Ann Arbor Highlights

For all those who couldn't make it up to Ann Arbor this last week, here is a round-up of some artists Toboggan thinks you should know about.

Above is a mixed media piece from Julie Fremuth. She lives and works out of Ann Arbor creating works of art that range from small hand-bound books, to larger wall hangings like the one above. I like the fact that her characters and figures seem to show very little expression, yet you still feel as though you can imagine exactly what they are thinking. She also employs a lot of mirror writing.

Mark Traughber does excellent, affordable stencil work, but I was most impressed with his larger paintings. He was actually at Crosby earlier this year and a friend had bought some of his work so I was on the look out for him. Pigs, babies, and sock monkeys abound. (myspace)

Next is Marilyn Andrews, I couldn't find much on the web about Marilyn but she's got your teapot fetish covered. Ceramics with a surreal feel.

Dylan Strzynski is an Ann Arbor area artist. His booth was nestled up right next to Helen Gotlib, another talented artist worth mentioning. He has also contributed to Found magazine, which is fun zine that publishes, what else, found objects.

And finally, we come to Dolan Geiman. Dolan hails from Chicago, and like Traughber, Dolan had a nice selection of well priced pieces that wouldn't necessarily look out of place at Urban Outfitters. Taking cues from the likes of Henry Darger, he creates larger collages in which some of his favorite subjects can be seen throughout his entire portfolio, not so many epic battle scenes between grown men and little girls, but definitely something you would want to hang on the wall. He also has a 'Rescued Clothing' program that looks pretty interesting, and is an active contributor to the 'The American Ruralist Movement.' (myspace)