Shain Park again to host Fine Art Fest: 200 artists to exhibit in Birmingham

Apr 27, 2008 (Detroit Free Press - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- NCC | news | PowerRating | PR Charts -- Nearly 80,000 people are expected to fill downtown Birmingham's Shain Park over May 10 and 11 for the 2008 National City Birmingham Fine Art Festival.

Lisa Burge of Taos, N.M., will be among the more than 200 artists coming from across the country, as well as from Canada.

Burge, 53, is an abstract painter who has been doing art shows for about 15 years. She paints in the winter and travels the country from spring to fall; she does 10-12 shows a year.

"It has been a great lifestyle for me," said Burge by phone from an art fair in Ft. Worth, Texas. "Physically, it is hard work, but I've met a lot of nice people. You end up spending a lot of time together, and over the years, you establish great friendships."

In the past, Burge has sold her work at the Ann Arbor Art Fairs, but this is her first time in Birmingham. She estimates she'll have about 30 paintings at the art festival, ranging in price from $600 to $3,800.

"I love to meet the people who buy my work. The art shows give you that accessibility," she said.

The juried art event is produced by the Birmingham Bloomfield Art Center with support from the Birmingham Bloomfield Chamber.

In addition to fine art, there will be hands-on intergenerational activities and artist demonstrations during the art festival, which will run 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. May 10 and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 11. Admission is free.

For more information about the Birmingham Fine Art Fair, call the Birmingham Bloomfield Art Center at 248-644-0866 or go to www.bbartcenter.org.

Contact NANCY CHIPMAN POWERS at 313-222-2354 or nchipman@freepress.com.

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