Its theme this year highlights the artists and organizers who first created a fine art fair at Woodward and McNichols and gives a launching pad to new artists who are just starting their creative careers.
Seventy-five juried artists wind around the park’s lake and up to the historic log cabin – and they are joined by 15 high school age artists from Mint Artists Guild, a new Detroit nonprofit.
“We had almost twice as many applications this year, meaning that the quality of the selected artists is phenomenal,” said event organizer Mark Loeb. “We even have five or six artists from the original fair” who were selected by the jury to return on May 14 and 15.
The Palmer Park Art Fair is run with the People for Palmer Park, the non-profit group charged with helping the Detroit Recreation Department to maintain and improve the park. Since the group’s founding five years ago the park has come a long way, with activities and events throughout the year.
Staying true to the original event, the Palmer Park Art Fair offers a limited edition signed artist poster. “We are thrilled to be featuring Detroit artist Ron Scarbough this year. Ron created the 1977 poster for the original fair so it’s especially rewarding to share his work again,” explains Loeb. “We invite former neighbors to come back and visit.”
The teen artists market returns this year, and it’s grown in size. Fifteen talented high school artists will show and sell their work.The section started last year, and due to the success has developed into the new Mint Artists Guild, a program to help teen artists prepare for a professional creative career.
“The show is situated amid some of Detroit’s best neighborhoods and adjacent to Woodward Avenue, making it easy for suburbanites to visit,” said Loeb. “We invite former neighbors and residents to come back and visit.”
Karmanos joins the art fair this year with free breast cancer screening. Some artists will donate a portion of their sales to the research program.
The event is seeking businesses interested in supporting the arts in Detroit, through partnerships and underwriting of special programs. In 2015, the Health Alliance Plan, Hodges Subaru and developers from the adjacent apartment district supported Palmer Park Art Fair.
DETAILS:
Saturday, May 14- 10am until 7pm
Sunday, May 15- 11am until 5pm
Free admission
PalmerParkArtFair.com
Palmer Park is located along Woodward between Seven Mile Road and McNichols.