Palmer Park is a neighborhood on the rise and its third annual Palmer Park Art Fair is certainly proof.

The Palmer Park Art Fair started in 1976 and after a strong ten-year run it was retired as the neighborhood declined. Three years ago the nonprofit People for Palmer Park  and Integrity Shows brought back the show with a bang. It’s even better this year.

Ninety professional artists will sell their creative works in a Detroit park along Woodward Avenue on May 14-15. Check it out on Saturday from 10 am to 7 pm and Sunday from 11 am to 5 pm.

“We are thrilled with the quality of art in this year’s event.  We had almost 200 applications so we were able to be very choosy,” says Mark Loeb, the event coordinator. “At least three of our Detroit artists are represented in the DIA gift shop, and the out of state artists are every bit as good.”

You’ll find pieces from $10 to $4,000 … from mugs and sculptures, to paintings and gold jewelry.

“There is something for everyone and it all was approved by our jurors,” who are themselves fine artists, says Loeb.

And there’s more. The Detroit Institute of Arts will work with guests to create artistic musical instruments. The Live Coal Gallery will help make kites. On Saturday afternoon there will be a horn quartet from the Detroit Symphony in the beer tent. The beer tent raises money for People for Palmer Park and features Motor City Brewing Works beverages.

The show winds around the park’s lake and up to Detroit’s only Log Cabin, built in 1885.

Be sure to check out the 15 local teen artists from Mint Artists Guild of Detroit. Many are first-time artists who are still in high schools such as Cass Tech and Detroit School of Arts.

The Mint Artists Guild trains young artists in business and career strategies and teaches them how to showcase their art in fairs, workplaces, galleries, pop-ups at nonprofit events and more. They are selected by a jury of professionals. These very talented young people then learn the building blocks of a creative career such as professionalism, planning, promotion, pricing, communication, and collaboration. They attend workshops and visit creative venues, work with corporate clients and gallery curators.

Last year one artist sold 60 pieces at the art fair.

Palmer Park art is also reflected in its annual limited edition poster. Only 100 copies are printed and signed.

This year’s poster was designed by artist Ronald Scarbough, who drew the 1977 art fair poster.

“Ron is an amazing Detroit artist whose career spans decades.  Both of his posters celebrate young energy and natural beauty,” Loeb says.

Last year’s poster, designed by Maria Petrenko,  earned a national award as “Best Art Fair Poster of the Year” for 2015 by Sunshine Artist Magazine.

“We are one of the few art fairs still producing a fine art poster,” Loeb says. “This goes back to the original premise of the event- the art comes first.”

There are a few copies of the 2014 and 2015 posters available.

Here is the basic information:

• Palmer Park Art Fair – Woodward between McNichols and Seven Mile
• May 14-15; Saturday 10 – 7 • Sunday 11 – 5
• Free Admission – Free Parking
• 90 juried artists from 15 states • 15 emerging artists • food & beer
• Partners include DIA and DSO

Palmer Park is located on Merrill Plaissance in Detroit’s North side.  Enter off of Woodward just north of McNichols and south of Seven Mile. For more information please go to PalmerParkArtFair.com.

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