It's that time of year again, when people flood the Minnesota State Fairgrounds in search of fun, food and air-conditioned spaces because of record-breaking heat.
At the fair's annual art exhibition, expect to see a little of everything. A painting of someone's beloved cow, a paper quilling of a woman walking alongside a lion, and a bulldog sculpture made entirely of screws, hooks and nails are just some of the works you'll find.
This year the art show received 2,650 submissions, about 100 fewer than the record-breaking submission numbers in 2019.
Photographer Nathan Viste-Ross, who won a blue ribbon for his work at the 2010 show, has been visiting the State Fair's Fine Arts Exhibition since 1985. For him, the fair art show is different from the other art openings he goes to because everyone has work up, from famous professionals to hobbyists.
"Our jobs are why we live or how we live, but art is why we live," he said. "I've talked with farmers [at the fair] who said, 'This is what's really important in life.'
"There's an extraordinary range of them — the most surprising thing is how good the work of people who are just doing it because they love it [is]," he added.
As usual, photography submissions came in at the highest volume, with 951 entries and only 109 accepted. Photography judge Kristine Heykants, a digital media artist, said she was interested in work that "presents a unique perspective on life in Minnesota. The State Fair is also unique because it's just one picture. It's different than other shows where you're perhaps looking at a body of work from a particular photographer, or an artist and one or two pieces. … The image needs to stand on its own."
Here's our roundup of the top 10 artworks to see at the Minnesota State Fair art exhibition.
