One of the most enduring traditions in the U.S. is undoubtedly the state fair. The very first was held in Syracuse, New York, in 1841, and throughout the mid-19th century, states launched their own unique takes. Some of the largest and busiest, such as those in Minnesota, Iowa, and Wisconsin, have been running just about as long as the states have existed. And it’s no coincidence that some of the most well known and beloved events, which usually take place in the late summer or early autumn, represent the nation’s agricultural heartlands.
The exhibition State Fairs: Growing American Craft at the Smithsonian American Art Museum’s Renwick Gallery celebrates the unique crafts and customs of these annual festivals. From cows sculpted out of butter and 4-H contests to seed art and crazy foods, ingenuity is as much a part of the tradition as showcasing time-honored farming practices, rural culture, industry, and of course, arts and crafts.
The Minnesota State Fair is particularly well known for its seed art, which consists of tableaux made entirely of grains and seeds that are cultivated in the state. Artists often translate famous artworks using a variety of crops, and portraits of celebrities are another popular subject. When submitted for consideration, artists must supply a “legend card” that demonstrates which seeds they used.
The Renwick Gallery show highlights more than 240 objects and artworks, from elaborate contemporary jewelry pieces to historic quilts to a rhinestone rodeo outfit. A contemporary mixed-media resin necklace by artist and jewelry designer Morgan Hill celebrates treats and pastimes, while a geometric weaving by Agueda Martínez (1898-2000) highlights the extraordinary craft of Southwest tapestry blanket weaving.
Growing American Craft is the first large-scale survey of state fair creativity of its kind, representing 43 states and Tribal Nations. “Ribbon-winning artworks and engaging craft demonstrations illuminate the lives of the artists—their families, memories, honors, and struggles,” the museum says.
Part of the show’s aim is to highlight the pride, resilience, and inventiveness of rural communities, dashing stereotypes in the process and illuminating how fairgrounds are woven into the social fabric of the U.S. Visitors encounter a wide range of unique interpretations of state fair events, such as a pyramid of more than 700 glass jars of preserved fruits and vegetables by canner extraordinaire Rod Zeitler.
Crops themselves take center stage in many of the works, including an elaborate sweetgrass basket by South Carolinian artist Corey Alston, who draws on the Gullah Geechee basket traditions to weave remarkably imaginative designs. And Justin Favela has also reimagined the palatial Rubenstein Grand Salon into an immersive space titled “Capilla de Maiz (Maize Chapel).” The walls are fringed with gold and piñata corncobs, tapping into the role of maize in America throughout several millennia.
State Fairs: Growing American Craft continues through September 7 in Washington, D.C. The Smithsonian has also produced a beautiful catalogue to accompany the show, which you can find on Bookshop.
McKissick Museum, University of South Carolina
