crisp info at Angell, ' and it sounded like a foreign lan- guage to me. Like many students, Johnson said his first educa- tion was in the complexities of such a large campus and in the specialized language and customs of its inhabitants. Orientation, fortunately, provided many incoming students a crash course in the new culture by organizing campus tours and teaching new stu- dents how to take advantage of all the opportunities offered by the University. Classes haven ' t even begun yet, said John Riley after his three day orientation session, and I already feel like I ' ve learned a lot. Orientation leaders stressed that students were not just tourists getting acquainted with their new surroundings. A lot of serious work goes on here, said orientation leader and LSA Senior Kathy Cook. The success of a student ' s first year depends a lot on the effort he or she gives at orientation. Indeed, among the orientation activities were foreign language placement tests, first-year composition tests, and su- pervised registration for first-year classes. With strong performances on the tests, many students hoped to place out of foreign language and writing requirements, and nearly everyone struggled to master his her first experiences with computerized registration and to secure places in the most popular classes. As an opportunity for the new Wolverines to get a feel for the campus ' unique diversity and for the wide variety of organizations, many brief educational seminars were on the three-day agenda. Though not mandatory, these sessions were eye-openers for some incoming students. Students and orientation organizers emphasized, however, that the students learned as much from the social activities and tours as they did from the aca- demic workshops. One of the keys to success at such a big university is knowing where to find and how to use all the academic and personal resources available here, said Cook. To make the point, ori- entation leaders discussed the valuable help available from guidance counselors in the residence halls and academic departments, library resources at the UGLi and Graduate Library, and computing resources at Angell Hall and other sites around campus. Social activities also accustomed students to the unique opportunities and problems that arise on a crowded and sometimes impersonal campus. I really thought that university life was just about reading books and taking tests, said Niomi Abramson, but after rooming with a complete stranger for three days, I realized there are a lot of other adjustments and challenges involved. LSA Junior Arlene Olivero agreed saying she learned as many communication and interpersonal skills as academic skills in her two years of living in residence halls. Most juniors and seniors said they had a difficult time at the University until they learned their way around and developed the social skills necessary to build friendships and strengthen relationships. Ori- entation sought to provide new students a head start by exposing them to the many different facets of uni- versity life, and most students praised the effort. You really have to know a place and feel like you belong before you can call it home, said Olivero. Michigan Life 29

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Runakuna. a the Am; Arboi Chinese -. is . i. pert rnu ' d in t the Liberty Stiver Pi part of a cull rcg Emmanuel Displaying his artistic talent, Tom Krueger Karulla, a musical band, added to the of Wisconsin commented, There ' s so much festivities by performing live at Liberty involved in pottery --touching, seeing, smelling - you feel like you ' re a part of your work. -- Qreg Emmanuel Plaza. --Qreg Emmanuel Michigan Life 31