ANN ARBOR – The Guild of Artists & Artisans (The Guild) is proud to announce the fourth annual A2 Artoberfest Fine Art Fair, Saturday and Sunday October 12th & 13th in Downtown Ann Arbor. The event stretches across Ann Street and North Fourth Ave. from Huron into the charming Kerrytown area. This intimate and rich celebration of the arts will feature 100 jury selected artists, live entertainment, food vendors, art activities, and several adult beverage offerings including: craft cocktails from the Ann Arbor Distilling Company, Mead/Cider from Bløm Meadworks, wine from Riboli Family Wines featuring Riva de la Rosa and San Simeon, and beer from three local breweries (Austin Brothers Beer Co, Broad Leaf Brewery + Spirits, and Drafting Table Brewing Company) provided by M4. Fairgoers who are 21 and older will be able to stroll the entire event while enjoying their beverages.
The event includes close to 100 jury selected artists, featuring jewelry, ceramics, painting, glass, photography, fiber and more. The Guild has been helping raise community awareness, understanding and appreciation of the visual arts, while maintaining a support network for artists for more than fifty years. A2 Artoberfest will provide another opportunity for folks in and around Ann Arbor to enjoy Fine Art in a smaller setting than the Ann Arbor Summer Art Fair (also produced by The Guild) while also enjoying the festive spirit of fall with live entertainment, food, and beverages. A music lineup will take the stage on Saturday and will be headlined by the Ann Arbor band Ain’t Dead Yet, a high-energy classic rock band covering a wide variety of hits from past and present. This year’s event will include extended hours (6-8pm) on Saturday for the live music and bar offerings to continue, and artists will have the option to stay open during that time if they choose.
The Guild of Artists and Artisans produces a total of nine fine art fairs annually and manages the Gutman Gallery, a fine art gallery and shop located within the footprint of A2 Artoberfest at 118 N. Fourth Ave. Within the gallery, fairgoers can explore more artist-made work as well as the gallery’s annual youth art exhibition, PLAY: an all media youth art exhibition featuring artwork from young Washtenaw County artists grades K-12. The gallery will also host a mask making workshop for all ages from 12pm to 4pm each day of the fair, where participants can design and decorate their very own masks using provided materials including paper mache, paint, glitter, fabric, beads and more. The workshop requires a $5 fee per participant (ticket holders for The Guild’s annual fundraiser on November 9 can participate at no cost); participants can register in advance online, or walk in during the fair. Fairgoers can also enjoy seeing muralist, Gary Horton, complete the upper half of the mural on the back of the Gutman Gallery, presented with support from Destination Ann Arbor, which he started at last year’s event. Horton is an Ypsilanti-based muralist and graffiti artist who studied fine art and design at the Art Institute of Pittsburgh and specializes in murals, large paintings, and oversized canvases.
The participating artists are jury-selected and include jewelry, ceramics, painting, glass, photography, fiber and more. The featured artwork for this year’s event is created by painter Anthony Brass (Warren, MI), an award-winning artist celebrated for his interesting perspective on the natural world. There will be several local artists, such as Terry Butler (Printmaking/Paper; Ann Arbor, MI), Glenn Taylor (Photography; Ann Arbor, MI), and Sharon Donovan (Jewelry; Ann Arbor, MI), and even some from across the country like Skeeter Aschinger (Mixed Media; Pompano Beach, FL). For more information and a complete list of participating artists, visit A2Artoberfest.org.
Sip, shop, and savor the beautiful fall weather, talented artisans, and wonderful tunes from various entertainers. “We’re honored to be able to serve the Ann Arbor community with a more intimate art fair to enjoy during the beautiful fall season,” said Karen Delhey, executive director of The Guild of Artists and Artisans. “The Main Street and Kerrytown districts already have so much to offer to art lovers year-round, and this event allows us to give back to our own neighborhood by gathering artists, musicians, business and organizations to put on a fun and engaging event for all ages to enjoy.”
WHAT: A2 Artoberfest Fine Art Fair
WHEN: October 12 & 13, 2024; Saturday 10am–6pm with music, food and beverages until 8pm, Sunday 10am–4pm
WHERE: N. Fourth Ave. (between Huron + Catherine) and Ann Street (between Main + Fifth Ave.), Downtown Ann Arbor, MI
LINK TO IMAGES: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1fac-mc3K4f-MsCk6MX6oR-lAYDc2Xs60?usp=sharing
For more information, visit: A2Artoberfest.org
Follow A2 Artoberfest and The Guild on social media: (FB) @a2artoberfest (FB + Instagram) @guildfairs
The Guild of Artists & Artisans is a non-profit, membership organization of professional artists. Established in 1973, The Guild of Artists & Artisans’ mission is to promote community awareness, understanding and appreciation of the visual arts and to maintain a support network for artists, which provides educational, mentoring and marketing opportunities. The Guild is recognized and valued for its ability to showcase independent artists, bringing their artwork to the community via its juried fine art fairs and Gutman Gallery in downtown Ann Arbor. It is a trusted source for artists and art-lovers alike. The Guild is best known for its award-winning Ann Arbor Summer Art Fair.
