The indisputable cultural tidal wave that sweeps Washtenaw County every year in mid-July is upon us once again. We all know it as the Ann Arbor Art Fair, but we also all have our own perspective on the experience. For some, it is a harrowing marathon of heat exhaustion and stroller dodging. For others, it is a highly anticipated infusion of creativity and excitement. Whichever side you’re on, or if you stand somewhere in the middle like most of us, The Ann Arbor Art Fair is not to be missed. The fair attracts over 500,000 attendees and is perennially on the top 10 lists of fairs and festivals in the country, so who are you to blow against the wind? You know you’re going, so check out some of the highlights of this year’s juggernaut.
The fair is actually divided into several different fairs that sprawl across the whole heart of the city. The Street Art Fair lives on North University and the central campus of U of M and attracts patrons eager to see some of the best street performers in the area. Ann Arbor’s South University Art Fair, right where you would expect on South U, seems to be the most young and edgy of the three while the State Street Area Art Fair boasts 325 artists and merchants and definitely the best food you’ll find at the fair – which is a conclusion reached after exhaustive research compiled over years, I can assure you. The Guild of Artists and Artisans present the Ann Arbor Summer Art Fair which boasts an extremely eclectic and diverse range of artists. Each area has a slightly unique flavor, but great art is a sure shot wherever you go. The offerings range from wood and leather artisans to metal smiths and fiber artists to the tamer fine arts like photography and painting. But the fair has grown to much more than just an outdoor gallery teeming with sweaty people in its decades of maturation. In addition to human statues and buskers a-plenty, there are activity centers set up where children and the young at heart can create art of their own. Artist demonstrations are also a real treat where you can see experts practice their craft. The live music at the fair has also become a huge draw for lovers of the sonic arts. Your very own iSPY will have its very own stage on Liberty between Main and Ashley streets and will doubtlessly be bringing you the best of the best in local music with artists like Drunken Barn Dance and The Juliets. The art attack begins on July 18. We’ll see you there!
