The nation’s largest juried art fair, the Ann Arbor Art Fair, officially announced artists, music and entertainment lineups for this year’s much-anticipated event next week.
Every July, Downtown Ann Arbor transforms into an outdoor art gallery where artists, art collectors and art admirers alike can immerse themselves in the arts in the downtown streets for the Midwest’s favorite traditions. 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 the Ann Arbor State Street Art Fair.
Spanning nearly 30 blocks and expected to draw nearly half a million attendees, this year’s fair will consist of nearly 1,000 individual artists of different mediums from across the country. In addition, there will be three stages with local performing musicians, international exhibits for guests to appreciate and interactive activities to include everyone in the fun. Ann Arbor’s small businesses will be participating in the event this year as well, with retailers promoting sidewalk sales and restaurants extending patio service into the streets.
“We work year-round to make this fair the best it can be for the artists, attendees and the city of Ann Arbor, and this year is already shaping up to be incredible all around,” said Karen Delhey, executive director of the Ann Arbor Summer Art Fair. “We have artists representing every medium under the sun, international art exhibits and talented musicians coming to our wonderful city for a weekend dedicated to embracing and celebrating creativity.”
EXHIBITED MOST ARTFULLY
From sculptural jeweler Theresa Kwong from San Mateo, California to a skilled glass-blowing team Paul Willsea and Carol O’Brien from DC, to mixed media skateboard artist Jeffrey St. Romain in New Orleans to black and white photographer Dick Dokas from right here in Ann Arbor, the Ann Arbor Art Fair brings in the top artists from coast to coast.
This year, countless new artists excited to share their art with the Ann Arbor community are joined by the fair’s loyal returning artists, who fairgoers look forward to seeing each year. With such a wide variety and range of 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.
Every year, each of the three fairs chooses a featured artist who represents what the Ann Arbor Art Fair is all about. These artists create a poster for the individual fairs, capturing the importance of the fair in their different mediums and perspectives.
Featured Artist – Ann Arbor Street Art Fair, The Original
Jeff Schaller creates textural art pieces using painting, multiple images and wording. His work frequently incorporates pop culture and is exhibited throughout the country, regularly published in newspapers and magazines and some of his work has been featured in television series, like “Friends.” At the fair, you can find Schaller at Booth: NU837.
Featured Artist – Ann Arbor Summer Art Fair
Armando Pedroso creates mixed media abstract paintings, using unique materials such as roofing tar and incorporating different techniques like blow torching. Pedroso was drawn to painting after being laid off from his corporate office job after the September 11, 2001, tragedy. His work has been featured in galleries across the globe and he has won several awards as a traveling artist. At the fair, you can find Pedroso at Booth: MN237.
Featured Artist – Ann Arbor State Street Art Fair
Henry Levine is a glass-blowing artist, who creates masterfully crafted glass for everyday living. On his way to being a full-time artist, Levine worked in and owned a neon sign company. Now he owns Thorn Ridge Studios in Ohio where he pursues his passion without needing a “day job.” At the fair, you can find Levine at Booth: MA322
For a complete list of the 2022 Artists, visit theannarborartfair.com/artists.
INTERNATIONAL EXHIBIT SHOWCASES ARTWORK OF ISOLATED PRISONERS
The Ann Arbor Art Fair welcomes We Bear Exhibit, a unique art exhibit from across the world making its international debut in this year’s fair. This new exhibit features art from people isolated in prisons in the US and UK during the COVID-19 pandemic. These 31 artists drew inspiration from folk art paintings of bears in captivity and their original creations were curated in a one-off exhibit in the UK that drew more than 50,000 visitors. The Prison Creative Arts Project, based at the University of Michigan, has been a partner in the project from the start and is now collaborating as co-curator for the exhibit in Ann Arbor. Its team will be running workshops and events during the fair for visitors to learn from and participate in.
FRIENDS OF THE FAIR
At its core, the Ann Arbor Art Fair is a community event. Throughout the years, community members have stepped up, stood out and continued returning to make the event one to remember.
Chalk the Walk
David Zinn, a longtime friend of the fair and an Ann Arbor resident, he’s been creating original, clever and improvised chalk street artwork in and around the city since 1987. Now his art has a following around the world. This year, Zinn is hosting “Chalk the Walk,” presented by Lake Michigan Credit Union, where he will create his chalk work live in the footprint of the event. Sidewalk chalk will be available so that fairgoers can join the fun and add their own creative mark on this year’s Ann Arbor Art Fair.
Boogie-Woogie Playing Piano Man
Mark Lincoln Braun, AKA Mr. B, a boogie-woogie pianist who has been bringing his jazzy jams to the Ann Arbor Art Fair since the ‘80s, returns to fill the air with his brilliant blues notes like he has for 45 years. Mr. B is a critically acclaimed recording artist and learned directly from blues and boogie legends like Little Brother Montgomery and Boogie Woogie Red. This is a must-see act, for it may be his last.
TASTY EATS FOR EVERY PALATE
To support Ann Arbor small businesses, the fair is welcoming local restaurants out into the streets to serve a diverse mix of cuisine offerings to the fair’s attendees. Participating restaurants include Amer’s, Ashley’s, HopCat, Isalita Cantina, Knight’s, Mani Osteria, New York Pizza Depot, Pita Kabob Grill, Red Hawk, Sava’s, Slurping Turtle, Taste Kitchen, Black Pearl, Blue Llama, Conor O’Neill’s, Chop House, Palio, Real Seafood Co., Jim Brady’s, Regents Field, Old Town, Pacific Rim, Ally Bar, The Grotto, West End Grill, TAQ, Pizza House, Good Time Charley’s, Beyond Juicery and Vinology. Some outside food vendors include The Nut House, Camper Bean, Bear Claw Coffee and Smoothies, Bao Boys, CAYA Smoke House Grill, Peace, Love and Tacos, Mity Nice Italian Ice and Casbah Cuisine. These local places are the perfect spot for fairgoers to get out of the sun, cool off and grab a bite to eat.
SOME OF THE MOST NOTE-ABLE MUSICIANS
Three live entertainment stages will add to the artsy atmosphere of Ann Arbor during the fair to fill the streets with the sounds of local musical talent.
Stage on Main: Summer Sounds
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. The Stage on Main, located at the corner of Main and William Streets, will bring a sampling of what The Ark does year-round to the Ann Arbor Art Fair. New performers are being added to the lineup each day.
Stage on Main Performance Schedule
Thursday, July 21
5 p.m. – Dani Darling
6:30 p.m. – The Quebe Sisters
8 p.m. – Kyshona
Friday, July 22
5:30 p.m. – Brooke Annibale
7:30 p.m. – John Reilly & The Community Gardeners
Saturday, July 23
3 p.m. – Out Loud Chorus
5 p.m. – The Whiskey Charmers
6:30 p.m. – Jared Deck
The Fountain Stage
http://artfair.org/page/fountain-stage
Features primarily acoustic, classical and jazz performances on Ingalls Mall, between E. Washington and N. University streets and highlights many student and community groups.
Thursday, July 21
11 a.m. – Alison Albrecht
12 p.m. – Delta 88
1 p.m. – Kathy Wieland
2 p.m. – Brian Lillie and Merrill Hodenfield
3 p.m. – Timothy Monger
4 p.m. – Indie Rock Royalty
5 p.m. – Detroit Opera: Summer Serenade
6 p.m. – Eric Kelly
Friday, July 22
11 a.m. – Karl Sikkenga of Archipelago
12 p.m. – Joanna Sterling
1 p.m. – John D. Lamb
2 p.m. – Lily MacPhee
3 p.m. – Adam Labeaux
4 p.m. – Shannon Lee & The Silver Linings
5 p.m. – Lvrboy.
6 p.m. – Rochelle Clark
7 p.m. – Kiyoshi Shelton
Saturday, July 23
11 a.m. – TBA
12 p.m. – Kaj Althaus
1 p.m. – Warehouse Cloggers
2 p.m. – Annie & Rod Capps
3 p.m. – Laura Russeau & The Bootstrap Paradox
4 p.m. – Michelle Held
5 p.m. – Ceolsige
6 p.m. – Billy King
Ann Arbor Civic Theatre Stage
https://statestreetdistrict.org/entertainment
Civic Theatre’s kick-off for their 93rd season of continuous operations in downtown Ann Arbor. The stage is located at the intersection of Maynard and William Streets. This stage will feature local professional and amateur musicians, including, but not limited to:
The Bob Skon Trio
Victoria Reackhof
School of Rock bands
Ann Arbor Mayor Christopher Taylor
The Ann Arbor Art Fair runs 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday, July 21 and Friday, July 22 and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sat., July 23. For a look at and a downloadable version of the fair’s map, visit theannarborartfair.com/#map.
Premier Event Sponsors: Destination Ann Arbor, The City of Ann Arbor and The Ann Arbor DDA. The Stage on Main is presented by DTE, featuring one of the top music clubs in the world, The Ark. Chalk the Walk is presented by Lake Michigan Credit Union, featuring Ann Arbor’s own world-renown artist David Zinn. Other committed sponsors include MKX Oil, happi, Underground Printing, Huron Valley Ambulance, The Michigan Lottery, Lacroix, Power Home Remodeling Leaf Filter, University of Michigan Credit Union, Bank of Ann Arbor, Ann Arbor Regent & Bell Tower Hotel and ModuGo. Community Partners: Main Street Area Association and University of Michigan, Trinity Transportation and Catalyst Media Factory. The fair’s Media Sponsors are All About Ann Arbor and Michigan Radio.
For more information about the Ann Arbor Art Fair, please visit www.theannarborartfair.com.
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