The Report from Ann Arbor

Living in the Midwest and being active in the art fair business basically the year is divided into two parts, B.A.A. (before Ann Arbor) and A.A.A. (after Ann Arbor) with a four day lull in between. As an artist is sort of like the first day of school, or the 1st of January, planned for all year and always waiting in the shadows.

This year I attended the fair on Thursday (traditionally the quietest day with the smallest crowds), meeting Erin Woody who I work with for the Great Lakes Art Fair and her intern Liz. We covered all of the State Street Area Assn. Art Fair, the Guild Show on State Street, the South University Fair, and about half of the Street Art Fair, seeing only about half of the exhibitors before the sun set. I missed most of Liberty Street and all of Main Street, but have good reports from friends.

Although the crowd was light on South U. (when I was there) it was bustly on North U. the whole stretch and Bonnie Blandford reported that the streets were full all day on State Street. I also heard reports that every parking place was full at Briarwood Mall where shoppers can catch the art fair shuttle.

My friend from Arts, Beats & Eats, Lisa Konikow, visited on both Friday and Saturday said there were good crowds both days. Why not? The weather was just about perfect, with temperatures in the high 60's and low 70's, great art fair weather. Comfortable not only for the artists' long hours but also cool enough to make the lake loving Michigan audience decide it might be a great day to go to the fair instead of swimming.

Always great to run into old friends, this is Mary Strope, Vice-President of WholesaleCrafts.com who was scouting the fairs for artists for their June event in Las Vegas.

The crowd seemed small that day and the afternoon brought streets that looked like this:

South University Art Fair

If you are an artist and have always wanted to be part of this fair you should be able to get in. Viewing the State Street Area fair, although there were some excellent artists:

Erin Woody learns about wood from the master, Matthew Hatala

painting by Reif Snyder

there were some empty spaces, some bad spaces (Thompson, in particular) and many, many jewelers. An artist told me that that a third of that fair was jewelers. Not good for the jewelers, maybe for the shoppers, and a sure sign that the organizers were having problems filling the show.

I heard that GM had continually promised the South University Fair $28,000 and then two weeks before the fair told them it wasn't coming. How's that for bad news?

Sales reports I received on Thursday (remember, this is less than half way through the show) had some sad people, but a few who confided in me they were doing well, "I had a great Wednesday", and the smart folks who had a wide range of prices were moving right along.

How about you? Please add your reports!!

Some photos:

Fiber artist Mimi Damrauer at the State Street Area Fair

A beautiful sight at the fair, a customer writing a check to fiber artist Shekina Rudoy.

One of the great things about art fairs is making new artist friends, here painter Kemper and glass artist Lynn Corrie enjoying a new friendship

Michigan painter Jeff Condon at the South University Fair, who announced, "I just made booth fee!"

Krys Leiffers meets Erin Woody--cool weaving I hadn't seen before, South U. Fair

Metal work by Robin Washburn, at the Ann Arbor Street Art Fair

Street Art Fair, fiber art by Chris Roberts-Antieau

Mixed media sculpture by Kimberly Willcox, Street Art Fair

Kate Tremel making the sale to a customer from California

Porcelain by Carolyn Carroll, Guild, yes, I added to my collection

My friend, jeweler Bonnie Blandford wins a well deserved Best of Show

Pottery by Michael Kifer, Guild show

Sunset over the art fair

What do you think about Ann Arbor this year?