Ann Arbor Art Fair 2010 artists and their artwork.

One of the highlights of the summer in Ann Arbor is the yearly art fairs that happen here.  I thought it would be fun to get some of the art I liked best up on the web!  I hope that you take advantage of any art fairs, or other free admission events, that are in your area this summer.  It is really a great opportunity to get out see great art and fantastic people.

I was really taken by this lovely frog! The person standing next to it said she is five foot 4 inches tall. Notice how the palm tree that the frog is holding onto goes up about 7 feet from the ground or so. I love things that are whimsical; and this sculpture really caught my fancy. It's made of bronze and copper. Check out their website; many of the items are small garden ornament type stuff; they also have a number of larger pieces too!

When I saw Jane's work, I absolutely fell in love! What cool images she has brought into the classic medium of bronze. There is a real insight, magic and nostalgia brought into three dimensions with her amazing sculptures. I especially enjoyed how these two evoked feelings of belonging and longing in me. And there is something about seeing them on a street with dozens of people passing by each moment that I found particularly evocative. It was as if we are looking for something, but it's right there in front of us. Beautiful!! Visit her website to find out more about her art and philosophy.  She's really put a lot of loving care into that as well!

Not everything at the art fair was so big that you'd need some way to get it home. One of my favorite artists "The Scrabble Chick" AKA Allyson Stevens was there. She makes these really cool pendant ready charms from old scrabble tiles and a little bit of magic! They are just adorable! The old wooden tiles provide a solid backing, and the art on the opposite side is protected with a durable clear resin. They are lovely items that will last a life time! Another aspect to this artist is her ongoing desire to make art from recycled materials - old game boards are incorporated into some of her other work in the form of journal covers. Truly an innovative and original artist that we are blessed to have among us!

This was definitely one of my favorite booths! A veritable menagerie of stuffed animals - almost all of them puppets! What a fantastic find! The artist also makes blankets, toys, pillows and quilts. She uses durable plant and man made materials in her art work. Seeing them brought out the child in me, and they are very, very wonderful. They are better than any thing you can buy from a big box store. Plus, Lucy takes special orders for her blankets; just take a look at her website. What a gem!

Curtis Krueger has taken pictures of an old neighbor's (by the name of Mrs. Davis) cast iron garden chair in many interesting settings. In fact, he has taken the chair to each of the 50 states, and commemorated it in seascapes, dense forests, in deserts, by lakes and mountains. The photos stand alone by themselves; often the landscape is the real subject matter. Fun, whimsical; and speaking of a commitment to craft that few people possess. This artist's work made my day; and made my whole trip down to the art fair worth while. You can find out more about him at his carefully executed website, with photos of all sorts of things; as well as many with the chair. You'll also be able to read more about it there.

There are great things to do in every part of the world, and I hope that you will be inspired to take advantage of today to do something unexpected, something wonderful or ordinary. Have fun! Don't let this precious time slip away from you, and make the most of today!