Art Fare Magazine (1973-1979): All Issues and an Interview with Creators Now Online

Art Fare, a local news publication, began in 1973 when David Friedo saw an opportunity to cover the vast array of arts, cultural, and social events in Ann Arbor. The Ann Arbor Art Fairs inspired the play on words in the title, but its coverage went beyond the arts. Articles touched on many changes in town (including issues of housing and urban design) and offered a counter-perspective to dominant narratives in papers like the Ann Arbor News. Music, cinema, plays, art exhibits, and nightlife were included in an events calendar that predated the Ann Arbor Observer's own. Friedo and his small team worked to publish the magazine through 1979 when it briefly became known as the Ann Arbor Entertainer and then subsequently ceased publication. Issues are available for reading or downloading at aadl.org/artfare.

In 2023, David Friedo, Mary Bleyaert, Paul Wiener, Mary Dolan, and Barbara Torretti sat down with us for an interview to discuss the initial inspiration for the magazine, how it developed, and its reception by the public. Each recounted their roles in the production of the magazine, and reflected on the changes in the Ann Arbor art community and beyond.