RSS
Home
State Fair Fine Art: a traditionally well-executed oxymoron falls short
Print
Email
RSS
Subscribe
Fine Arts Building, Minnesota State Fair, 2009
Are you going back to the Fair on its last day? The Fine Arts Center on Randall and Cosgrove presents a mediocre sampling of the arts in Minnesota. Why is it that the Fine Arts exhibit falls short on celebrating the progressive and diverse arts communities that flourish in all corners of our state?
Low brow is one thing, but the majority of the art found in the State Fair's Fine Art building is just simply uninspired.
Of course the Fair is known for its wonderfully sinful food, proud and stinky animal barns, and seemingly never-ending people watching. Every year, hopes are high that as much excitement will be felt in the Fine Arts exhibit as trying out the new chocolate-covered-whatever-on-a-stick.
This year, many of the pieces in the show were excellently completed. Skill and proficiency are a common theme throughout the vast majority of the show. Naturally, lovely painted pastoral landscapes, photo-quality charcoal drawings, images of flowers and still lives fill the walls. But something is missing.
It would be unfair deny that any interesting pieces exist in this show. There are many. For one, Alison M. Regan's "Minnesota Nice" pillow stands out as a rare gem midway through the exhibition. Her pillow creates a conceptual and psychological work that hits on the darker sides of the Minnesotan personality.
If you come to the Fair to seek inspiration, cultural criticism, or cynicism, it might be challenging to find in the Fine Arts Building. However, the poultry barn has lots of interesting and funny chickens that are incredibly more engaging.
Related Articles:
Add a Comment
