with video: Ann Arbor Art Fairs returning for four days of art, much more

But it is, of course. And whether you’re cheering or groaning at the thought of a thousand artists and an estimated half-million visitors coming to Ann Arbor July 21-24, white tents packed with art, streets sales, live entertainment stages, and food vendors will soon take over numerous streets around the University of Michigan campus and downtown.

For a rundown on all the basic fair information, see our IF YOU GO: Art Fair facts Four fairs, one collaboration The four independent, simultaneous fairs that constitute the event are: The Ann Arbor Street Art Fair, located in the streets surrounding Burton Carillon Tower at North University; the State Street Area Art Fair; the Ann Arbor Summer Art Fair, located on both State St. and Main St.; and Ann Arbor’s South University Art Fair.

“We all have our own flavor because we’re in different sections of the city, but we have way more things in common than we have differences,” said Maggie Ladd, director of the South U Fair. “It’s a question that gets asked every year, and in a way, it’s a myth of the fair. … The State Street Fair is surrounded by businesses and the campus, so there’s more of a campus flavor. … At the Street Fair, there are no businesses around, and you’re in the middle of campus in a more park-like atmosphere. So the differences between the fairs are more about location than art.”

With this in mind, the directors of the four fairs have worked together more closely than usual this year, thanks in part to a new face on the scene: Maureen Riley, director of the Street Art Fair. (Previous director Shary Brown, after 11 years at the helm, retired following last year’s Street Art Fair, which marked that event’s 50th anniversary.)

“It’s been like having three big sisters guide me through the process,” Riley said, at a recent press event.

The directors — Ladd, Riley, Kathy Krick (State Street) and Debra “Max” Clayton (Summer Art Fair) — originally planned a one-time meeting in January to help Riley get up to speed, but then they “got along like a house on fire,” said Ladd. “Ideas that had been percolating for a while were laid out on the table, and we were able to move forward on them.”

New additions this year So what were some of those ideas? One was to replace the Link circulator shuttle bus with newly renovated, air-conditioned trolley cars that would transport visitors from one fair to another in a fun, appealing way. (Unlimited rides on the trolley for one day cost $1 per person.) In this video, Golden Limousine International CEO Sean Duval talks about the trolleys’ history:

See the trolley from the outside and inside in this short video.

Another new addition to the fairs this year is a free iPhone app that acts as a comprehensive guide for visitors. Paul Jacobs, of the Southfield-based company jacAPPS, which created the application (available on iTunes), discusses precisely what the app can do in this video.

Finally, a new ambassador program has been launched, wherein locals volunteer their time to answer visitors’ questions.

But the focal point of the fairs, of course, is always the art. Local potter Stanford Baker, whose work will be featured in the Summer Art Fair on Main Street, said, “The Ann Arbor Art Fair is the biggest show of the year I do. … I make about 25 percent of my income for the year (there), and I do about 25 shows a year.”

The Ann Arbor Street Art Fair The Street Art Fair, in addition to having a new director, will also return to its normal size this year. Due to construction in Ingalls Mall during last year’s fair, the event was forced to cut its artist list by 25; and that loss of booth rental revenue, combined with sponsorship declines, resulted in a $65,000 hole in the fair’s 2009 budget.

Now, however, construction in that part of campus has concluded, and the Street Fair’s fiscal outlook is far more sunny, according to Riley.

“I’m happy to say that things are back on track this year,” Riley said. “Sponsorship is up, we are back to our traditional number of participating artists, and we have been conservative with our spending. I’m anticipating that we will end up in the black.”

180 artists will offer up their work at this year’s Street Art Fair, which also hosts Art Activity Zones, with hands-on projects for adults and kids; street entertainers (including local favorite boogie-woogie pianist Mr. B); continuous artist demonstrations; and the Performance on the Lawn tent, which Riley describes as “a peaceful retreat for listening to a little music or enjoying a dance performance.”

State Street Area Art Fair One of the best fairs to attend for street sales, of course, is the State Street Area Art Fair, which truly marries town with gown.

“I think being in the heart of the fair, as well as close proximity to the university and the Diag green space, gives us a lively flavor with a lot going on,” said fair director Kathy Krick. “Because of such a large footprint, we are able to accommodate many more merchants on the street as well.”

The fair’s large footprint accommodates a whopping 316 artist booths; and Krick remarked that during her 20 year tenure as director, “I've seen the quality level go up tremendously.”

At one time, a live music stage was a part of the State Street Fair — hosted by Herb David Guitar Studio at one time, and more recently by an outside organization — yet “the costs have prohibited it lately," said Krick. "But its something we are working on for the near future. We are hoping to secure a sponsor for it, and bring some different kinds of music and performances.”

Even so, Krick notes that the State Street Area Fair is in very good shape: “Finances for the fair are very healthy this year, and interest among the artists seeking to participate has gone back up.”

Ann Arbor's South University Art Fair The edgier end of U-M’s central campus — the land of Middle Earth and onetime Pinball Pete’s — is highlighted by way of Ann Arbor’s South University Fair.

Emerging artists will be among the 175 featured in the South U Fair, in addition to 10 local ceramicists who work at the Yourist Studio Gallery Collective.

Yourist artist Rachel Jensen, while crafting nightlights that she will sell at the South U Fair, tried to explain the allure of working with clay. “There’s something about the malleability of it,” she said. “The ability to manipulate it and make whatever you want of it is really appealing. It’s just so nice and cold and mushy.”

Besides art, the South U Fair has the 107.1 Main Stage at Church and Willard, which will host local bands as well as nationally known acts (including Ann Arbor’s own Tally Hall); and an adjacent beer and margarita tent.

Last year, of course, tongues were wagging about how the recent recession might affect potential art-buyers, but South U Fair director Maggie Ladd said, “A 2008 survey showed that … 20 percent of the people that come to the fairs come from Ann Arbor; roughly 20 percent are from out of state; and 60 percent are from all over Michigan. So we’re pulling from areas that are not suffering financially to the same extent that Michigan is. We were of course all wondering how sales would go last year, but things went really well."

Ann Arbor Summer Art Fair Ann Arbor Summer Art Fair director Debra “Max” Clayton reinforced Ladd’s tidings of fiscal cheer. “Many people heard me say last year that what I was worried about was this year,” said Clayton. “There’s a lag that happens. … But a couple of things happened. 2009 sales were up, that was exciting to see — a harbinger of things to come. So although things are still a bit mixed up in art fair world, we’re on the upswing in a number of areas, and we’re expecting a great year.”

The Summer Art Fair, with 375 artists (making it the largest fair), features the work of members of The Guild of Artists and Artisans, a nonprofit organization founded in 1970 in Ann Arbor. With two locations, on State Street and Main Street, the fair offers, in addition to art, a popular entertainment stage on Liberty between Main and Ashley, and opportunities for art-seekers to also indulge in shopping and snacking.

“I think the best part of the fair for (the directors) is the same as for the fairgoers, which is, seeing all the artists and their work,” said Clayton.

Clayton first fell in love with the Art Fairs while a student at U-M. At that time, her then-boyfriend bought her the first piece of “serious art.” (“He’s long gone, but I still have the artwork,” Clayton said.)

And Clayton believes that what makes the event endure is the synergy that exists between the Fairs and the culturally vibrant city of Ann Arbor.

“This event would be totally different if it was located somewhere else,” said Clayton. “Something about Ann Arbor sets it apart from other places, which is why, I think, the fair has been successful for so many years. It’s not just that there are great artists, but they’re in a fun place, an interesting place. That’s the life and the spirit of this event. There’s an urban vibe here, but also small town friendliness and accessibility. … I think we have everything here that a fairgoer could want, … which acts as a kind of insurance for this event.”

Jenn McKee is the entertainment digital journalist for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at jennmckee@annarbor.com or 734-623-2546, and follow her on Twitter @jennmckee.