The Ann Arbor Art Fair returns Wednesday through Saturday to Central Campus streets, and Liberty and Main streets downtown, with the work of roughly 1,000 top artists. A half-million art lovers are expected to attend.
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Hours are 10 a.m. -9 p.m. Wednesday-Friday and 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday. Children’s activities and live music also are presented.
“There are lots and lots of new artists participating this year and even returning artists bring new work. It’s a new art fair every year,” says Maureen Riley, executive director of the Ann Arbor Street Art Fair, the original fair organization.
The four official fairs are the Ann Arbor Street Art Fair, the State Street Art Fair, the Ann Arbor Summer Art Fair and Ann Arbor’s South University Art Fair.
Traditionally, several university faculty and staff members serve on jury panels that vote on admittance into the fairs and assign awards. Students are involved in artist’s programs.
The Art Fair was established in 1960 by the Ann Arbor Art Association, the University of Michigan, and two business groups.
Fair week opens with the Townie Street Party from 5-9:30 p.m. today, on East Washington Street between Thayer and Fletcher streets, and on Ingalls Mall. It is a fundraiser for educational and community outreach activities of the Ann Arbor Street Art Fair.
Performing live from 5:30-9:15 p.m. are Black Jake and the Carnies, Drivin’ Sideways, and Misty Lyn and the Big Beautiful. A Dart for Art One Mile Run for families and runners is at 6 p.m. The starting line is at State and William streets. The race finishes at State and North University Avenue.
“We encourage everyone to come out and run a mile,” Riley says. The party also includes a Progressive Dental Art Activity Zone with make and take art projects for the entire family, a Kid’s Art Fair, food vendors, and an Arbor Brewing Co. pub area.
Faculty, staff and student volunteers with U-M’s BioArtography project will return to East University Avenue at Booth 112. There, artistic microscopic tissue photography will be on sale, to fund projects of graduate students and fellows associated with The Center for Organogenesis in the Medical School.
“We have 17 new images, from decellularized liver to technicolor brain cells to crystalized insulin,” says Deborah Gumucio, James Douglas Engel Collegiate Professor and interim chair of the Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, director of the BioArtography Project, and professor of cell and developmental biology.
From June 14-Aug. 2, the Penny W. Stamps School of Art & Design presents the 2014 Alumni Exhibition: “Unintended Consequences.” It is guided by the theme, “A teacher becomes the student; anger becomes acceptance; cancer research becomes a cure for baldness; a painting becomes a film. For good or bad, our lives, our work and our art are filled with Unintended Consequences.”
It is presented in the Jean Paul Slusser Gallery on North Campus, 2000 Bonisteel Blvd., and Work•Ann Arbor, 306 S. State St., along the art fair exhibit area. The show features the work of established alumni and recent graduates.
Among other U-M units contributing to the fair is Home Care Services, providing complimentary wheelchairs and other services from three locations: North University at Fletcher in front of the Michigan League, State Street at Madison, and Main Street at William.
“You can drop off or pick up the chairs at any of our locations,” says Alex Baum, project coordinator specialist.
Home Care Services is seeking volunteers during the fair. Email Baum at [email protected] or call 734-478-6305.
