Beth, it really depends on the kind of work you create. I have been
attending these local events, semi regularly for 35 years, and have
noted how they have evolved.
The Ann Arbor Street Art Fair is the original, 51 years old, juried,
and offers only the highest quality, higher end work, often one of a
kind pieces. Last summer, I spoke with an assortment of artists
there, and learned that they may have just a handful of large sales
during the fair, but often get commissioned for future work. It is
the only fair located right on the University of Michigan campus.
Truly gorgeous pieces across a diverse range of media.
The Ann Arbor Summer Art Fair is located on State, Liberty, and Main
Streets, adjacent to the campus, and is probably better for artist’s
production work in the lower to mid price points. In other words, the
bread and butter work, which is more spontaneously purchased by fair
patrons! In this fair, the one ‘stands-out-of-the crowd’ jewelry
booth is always in front of the Abracadabra Jewelry and Gem Gallery
on Liberty. They carry work by James Binnion, Michael Daniels, Chris
Ploof, Lisa Jane Grant, among others, as well as work of their own
design. Their booth and store display always stops me dead in my
tracks, no matter how hot, tired, or wet I may be.
The flow of these two fairs is seamless, you really don’t notice
where one begins or ends. They have grown large enough, that you
really need 2 days to properly walk through, and see everything
once! These are healthy, vibrant, fun, friendly, and diverse fairs;
which seemed to do well last summer in spite of the poor economy.
Apply to one, or both, and I’ll be looking for your booth next
summer!
Michelle