ANN ARBOR – Directors of the annual Ann Arbor Art Fair today officially announced the arts, music and entertainment lineups for this year’s event that draws close to half a million attendees to downtown Ann Arbor. This year, at one of the Midwest’s favorite traditions, guests can visit the booths of the nearly 1,000 participating juried artists, listen to live music from the fair’s three stages, observe onsite art demonstrations, hear from international artists at featured exhibits, participate in art activity zones and frequent Ann Arbor’s diverse community of local businesses.
“I’ve been with the Ann Arbor Art Fair for 18 years now and each year it just keeps getting bigger and better,” said Karen Delhey, executive director of the Ann Arbor Summer Art Fair. “Every summer we take these three days in July to celebrate art and artists from across the country and invite everyone into the downtown to take it all in. I love every second of it.”
Every July, downtown Ann Arbor transforms into an outdoor art gallery where artists, art collectors and art admirers can immerse themselves in the arts. Spanning nearly 30 blocks, the Ann Arbor Art Fair is comprised of three independently juried, nonprofit art fairs that run concurrently: the Ann Arbor Street Art Fair, the Original; the Ann Arbor Summer Art Fair; and the Ann Arbor State Street Art Fair.
The Ann Arbor Art Fair runs 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday, July 20 and Friday, July 21, and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sat., July 22. To view a downloadable version of the fair’s map, visit theannarborartfair.com/#map.
JURIED ARTISTS
The Ann Arbor Art Fair is the largest juried fair in the nation and consistently ranks as one of the top juried fine art fairs in the country.
The Ann Arbor Art Fair brings in the very best artists from coast to coast with artists like jeweler and textile artist Chelsea Bird from Pawtucket, Rhode Island, infused acrylic artist Sanjib Mallik from Temple Terrace, Florida, cityscape painter Roger Disney from Tulsa, Oklahoma, designer Candiss Cole from Sedona, Arizona and glass artist Philip Yamron from right here in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
New to the fair this year is artist Anusree Sattaluri. Sattaluri is the creator of a collection of paintings and ceramics, called Outer Peace, that are inspired by the peace that can be found in stillness and solitude. Born and raised in India, Sattaluri is now based in Ann Arbor.
Returning to the fair for his 17th year is jewelry Patricio Ferreira. Ferreira creates unique yet wearable pieces of jewelry utilizing high-quality, unusual stones and combinations. Born in Chile, Ferreira has lived all over the world from Spain to Brazil and now resides in Miami.
For a complete list of the 2023 Artists, visit theannarborartfair.com/artists.
EXCITING EXHIBITS
Ann Arbor Art Fair Welcomes Canadian Inuit Artists
The Ann Arbor Art Fair welcomes Feheley Fine Arts, who is bringing a group exhibition celebrating contemporary Canadian Inuit art to the fair. Featured artists hail from across the Canadian Arctic from the Inuit regions of Nunavut and Nunatsiavut (Newfoundland and Labrador) and Nunavik (Arctic Quebec). This exhibition, located inside CultureVerse on Main St., includes a diverse range of artwork, from sterling silver teapot sculptures to colored pencil landscape drawings, which explores Inuit ways of making and being in the contemporary moment. Artists Michael Massie and Gayle Uyagaqi Kabloona will be present throughout the exhibition to discuss their work.
The Prison Creative Arts Project is Back with Humanize the Numbers
The Ann Arbor Art Fair is excited to once again partner with the Prison Creative Arts Project to bring another impactful exhibition to this year’s fair called Humanize the Numbers presented by Michigan Radio. This exhibit, located at the corner of Liberty and Main, presents the perspectives of men in Michigan prisons, lifting up the voices of those who have been silenced by the criminal legal system. Humanize the Numbers reveals the faces and stories of those in prison, as they reclaim their humanity through the freedom not normally allowed in prison.
DAZZLING DEMONSTRATIONS
The Ann Arbor Potters Guild
Every day, the Potters Guild will host live ceramic demonstrations on North University Avenue near Hill Auditorium lawn. The Guild has been offering fairgoers a glimpse of its pottery sculpting and firing techniques since the art fair began.
ModuGo Presents Live Painting with HGTV’s Keith Bynum
Guests of this year’s fair can watch local artist and star of HGTV’s Bargain Block, Keith Bynum, transform a ModuGo storage container into a work of art on Liberty Street outside of the Pretzel Bell restaurant. He’ll be covering an entire side of the storage container with a painted mystery mural. The finished product will be available for purchase through an online auction after the event and all proceeds will benefit the Ann Arbor Art Fair. Also, fairgoers have the opportunity to purchase art directly from Keith Bynum and Evan Thomas (his partner and other Bargain Block star) at their booth on Main Street.
The Toledo Museum of Art
The Toledo Museum of Art will host live glass blowing demonstrations daily at East Washington Street on University of Michigan’s Ingalls Mall. Fairgoers can watch a piece of colorful glass art take shape before their eyes.
FAN FAVORITES
Boogie-Woogie Playing Piano Man’s 40th Anniversary
Mark Lincoln Braun has been bringing his jazzy jams to the Ann Arbor Art Fair for 40 years as Mr. B, a boogie-woogie pianist. This year, the critically acclaimed musician can be found at the Boogie Woogie Piano Lounge on North University Avenue.
David Zinn Brings Back Chalk the Walk
Ann Arbor’s own world-renowned Artist David Zinn will be creating his original temporary chalk work live on Liberty Street, near Division Street, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. on Thursday and Saturday. Sidewalk chalk will be available during all fair hours so that fairgoers can join in on the creativity and add their own mark on this year’s Ann Arbor Art Fair.
PARTNERSHIPS THAT PROVIDE ART ACTIVITIES FOR EVERYONE
Everyone has the chance to be an artist this year. The Ann Arbor Art Fair has partnered with the DIA, Clay Works, Be Creative Studios, the University of Michigan Natural History Museum, Creative Washtenaw and more to offer art activities for guests to participate in during the three-day fair.
TASTY EATS FOR EVERY PALATE
The fair welcomes local restaurants into the streets to serve a diverse mix of cuisine offerings to attendees. Participating restaurants include Amer’s, Ashley’s, Ally Bar, Ben & Jerry’s, Black Pearl, Blue Llama, Chop House, Condado Tacos, Conor O’Neill’s, Detroit Cookie Co., HopCat, Isalita Cantina, Knight’s, Mani Osteria, Michigan Creamery, New York Pizza Depot, Old Town, The Original Cottage Inn, Pacific Rim, Palio, Pita Kabob Grill, Real Seafood Co., Red Hawk, Regents Field, Sava’s, Slurping Turtle, Taste Kitchen, TAQ, Vinology and West End Grill. Some of the gourmet food trucks include Bao Boys, Double T Foods, Bearclaw Coffee, Mighty Nice Ice, C.A.Y.A. Smoke House Grill, Tutti Frutti and Vegano. These local places are the perfect spot for fairgoers to get out of the sun, cool off and grab a bite to eat.
SHOPPING SMALL
The Ann Arbor Art Fair encourages fairgoers to support the downtown’s blustering community of local businesses. While browsing art throughout the streets, guests are invited into Ann Arbor’s many businesses including, but not limited to, Arcadian Antiques, Bivouac, Caravan Gift Shop, Dawn Treader Book Shop, Douglas J Aveda, Elmo’s T-Shirts, Four Directions, The Getup Vintage, Himalayan Bazaar, MIX the Store, Necto Nightclub, Pitaya, Ragstock, Red Yoga, Sam’s Store, SEE Eyewear, The M Den and Van Boven Menswear.
SOME OF THE MOST NOTE-ABLE MUSICIANS
Three live entertainment stages will add to the atmosphere of Ann Arbor during the fair to fill the streets with the sounds of local musical talent.
Stage on Main: Summer Sounds
theguild.org/fair/ann-arbor-art-fair/art-fair-stage
Presented by DTE, the Stage on Main will feature musical artists in partnership with The Ark, a nonprofit organization with a live music venue in downtown Ann Arbor. Located at the corner of Main and William streets, each evening the stage will bring a sampling of what The Ark does year-round to the Ann Arbor Art Fair. The Prison Creative Arts Project will also take over the Stage on Main on Friday with “Elevate the Mic: Performers Uniting for Social Progress,” during the day. And on Saturday, Amplify and WCC will hold a takeover. New performers are being added to the lineup each day.
Thursday, July 20
The Ark
6 p.m. – Natalie Mae
7:30 p.m. – Sons of the Never Wrong (pictured)
Friday, July 21
Prison Creative Arts Project
11 a.m. – Youth Arts Alliance and Staying Power
Noon – Voices of the Underheard with Laitr
1 p.m. – Michigan Citizens for Prison Reform
2 p.m. – AFSC Band
3 p.m. – In and On Our Own Terms
The Ark
6 p.m. – Ki5
7:30 p.m. – Jeffrey Martin w/ Anna Tivel
Saturday, July 22
Prison Creative Arts Project
11 a.m. – Lauren Blackford
11:30 a.m. – Tailen Toliver
Noon – Entrepreneurship Center – Lightning Round
12:30 p.m. – DJ Roxx
1 p.m. – Graham Rockwood
1:30 p.m. – DJ Roxx
2 p.m. – Mekhi Mitchell and the WTMC Music Society
2:30 p.m. Entrepreneurship Center – Final Round
3 p.m. – Ypsilanti Youth Orchestra
4:30 p.m. – Out Loud Chorus
The Ark
6 p.m. to 8 p.m. – Brain Plasticity Ukulele Collective and Blueshouse
The Fountain Stage
artfair.org/page/fountain-stage
Featuring primarily acoustic, classical and jazz performances on Ingalls Mall, between East Washington and North University streets, the Fountain Stage will highlight many student and community musical groups.
Thursday, July 20
11 a.m. – Sam Olive
12 p.m. – Kathy Wieland & Lauren Crane
1 p.m. – Adam Labeau
2 p.m. – WCC Artists
3 p.m. – Ceolsige
4 p.m. – Jim Smith & Dave Keeney
5 p.m. – Danny Kline
6 p.m. – Tim Monger with special guest Carol Catherine
Friday, July 21
11 a.m. – Rebecca Cameron
12 p.m. – Angela Predhomme
1 p.m. – Young People’s Theatre Musical Theatre Show Choir
2 p.m. – John Lamb
3 p.m. – Warehouse Cloggers
4 p.m. – Michelle Held
5 p.m. – Rochelle Clark
6 p.m. – Billy King
Saturday, July 23
11 a.m. – Amy Grace
12 p.m. – Lily MacPhee
1 p.m. – Matt Truman Acoustic (of Matt Truman Ego Trip)
2 p.m. – Annie & Rod Capps
3 p.m. – Laura Russeau
4 p.m. – Indie Rock Royalty
5 p.m. – Shannon Lee Trio
6 p.m. – Phoebe Holmes (of Keynote Sisters)
The William Street Stage
statestreetdistrict.org/entertainment
New this year, the William Street Stage is located at the intersection of Maynard and William and will feature local professional and amateur musicians from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. Steve Somers and Friends Jazz Band will be amongst the exciting lineup to come.
The Ann Arbor Art Fair runs 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday, July 20 and Friday, July 21, and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sat., July 22. To view a downloadable version of the fair’s map, visit theannarborartfair.com/#map.
SPONSORS
The Ann Arbor Art Fair’s Premier Event Sponsors include Ann Arbor DDA, The City of Ann Arbor, Destination Ann Arbor and Eli Lily. The Art-Go-Round is co-presented by May Mobility and BMW. The Free Wheelchair Rental Program is presented by Trinity Health. The “Official Gathering Place” of the 2023 Ann Arbor Art Fair is the University of Michigan Museum of Art.
Other Committed Sponsors include All American Gutter Protection, Bank of Ann Arbor, Big Bite Tour, Coming Home Suites, The Graduate, LaCroix, Lake Michigan Credit Union, Leaf Filter, Matrix Home Solutions, Michigan Lottery, Michigan Radio, Mr. Roof, Power Home, Renewal, Residence Inn Suites, SkyMint, Travel Smart Vacations, Uber Eats and University of Michigan Credit Union.
Community Sponsors include Catalyst Media Factory, Main Street Area Association, National Trails and University of Michigan. Binson’s is sponsoring the Wheelchair Supply and Huron Valley Ambulance (HVA) is the Health & Safety Sponsor. Absopure is this year’s water sponsor.
Supporting Sponsors include ARC Document Solutions, The Ark, City of Ann Arbor Fire Department, City of Ann Arbor Information Services, City of Ann Arbor Police Department, CultureVerse, Dollar Bill Printing, Elmo’s T-Shirts, Michigan Arts and Culture Council, National Endowment for the Arts, Underground Printing and Wallace Detroit Guitars.
The Ann Arbor Art Fair is a Midwest tradition that draws close to half a million attendees over three days in July. As the largest juried art fair in the nation, the Ann Arbor Art Fair features nearly 1,000 artists and a footprint spanning 30 city blocks in downtown Ann Arbor. The Ann Arbor Art Fair is comprised of three independently juried, nonprofit art fairs that run consecutively: the Ann Arbor Street Art Fair, The Original, the Ann Arbor Summer Art Fair and Ann Arbor State Street Art Fair. For more information about the Ann Arbor Art Fair, please visit www.theannarborartfair.com.
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