The Joys of the Ann Arbor Art Fair
Most of my family was born and raised in Michigan, and one event that we looked forward to for many years was a trip to the Ann Arbor Art Fair in Ann Arbor, Michigan. This mid-sized city is a very popular university town, with the University of Michigan’s campus sprawling throughout. It is also a tech hot spot and very appealing as a walkable place to work and live. Ann Arbor also happens to be a huge arts mecca, known for its galleries, music and theatrical offerings.
The fair came together for the first time in 1959 when Bruce Henry contacted the Ann Arbor Art Association about setting up an arts and crafts market. It was also meant to be educational: The Potters Guild and the Weavers Guild participated by showing and demonstrating how they make their goods. The fair has grown to be one of the most popular in the United States, with up to 500,000 visitors coming to admire and purchase art from as many as 1,000 artists. Each July, the fair almost takes over the city, spanning 30 blocks throughout downtown Ann Arbor.
The yearly art showcase is really three different art fairs working together: Ann Arbor Street Art Fair, The original, which was established in 1960; the State Street District Art Fair, established in 1967; and the Guild’s Ann Arbor Summer Art Fair, established in 1970. The booths allocated for the artists on display are actually selected by a panel of art judges who represent various art mediums. Those on the panel have hundreds of applications every year to sift through to determine who will get a space at the fair. It’s very competitive... something I had never realized.
The organization of the Ann Arbor Art Fair has improved dramatically over the years. I remember my mother, my sister, and I walking around years ago on a hunt for some vendors that we loved from years past, but not having a great idea of how things were laid out. My mother searched for a photographer who captured flowers, peonies in particular, to add to her collection which is still hanging in her home some 35 years later. Today, however, there is even an application that visitors can use, “what3words” to guide you through parking, musical and special events, and art activities. There is also a downloadable map to help you get around.
The fair’s organizers have a really great website, another huge change from my early days going there. The website includes an up-to-date database, searchable by artist, or you can scroll through photos of some of the art pieces to get a sense of what you like. Even better: it even tells you in what booth they can be found. On the same page you can also see how to apply to participate in one of the three elements of the fair, with links to specific applications and deadline information. It’s very well organized for both contributors and visitors alike.
It has been many years since I last went to the Ann Arbor Art Fair, but my memories of going there with my mother and aunt are a deep part of my childhood. To walk around for hours and see such vast amounts of creativity being admired by hundreds and thousands of people is really powerful. Every time I visit my parents and gaze at one of the pieces they bought at the art fair, I am reminded of those special trips we used to make every summer.
For more information: https://www.theannarborartfair.com/