The Crazy Wisdom Community Journal • May through August 2022 • Page 90
Kids in the Community Column
The Seelie Court of Ann Arbor’s Faery Artists and Events By Laura K. Cowan What have our fairy friends and their artists been up to during the pandemic? To brighten everyone’s spirits, I wanted to track down some fairy fun this spring for the young ones. Might we see more fairy doors pop up around Ann Arbor? Maybe you’ve seen glimmers of whimsical fun around Ann Arbor in the chalk drawings of the ephemeral and adorable characters dreamed up by Ann Arbor’s David Zinn. It’s almost time for the return of Shakespeare in the Arb, and we’re celebrating with a production of the fairy-packed fun of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Ann Arbor is one of the best places around to find events and artists who work on a fairy theme, but like the fae they can be hiding in plain sight. I went searching under every rock and leaf, even a few book jackets, to find you the best fairy-themed events, artists, and authors in Ann Arbor to find while we’re still in need of a little fun.
Shakespeare in the Arb, A 20th Anniversary Fairy-stravaganza
Sunday every week until June 26th. This is an easy event to miss in the early summer because, like a glimpse of the fairies, it’s here and gone in the blink of an eye. Mendeloff says you can also get involved if you are of the thespian persuasion: “Auditions are the weekend of Shakespeare’s birthday, the 22nd through 24th of April, and are open to community actors, dancers, and musicians.” You can keep an eye on the Shakespeare in the Arb Facebook page for details. “Young children ages 5-8 are welcome to participate as fairies, and should contact us in May,” Mendeloff adds. What’s it like performing with fairies in the Arb in one of these popular productions? “The Arb is an actor in all of our plays,” Mendeloff explains. “We are inspired by the natural landscape and stage scenes organically in the hills and valleys and groves. My aim is to create a 360-degree picture in every scene, so the audience really believes they are in the reality of the events with the actors.” Sounds fabulous. If your kiddos want to be part of this supernatural all-outdoor theater production, what better way to get involved than as a fairy themselves? Shakespeare in the Arb does charge for admission to cover costs. Shakespeare in the Arb is part of the University of Michigan LSA Residential College. You can find more information at their website lsa.umich.edu/rc/programs-andcommunity-engagement/shakespeare-in-the-arb.html. Or visit their Facebook page for up-to-date information on auditions and production schedules: facebook.com/ ShakespeareintheArb. Director Kate Mendeloff is reachable at mendelof@umich.edu.
Ann Arbor District Library Fairy Art Online Events Beloved annual summer event Shakespeare in the Arb is celebrating its belated 20th anniversary Visit your favorite after a Covid hiatus, with a fairy-tastic characters, like Puck performance of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Visit your favorite characters, like Puck the the trickster fairy, as actors weave themselves trickster fairy, as actors weave themselves among the trees of the beautiful Ann Arbor among the trees of the Arboretum.
beautiful Ann Arbor Arboretum.
Director Kate Mendeloff says the event this year should kick off with A Midsummer Night’s Dream on June second, running Thursday through
Ann Arbor’s District Library lost no time at the beginning of the pandemic putting programming online for kids. This includes several videos on fairythemed art projects put together with the Ann Arbor Art Center. Richard Retyi is the Communications and Marketing Manager for AADL, and he says you can still find these videos online on the AADL Youtube channel to create your own fairy art event. “The [videos] we recently put up are how to build a woodland fairy marionette and secret treasures of the fairy door,” Retyi says. “There are two drawing events there with Ann Arbor Art Center, and we still have drawing events for kids every Sunday.” Check out the AADL videos called “Magical Fairyland” and “Fantastic Fairy Garden Drawings” to connect with the best of fairy art content for kids who want to participate in the fun. Once AADL starts hosting in-person events again, these will resume at the library, but for now are hosted online every week on an ongoing basis. To connect with the Ann Arbor District Library, you can check out the TV channel at aadl. tv.
Check out the AADL videos called “Magical Fairyland” and “Fantastic Fairy Garden Drawings” to connect with the best of fairy art content for kids who want to participate in the fun.
AADL is open for patrons but is not hosting in-person events at this time. For questions about online programming or facilities, please visit aadl.org or call (734)327-4200. The Ann Arbor District Library TV program is at aadl.tv.
