Issue link: https://viewer.e-digitaledition.com/i/700431
30 July 7 • 2016 A llen Levy spent summer vacations in Michigan, but July visits now are taken up with the sale of his paint- ings — many recalling lakefront views experienced in years before and after his bar mitzvah. Levy, in his fifth year with the South University Art Fair, will showcase his images in one of four art fairs that come together as the Ann Arbor Art Fair. Comprised of the original Ann Arbor Street Fair, the Ann Arbor Summer Art Fair, the State Street Art Fair and the South University Art Fair, the Ann Arbor Art Fair is one of the largest outdoor art fairs in the country, running across more than 30 city blocks. In the past, the fair schedule has been Wednesday- Saturday; this year, the fair is changing days and runs Thursday- Sunday, July 21-24. "My paintings are interpretations of the horizon as well as memories of places I've been," says the artist, 49, who transitioned away from a marketing career. "They're about nature, landscapes and color — a blend of abstract and realistic ele- ments." Painting started eight years ago as a hobby for Levy, who taught him- self after shopping for materials. He applies acrylic and metallic colors using a palette knife on canvas. Artistry has been his full-time profession for six years, and he travels to 12 fairs each year while being represented by gal- leries in New York, Pennsylvania and Colorado. His base became Virginia after corporate marketing moved him away from Indiana. "I also work with designers on commission," Levy says. "My paint- ings can be seen in businesses, government buildings and hotels. My work is all about colors that are pleasing, harmonious and tranquil, and the paintings are all originals. When I don't feel creative, I focus on the framing." SYMBOLIC JUDAICA Patrick Meyer, also showing work in the South University Art Fair, spent his early years in France, where he received intensive artis- tic training, but he moved to the United States for commercial opportunities. His multi-media arts & life f a i r s Ann Arbor Art Fair unites four fairs into one favorite summertime event. details The four fairs making up the Ann Arbor Summer Art Fair run Thursday-Sunday, July 21-24, along city streets. Theannarborartfair.com. Four Fantastic Fairs Suzanne Chessler | Contributing Writer Belts by Patrick Meyer Allen Levy's Destiny II, acrylic with gloss varnish on canvas After the Rain by Allen Levy