Art Fair 2008

Those of you not fortunate enough to have lived in Michigan and/or Ann Arbor have probably never experienced the annual Street Art Fair they do in July each year. It's truly amazing the different mediums and styles that each artist, and each genre utilizes. It's also free which combined with the convenient bus routes fit into a graduate family budget nicely... :) One of my favorite things I saw being done was belly casts of pregnant women and full body casts of random onlookers. I also always loved the beautiful stained and blown glass booths. And of course, there's always the fun of wading through the intimidating fountain by the central campus bell tower (aptly named Sunday Morning in Deep Waters). Sadly, though we are going to be in Ann Arbor this summer, we most likely will miss the Art Fair. So in honor of that ubiquitous event, I'd like to present the Hansen Art eFair! All images are courtesy of Bub & Domba and (mostly) represent their efforts over the past year in public school art programs... :)

The first piece above, the Snowman, was created by Domba during the brief snowstorm of last December. She laments that she didn't get to build a "real snowman" this year...

This lovely piece, courtesy of Bub, showcases her recent efforts in ceramics, utilizing painted wire and standard clay. It is titled: the Sun.









Domba liked this one because it reminds her of the pond in our previous residence that we used to walk to in the evenings. We got to see pussy-willows and cat tails, the best plants any feline lovers could want!









This lovely pen and marker drawing by Bub celebrates music and the way that music can "make you think of different colors". Note the harp... Name: untitled.









Earth day inspired this poster paint and construction paper creation. Shrimp's favorite color, blue, is lavishly painted across the globe with North America symbolizing the USA's precipitous decline into greed and lack of charity for it's fellowmen...







This sculpture of paper and oil pastels by Bub embodies the very essence of the contemporary art movement. It's sweeping lines and forms are reminiscent of an afternoon on Coney Island. Thus the title: Roller Coaster.






A recent product of Shrimp's investigations into The Very Hungry Caterpillar, this piece comes at a most opportune time with thousands of tent caterpillars ("Geos") swarming our locality.






Macrame has made it's way back from the hinterlands of the the 1970's to join the "fine art" genre in this classic use of primary colors, beads, and organic mediums to add texture and depth to an already beautiful piece. Courtesy of Bub, name: untitled.








Speaking of organic art, this lovely bean picture gives a lovely feeling of fresh earthiness and Spring without all the mess! Domba titled this one: Bean Flowers.






Produced just this last Halloween season, this creative piece by Shrimp showcases not just her artist skills, but also her adorable feet. Title: Ghosties





And finally, the piece to resistance, Volcano, one of Bub's earliest efforts, created at the tender age of 3 in preschool. We have long recognized her excellent sense of color and emotion through it's use.