OT: Ann Arbor Art Fair
Does anyone else find this to be a fair of useless crap? I mean some of the stuff is cool to a certain degree, but the fact that it encompasses so much of downtown Ann Arbor and most of the stuff is ridiculously overpriced kind of annoys me. Thoughts?
but art generally is extremely expensive. A guy I used to work with was just a phenomenal painter. He had to hang it up for a while when the market took a dive after 9/11, but holy crap. I won't deny that his skill alone made his paintings worth hundreds. He was really into birds and painted a lot of the native migratory birds. I never really realized how many "tropical" birds we get here in the summer.
...do not appreciate you messing with our embedded image of Art Fair awesomeness.
Its annoying to me, b/c I'm not into it, and it cramps up the town for a half week. On the other hand, it brings in a lot of money for the local economy, and is seen as a positive thing for the city and state from out of towners, so I can't complain too much.
It's probably one of the biggest tourist draws in Ann Arbor outside of football games, and it does provide some life into a pretty dead campus during summer time. I've always just used it as an excuse to have a date and day drink outdoors at Ashley's.
I used to work downtown and the week leading up to and the week of were a major pain. (Had to give up my highly valued on-site parking for vendors). I'm more of a classical art person, so the genre of stuff around there isn't my forte. However, it can be a fun thing to visit for the people watching and sales at the local retailers. Great boost to the local economy, so that helps. I live close enough to partake if I choose, yet far enough that the congestion doesn't impact my daily life. Win-win for me.
If nothing else, Art Fair is always great for people watching, and the fact that its very existence ticks off a certain small class of Ann Arborites: the purist art snobs - makes it worthwhile in my book. Back in the 1980's, I can recall seeing some of these people wearing t-shirts that read "It's not art, and it's not fair!"
That phrase is still around. Most recently via the trendy "stencil graffiti" on walls, mail boxes, light posts, etc.
This is a second hand story, so its veracity (or should I say voracity) may be questionable, but my cousin told me that a few years ago during the art fair he saw spray painted on a wall somewhere, "FART AIR."
some of it is really worthwhile art, but there's a lot of "art" there, too. Overall, I don't think it's worth the crowds and general incovenience unless you really like the art fair culture.
I hate how it messes up traffic (I have to change my commute schedule and route every day) and the few businesses I have talked to don't like it either because it actually takes revenue away from them. (Everyone gets fair food...no one gets a haircut or goes into town to get a haircut, stuff like that, etc).
And I don't like most of what is for sale at art fair.
But. A group I'm with makes a killing on selling parking spots :-)
Nothing more, nothing less.
but it's pretty easy to find an excuse when the sun is out.
Haha, at least the Art Fair kinda keeps you from feeling like an alcoholic, though.
If you don't like art it isn't a valid excuse. Not that I don't use it anyhow haha.
I like it. It bring in a fair amount of money in the local economy. There is some beautiful art, especially on the South U and North U art fairs.
I say please, lure in the suburbanites to line my pockets with cash. As far as the art, most of the art is decent, some is brilliant, some is unoriginal and cliche. Possibly due to a few off years in the art market, I have noticed more and more merchant booths, selling cheap perfume from China...lame.
I like that it makes some of my friends happy, but I've never been particularly interested. A lot of it strikes me as impractical, if I can use that word. Art should be a genuine expression of self; much of the AAAF tries to be art. If that makes any sense. There's plenty of sincerity, too, though, and It usually brings nice weather. I just prefer the Ann Arbor Film Festival because I'm a hypocrite
I probably need to use past tense since I'm not in Ann Arbor :(
That's a GREAT way to put it.
If you like to use Art Fair as an exhibition, that is the premiere art. You'll find some "real art" around the NYPD/parking structure area, but that is more mixed. I never venture up Liberty or Main.
We actually buy something every year, but never spend over $500 since we are impoverished by childraising. And there is some amazing stuff for more than $500. If you like art.
And is considered to have the highest class of artists there.
Anything that brings in money to Ann Arbor/Michigan in the middle of an otherwise dead part of summer works for me. I like some of the art, not others. Plus there is live music for a week. And you bitch about a little traffic? Come on.
There is one thing the Art Fair brings that brings sunlight into my heart - Greasy carnival food. It's expensive, but there are few places you can get that stuff. Elephant ears, giant sausages, chicken on a sticks; the list goes on and on. Sure it takes me an extra few minutes to get to my parking structure to walk to work, but it's all worth it when that deliciousness touches my lips.
Tell me where the nearest elephant ear stand is. I haven't had one in entirely too long.
I haven't been yet this year, but generally there is one by the Union in that food section they have going on.
For elephant ears: go next to the MI Union by the Cube. Near the entrance to the MUG Food Court.
They can also be found at the "food court" on Liberty (a block or two west of Main).
For ensuring diabetes in my future.
Seriously, just roll right on down 23 and then across M-50, takes about 30-40 minutes from AA. Michigan's largest fair. You can get EVERYTHING there. My personal favorite is the Cheddar Nuggets with ranch from the Hot Wisconsin Cheese stand, but I also usually have an elephant ear, collasal onion, some Sasparilla or Cream Soda from the Bayou Billy stand (Put a little south in your mouth!), plus whatever else catches my eye (corn dog, coney, cotton candy, funnel cake, lemon crush, loaded butterfly chips, they've got it all). All that, and a kickin' tractor pull too!
how's the demo derby?
but there is a combine demolition derby that's a lot of fun.
God Monroe sucks....
Was trying to find a restaurant. Passed like 6 bars to get to what seemed like the only restaurant in town.
I'm sure it's...grown...since then.
you definitely don't go there for the dining. That said, there are some great places to eat, but not really in "downtown".
La Fiesta down Telegraph between Monroe and Toledo and Jose's (Not sure if it's still called that) out in downtown Dundee. Also you can NEVER go wrong with Tiffany's pizza.
Coming back this weekend and I'm planning on going to Tiffany's and La Fiesta. Excited!
You, sir, know what's good. They have a location in Dundee now.
I love the Frog Leg Inn, which is actually in Erie, but... eh.
Jose's was owned by a family member of La Fiesta but then had some legal/IRS troubles and had to shut down.
La Fiesta came in and bought the space and just changed the name and re-opened.
But apparently, you do go there for the drinking. I didn't go for either. I was going for a football game. Though I think I did end up at a Pizza Hutt that served beer.
I can guarantee you there is an elephant ear stand on Liberty just off of Main in the food court section. My wife and I were down there people watching last night and she wanted an elephant ear.
On a side note I always find it entertaining to walk down the non-profit booth section to see some of the crazies!
At Ann Arbor Pioneer a couple of weekends ago. Ears galore.
But I would guess they could be found the food court around the Union, as others have suggested.
A lot of it is junky, but I enjoy the photography stands. There are some excellent U-M-themed photos on sale. One guy had a great photo of Mike Hart, in color, reaching over the goal line with a huge pile right behind him (in b/w).
I agree, I happen to be really into art, and in my experience typically the photography is the best stuff at the fair, followed by the furniture, followed by sculptures. Generally speaking, that's probably because these are the hardest things to fake skill in. Painting is where the whole subjective expression tends to come in, it's a bit more objective in other forms.
Anyhow, while I recognize the inconvenience the art fair poses for those living in Ann Arbor, it also contributes enormously to its image as a cultural hub that outsiders have of it. It's kind of a necessary evil.
I think I saw that stand too, the guy had an awesome mullet right? He also had some cool pictures of the michigan and state theatres.
people were complaining about how it had gone downhill then. Some of my friends had booths and I thought it was the greatest thing ever. Oh, the women!
FART AIR
99.9% of Art Fair sucks.
I'm thankful that I've had the opportunity to play Art Fair as a musician here and there several times, but on the whole, Art Fair is lame.
Best. Kettle corn. Ever.
I love the atmosphere. I love just walking around and looking at stuff. To me, it's an excuse to spend a whole day walking around the town I love without feeling like I should be doing something else.
The crap to real art ratio has swung way to far in the direction of crap IMHO. It's simply not worth it to fight through crowds to find those little gems. My parents went to college here in the 1970s and commented on how Art Fair used to be a lot smaller and higher in average quality. They've stopped coming out because they feel there is too much crap on display as well.
The only thing that really annoys me are the damn security guards at yell at me for daring to walk around my own campus at night. Last year I got into a fight with one because I tried to walk through Ingalls Mall while drunk at 3 am.
I figure a lot of the local businesses need Art Far to make it through the summer though. No football Saturdays, no massive amounts of students to buy stuff, so I accept it and go camping. Pictured Rocks on Friday!
Jealous I am.