09/02/2026
Ever wonder who’s behind the scenes of the Street Art Encounter?
While the artists are the ones taking over the streets and creating incredible masterpieces before our eyes, there’s a whole team working behind the scenes to make it happen.
Here are just a few of the faces helping bring this event to life:
John Vasquez isn’t just one of our featured artists — he’s also one of our event organizers. John plays an important role in helping select the artists who participate, helping us create a well-rounded mix of talent, styles, and creativity. With artists working on a tight timeline, choosing the right mix of talent is key to creating the incredible masterpieces you’ll see come together in just a few short hours.
Nate Masters is the designer and builder behind the double-sided walls our artists paint on during the Street Art Encounter. A local general contractor and owner of Nathan J Masters with a specialty in woodworking, Nate brings his craftsmanship and creativity to the event long before the first brushstroke hits the wall.
Craig Schafer, owner of Schafer Painting , teamed up with Nate to build and paint the walls, getting them ready for our artists to transform into works of art. Their work is a perfect example of the many hands that help make this event possible.
Ashley, our Executive Director of the Main Street Area Association, is the person helping bring the Street Art Encounter to downtown Main Street. She handles the less-sexy-but-oh-so-important side of the show — operations, logistics, planning, and all the details that keep everything flowing. Her goal is to make sure the energy of the event matches the energy of downtown Ann Arbor while creating a space where people can come together and celebrate what makes our community so special.
The art may be what catches your eye, but it takes a whole community to make an event like this happen. We’re incredibly grateful for everyone working behind the scenes to bring the Street Art Encounter to life!
Take a listen to our latest episode on the Lucy Ann Lance show to learn more about how it all comes together.