Shadow Art Fair: July 10

I just got word from a friend that the Metro Times has named the Shadow Art Fair the area’s best Indie Craft Fair. Here, I’m told, is what they had to say:

Best Indie Craft Fair
Shadow Art Fair

This DIY craft fest of “stuff that people make” has run since 2005, and now draws thousands of visitors twice a year. It was founded by a group of friends that included Ypsilanti zinesters Linette and Mark Maynard, and Mark says they “started it for all the reasons we got into zining… to bring together a lot of people doing creative stuff who had dead-end jobs.” But the fair is no small beer, and it has grown into a large, juried and fun event allowing local artists to exhibit and sell works within a “comfortable, friendly, and supportive setting.” Twice a year, the 12-hour mini-fest takes over Ypsi’s Corner Brewery, keeping shopping local and spirited, with live music, craft beer and unusual special activities.

It’s still kind of in the formative stages, so I’m hesitant to talk about it, but we’re trying to make this summer’s event, which is going to take place on Saturday, July 10, bigger and better than ever. If all goes according to plan, we won’t just have the regular Shadow stuff and live music at the Brewery, but we’ll also have other events going on throughout Ypsi, and everything will be tied together by Big Ten Burrito’s BTB Party Bus.

Like I said, it’s still coming together, but the idea is that there will be events not only at the Corner Brewery, where the Shadow Art Fair will be, but also at SPUR Studios, the Dreamland Theater, and the Elbow Room, with the bus constantly running in a loop, connecting the various venues and a big parking lot or two. That way, people can come to Ypsi, park downtown, and take the bus to the Brewery, or wherever else they want to go. Hopefully, it’ll work out.

And, I don’t quite know how I’d pull it off, but I’m thinking that, if I can slip out of the Shadow, maybe we’d try to do an “adult” version of Dreamland Tonight later that evening, after the kids have all gone to bed, at the Dreamland Theater. What an “adult” show would consist of, I’m not sure. But I think we could have a lot of fun talking about sex, taxes, and other grownup things.

But, like I said, nothing’s been finalized yet… So, keep checking back for details. Or, better yet, sign up for the SAF mailing list. (Just enter your email address in the top left corner of the Shadow Art Fair website.)

As for the SAF itself, it’ll run from noon to midnight, as always, and preparations are currently underway. We just opened the application process for vendors, folks wanting to enter our poster design competition, and individuals/organizations interested in obtaining one of our prestigious Shadow Grants. The deadline for all of them is May 15, so you’d better get busy. Those interested will find more information by following the following links:

Vendor Application:
Interested in selling, displaying or performing your artwork on July 10? This is the form you’ll need to submit.

Poster Design Contest:
Want to design our next poster? The winner receives $100, a handful of the printed posters, and a Shadow Art Fair t–shirt. This is the form you’ll need to submit with your design.

Shadow Grant Awards:
If you are interested in applying for our Arts Grant, this is the form you’ll need to submit with your proposal. We have a total of $2010 to give away this year with great ideas to make our corner of Michigan a better place. Winners will be notified at the Summer Shadow Art Fair.

And, remember, the deadline for all three is May 15.

[note: Contrary to what the good folks at the Metro Times reported, Linette wasn’t directly involved in the formation of the Shadow Art Fair. There were six people involved in the beginning. They were; myself, Jennifer Albaum, Molly Mast, Melissa Dettloff, Tim Furstnau and Tiffany Threadgould. Tiffany moved to New York after our first show, and Tim just moved to Seattle a little while ago. The rest of us, though, are still the ones running things. The other thing I’d correct is the notion that the SAF is a “craft” show. While it’s true that some of our vendors do make crafts, many don’t. Some make food, some create music, some do performance art, etc. We’ve had giant pooping cats, people photographing feet, folks dispensing new hair designs, and tons more. And, we’re always looking to push those boundaries further. So, if you’ve got an interesting idea, especially one that would actively engage members of the SAF audience, apply. You’d be surprised what kind of stuff resonates with us judges.]