In this file photo from last year’s Hazel Park Arts Fair, mixed-media artist Sarah Jean Anderson works on one of her whimsical pieces. This year’s event is set to take place at Green Acres Park Aug. 27-28.
By: Andy Kozlowski | Madison-Park News | Published June 29, 2022
HAZEL PARK — At the end of August, Green Acres Park will once again host countless pieces of art while serving up mouthwatering food, refreshing drinks and toe-tapping music, all part of the Hazel Park Art Fair.
And if you want to be among the caterers and entertainers, there’s still time — the fair is currently accepting applications for artists, musicians and artisan food vendors at hpartfair.org.
The Art Fair itself takes place from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 27, and from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 28. Green Acres Park is located at 620 W. Woodward Heights Blvd. in Hazel Park.
This will be the 10th year that the fair has taken place. Organizers say the event has grown consistently over the years, attracting nearly 4,000 attendees in 2021, the event’s best year yet despite an ongoing pandemic and high temperatures. The Art Fair had skipped 2020.
“We expect at least 70 artists to participate this year, and hopefully an even larger attendee turnout,” said Lillian Ristau, Hazel Park Arts Council secretary and planning committee member for the Hazel Park Art Fair, in an email. “We have enthusiastic attendees who look forward to our fair each year.”
She said that participants value the fair for a variety of reasons. First, the Arts Council keeps costs low for artists and vendors, in an effort to keep them profitable. The fair is juried but open to all kinds of art, and the cost for a 10-by-10-foot space is $100, with a discount for returning artists. One is responsible for providing their own booth and display materials. Booth space is available in the covered pavilions as well as throughout the park, which is mostly shaded by large trees, with a concrete walking path connecting everything for ease of access.
“We are supportive of our artists from start to finish, whether it’s delivering water during the event or setting up new artists with mentors to help them understand the ins and outs of presenting at an art fair,” Ristau said.
Another reason for the fair’s enduring appeal is the variety it offers attendees, she said, both in terms of visual variety across a range of mediums, as well as price points. Food trucks and a charity beer tent keep guests fueled and hydrated, while live music gives the event an energetic feel.
“We seek artisan food vendors each year,” Ristau said, noting previous vendors like Hell Fire Detroit Hot Sauce, The Great Bread Company, and Detroit Jerky.
In terms of local performers, the Art Fair has already lined up Shadow’s Circus, with aerial performances by the D3 Circus Troupe, while musicians from different genres take the main stage. More information on the musical acts will be released closer to the event.
It’s all organized by the Hazel Park Arts Council, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. The fair is funded entirely by the council’s fundraising efforts, and by profits from previous fairs, including the sponsorships and beer tent sales.
“The Arts Council is so thankful to all sponsors and volunteers who make the fair happen every year,” Ristau said. “Without them, this thriving community event would not be possible.
“Art can completely transform a community,” she continued. “As someone who moved to Hazel Park just a few years ago, I am so inspired by the growing presence of art in our town, and how welcoming we are to artists. The Hazel Park Art Fair is just another way we welcome the arts into our community, making it accessible to anyone and everyone. We truly are an art fair for all, and I’m so proud of that.”
Ed Klobucher, the city manager of Hazel Park, said that he likes the “pottery and ceramics, as well as art that makes you think or sends a message,” and that the event keeps growing in popularity.
Andy LeCureaux, a member of the Hazel Park City Council, noted in an email that the fair falls between two other long-standing events in the area — the Woodward Dream Cruise and Arts, Beats and Eats — and continues to be a popular family-friendly offering.
“Back when the fair started in Hazel Park, property values were much lower, and that attracted some artists to relocate to our city,” LeCureaux said. “The Hazel Park Art Fair continues to proudly display some of our local artists’ finest works.”
Luke Londo, another member of the Hazel Park City Council, pointed to a Picasso quote that likened the purpose of art to washing “the dust of daily life off our souls.”
“I can’t think of a better metaphor for the Hazel Park Art Fair, as we dust off the remnants of the last two years to celebrate art, in all its formats and mediums,” Londo said in an email. “The Art Fair is always one of my favorite events, and the response from our residents and people from the surrounding communities is always extremely positive. Whether it’s your first Art Fair or your tenth, there’s something there for everyone. This event represents the beauty of Hazel Park and our residents, and our continued effort to paint the future we deserve.”