MN State Fair Sonnet - Day 12

Competition.

Doesn’t everyone want a blue ribbon? Even for the best food court.



I’ve submitted art to the State fair’s art show almost every year I’ve been in this state and only a handful of times have I ever gotten in.



I’ve never received a blue ribbon but it is an honor to have your work hanging for the teeming millions to admire. I don't always agree with the judges.



I didn't realize that the crop art winner this year was from Zambia. I have a hard enough time making the deadline and I live down the street from the fair.



From the Pioneer Press:

The story of how 22-year-old Obrien Shipeka's creation got here is almost as interesting as the picture itself: It involves U.S. government outreach, a portrait of President Barack Obama and a Web site dedicated to crop art.

"He's never been in Minnesota, never been in the United States. It's definitely the best piece of crop art in here," said Ron Kelsey, head of crop art contests at the Fair. "The fact that someone would send seed art from Africa and have it arrive in excellent condition, that is somewhat of a surprise."

Shipeka, contacted via e-mail, said the girl in the picture — titled "African Girl" — is his little sister. He spent a month working with millet seeds, roasting them in a hot pan to get the right colors.

He's one of the first to use the technique so extensively, Kelsey said.

"I have been working with seeds to create art for the past five years, since my high school days, with the help of my school art teachers," Shipeka said. "At the moment, I have no formal job, but I spend most of my time creating art through seeds."

The journey of "African Girl" started in Shipeka's hometown of Ndola, the second-largest city in Zambia. His art teacher and mentor there, Danny Chiyesu, read a U.S. Embassy newsletter about cultural outreach and programs.

He sent an e-mail to Sara Stealy, deputy public affairs officer, and attached a seed art portrait of President Barack Obama crafted by Shipeka.

"I was curious — and a little wary! — as I opened the attached photo," Stealy recalled in an e-mail to the Pioneer Press. "A seed mosaic of the president? But the quality completely blew me away, and I asked if I could see the mosaic in person."

Chiyesu journeyed to Lusaka, the capital city, with the picture.

"It was even more interesting in person, and I knew I had to have it!" Stealy said. As is custom in Zambia, Chiyesu asked her to make an offer for the work.

She talked with local contacts about a fair price and did some online research. That led her to cropart.com, a site run by perennial crop art competitor and Pioneer Press employee David Steinlicht.

"It's the magic of the World Wide Web," Steinlicht said. "Everything's out there; everything's available 24 hours a day."

At the site, Stealy saw that the Fair has an annual competition for crop art.

She told Chiyesu on Aug. 1 about the contest, assuming he'd have Shipeka send something in next year.

But Chiyesu's brother, who works at a printing house run by Franciscan friars in the capital, was able to send out "African Girl" by carrier service. The work made the mid-August entry deadline.

Chiyesu checked the Minnesota State Fair Web site for results frequently, but Internet service in Zambia can be spotty, so he didn't find out about Shipeka's win until Monday. Judges gave it the highest score of all 150 entries this year, based on artistic merit, craftsmanship and compliance with the rules. Entries are displayed in the Agriculture-Horticulture building on the Fairgrounds.

"My reaction when I found out about the Fair results was a shock. I hardly could believe it," Shipeka said.

He won $40 for best out-of-state entry and will get a plaque for taking the best-in-show ribbon.

It is fun to get recognition for your work whether it be art, baked goods, animals, crops or what have you. I guess even having the most popular fair food or product would get you a blue ribbon of sorts. I award my own best of show to the newest fair product, the winner - Go Girl. Now I can pee standing up (I have yet to try it.)

There were two outstanding food items the Pot Roast Sundae...



...and the Deep Fried Norwegian Banana Split.



Banana Split photo courtesy of Twin Cities Metromix. Thank you for for photographing all the new state fair food.

The fair is winding down and everyone has to pack up. You get the chance to sell your blue ribbon item or just savior the recognition. Every year, they show a kid with the prize winning animal, they’re auctioning it off and the kid is both happy and sad. It is bittersweet, the end of the fair, saying goodbye to your prized thing that you worked so hard on, and the end of summer.



One last thing I love to do is to watch the final talent show at the Grand stand. They show the cream of the crop (ha) you see them perform and then they announce the winners. You get to watch this all inside the grandstand - usually you have to have a ticket to be inside. It is the best place to watch the fireworks.



There’s the last fireworks show...



...the grand finale and you then go home.



One time, I was at the fair on the last day – the day started out hot and muggy – very summer like. Then it started raining and by the time I got home it was fall. I had to make a fire and eat soup because it had changed to fall in just a few hours. I can see that the weather will do that later in the week – the first cold and rainy days of the season are just ahead. Tomorrow- how to get through the rest of the unfair.

MN State Fair Sonnet - Day 11

Entertainment.
I have never paid to see a big name performance at the State fair. I don’t see many concerts any more. I guess it’s never appealed to me because there is so many free concerts to see at the fair.



Pat and I missed out on some of animal barns because they closed early but we did see the rodeo at the coliseum. There were kids roping calves and also Tommie Turvey, the Equine Extremist,

“With his unique acts and his own show stopping style, Tommie Turvey is the most exciting and versatile equine entertainer in the industry. Featuring roman riding, bridle-less riding, and comedy antics that are the hottest and freshest entertainment around.

Tommie did some weird stuff, made out with the horse, he was under the horse doing unnatural things to it besides messing with the horse’s tail, and he crept under a box while the horse was on top of it. The horse was good sport while Tommie sat on the horse’s stomach and moved it’s legs around. I wish the horse had kicked the guy in the nuts. Seriously, the horse was funnier than Tommie. Watch him fall off a horse – here

James and I were researching who and what would be playing and we saw this band Alpensterne at the Leinie lodge. This is the blurb I read, "

"Alpensterne is a musically diversified group performing some of Germany’s most loved folk songs with the yodeling of Jim Strehlke. Jim mastered the art of yodeling from one of Germany’s finest, Sepp Diepolder. Alpensterne likes to involve the crowd by playing “name that tune” on the 15-foot Swiss Alphorn.”

They were pretty good. It was at the Leinie lodge, you need to drink one of Leinie’s “iced teas” as the lead singer was doing. Or as James is doing:



One funny moment – the band is playing Amazing Grace. It’s very solemn and sweet and suddenly the music stops. The singer interrupts the song to ask someone walking past the stage what they were eating. The person had a huge stack of some fried thing and yet, didn’t know or remember what it was. I’ve never seen obvious people watching from a performer. While on stage.

We saw Billy McLaughlin at the Heritage Square after dark. I had heard him play guitar for a quick second on tv and thought it might be a good concert. It was.

Paul Cebar at the Summit stage sounded really good but Pat and I were hunting down Nikki who had lost her cell phone. Luckily when we called “mom” on the lost cell phone – mom was with Nikki at the fair. They were so happy to get the cell phone back.

On the last night of the fair, I try to see the winners of the talent show. Then when it’s done, you get to see the last fireworks show inside from the grandstand seating. It’s all about talent – tomorrow.

MN State Fair Sonnet - Day 10

Animals.

I’ve heard stories of city kids who had no idea where their food comes from. Pat told me about being in a vet class at U of M and a teacher told a story of a student raising her hand and asking, “Why do we have to kill animals when you can go to store and just buy meat?” I do know that all the cute animals at the fair might end up in my mouth.



I don’t get many chances to pet a sleepy Brown Swiss...



...or hear a barn full of lycra dressed sheep



...or see a bunch of chickens and roosters – some with crazy Tina Turner hair and some with hairy feet.





I don’t get how you get used to the smell of a pig barn. We liked that there were a bunch of pigs from one farm that had Vikings players and cheerleaders for their names. Is it payback for them signing on Brett Favre?



I've never seen a rat in a barn before - but one bored kid put a rubber one on a string and rigged it so he could drop it on unsuspecting victims. It was funny to watch.



Animals more on my level are at the Pet Center. We wanted to watch a dog do agility training but the trainer wanted to bore both the audience and the patient dog with explanations not demonstration. I hope that poor dog isn’t still sitting there waiting for the ball to be thrown.

Tomorrow I have a story about a comedy act that involved a horse and a guy and the horse was funnier than the human.

MN State Fair Sonnet - Day 9

Signs and graphic elements
Everyone knows how much I dig nearly any kind of sign or roadside attraction. I already posted two photos that are a compilations of my favorite neon fair signs. There are other graphic elements and signs around the fair that you might not notice.

In 1966, Fairchild the gopher became the official mascot of the State. Fairchild (a play on the institution’s title) got his name after a state-wide naming contest. It is also a tribute to Henry S. Fairchild, the man who suggested the Ramsey County Poor Farm become the permanent site of the State Fair



There's this hidden gem. Steichen's. It’s a cute little store hidden off the main drag and just covered in signs.



One of the world’s greatest fair signs promotes itself. I can’t speak for the product, but the sign rocks day and night. And spins.



Those Pronto Pup arrows (but not the stands) are sadly long gone and also some recording that used to tell you to "Get yourself a Pronto Pup"



Some of the buildings have some interesting elements inside and out – like the chickens on the poultry building:



the L’etoile du Nord the MN State seal:



And a wheat motif on the Horticulture building:



I am a big fan of the big wooden, art deco letters in the Horticulture building. The sign for crop art is art in itself.



These garbage cans are getting more and more scarce. I found these in the parking lot across from the fair.







I don’t know why but the arrows in the Creative Arts building remind me of Grandma’s basement shuffle board game. This way to the egress.

MN State Fair Sonnet - Day 8

Architecture.

One wouldn’t think about architecture at a state fair but there’s quite a variety at the MN State Fair. The Minnesota State Fair Foundation has this great walking tour of some of the buildings on the State Fairgrounds. Check out their brochure that include some of these buildings.

Starting with the oldest, the Fine Arts and Progress buildings were both built in 1907. Your art gets to be shown in an work of art. If you’re lucky enough to make the cut.

This cute yellow J.V. Bailey House was built in 1911 was formerly the Greenhouse Superintendent's Quarters. Now it's the home of the MN State Fair Foundation. I'm not sure how, but I want to live in it – they just did a big renovation and it looks beautiful. Wouldn't it be cool to live in the fairgrounds.














It is so hokey, but you have to take a ride on Ye Old Mill – built in 1913. In between looking at the displays you can make out with a loved one in the total darkness. Then go get some Tom Thumb mini donuts next door.



I so love the Ag Hort building built in 1947 – I love the Art Deco look of it both inside and out. And not only does the big tower light up at night, it changes color. How cool is that!



Some buildings aren’t necessarily architectural wonders, but I love them anyway – like the former Spaghetti Village - now Spamville. Goodbye bland Italian food and crappy pizza hello spicy and deep fried Spam.



There is the hideously 1970s Creative Arts building. Thanks MNHS:


Check out this site for more MN State Fair buildings. Tomorrow - graphic elements in the buildings I love.

MN State Fair Sonnet - Day 7

Klecko at Saint Agnes booth MN State Fair
Originally uploaded by Debora Drower

Education
It's funny to think of actually learning something at the fair. It should just be a big snack and go on ride show. There are quite a few learning opportunities – the DNR fish tank and DNR building is a big draw. There's a very Bell Museum kind of animal diorama in the DNR building. I love it. At Heritage Square you can watch a blacksmith and woodturner and learn about newspaper printing – to name a few things. There’s the Miracle of Birth building to see things being squeezed out by animals. And there’s a farm for the city kids. I kinda dig the Territorial Pioneers Museum (they don’t promote it well at the fair on the web) and the State fair history museums because they're old and dusty never change.

Some things are just soft selling products; the new Eco Experience building has all sorts of green stuff to learn about and also has sales reps on hand to sell you the recycled glass counter tops flooring and electric cars. Everyone’s gotta make a buck, somehow.

Long ago, there was a Betty Crocker demo kitchen in the Creative Activities building. It was great – women in aprons making stuff from mixes or canning. Pretty dry stuff. I have some of the recipe brochures they handed out. You wonder why it fell out of favor. Maybe because the core audience was dying out, literally. So Betty packed up and they needed new fresh talent to liven up the joint. They ask Klecko, master baker from Saint Agnes bakery because he knows everyone in the twin cities food biz. And his show is the best at the fair. I’ve even been a guest at his demo kitchen explaining to the crowd about ice cream trucks and novelties. Pictured is Klecko in the State fair demo kitchen.

MN State Fair Sonnet - Day 6

Food Art

Some people think way the Sweet Martha’s cookies are stacked in the paper cone, or the Jengaesque, pixie stix stack of French fries are works of art but that’s minor league.

Two of my favorite exhibits are things made with food. The crop art is the best. I have to make my self see the whole Hort Ag building before I allow myself the crop art. I will miss the queen herself, Lillian Colton, the grand champion of all crop art who died in 2007. She’d sit a folding table paitently glueing tiny seeds.
Shown are some 2008 political themed crop art entries.





Next on my list, are the butter heads at the Dairy Building. Princess Kay of the Milky Way; Minnesota's state dairy princess, gets her likeness carved in an 90 lb hunk of butter. The picture shown is of the sculptress and the Princess in the cooler. Linda Christensen has been carving the same heads (they all look the same to me minus the hair) for 38 years. The other booths in the dairy building pale in comparison but what they hey, I’ll add another Fleet Farm key ring to my collection.



The most bogus of all food exhibits is in the Bee Exhibit. I was reading the rules here; making a gift basket with assorted items made with honey.



Or a collection of honey pots or collectibles:



Or should we call it shit I bought at the store or a garage sale. I call no way. Only a few of the entries are actual items people craft instead of buying.

No matter what the skill or bogus level, I love them all.

MN State Fair Sonnet - Day 5

I get seasick really easily, so I don’t go on many rides. I am a big fan of the Ferris wheel and the new freak show and uh um not much else. But I do love them. I love the neon and the loud music and the crowd. I walk the whole length of the midway admiring all the craziness. One year, I wanted to shoot all the neon in the midway, so went home, waiting until dark and brought my camera. I was apprehensive being alone at the fair with a big expensive camera. Somehow being behind the lens of my camera protected me, and I wasn’t really there, I was documenting but not really there – I’ve heard other photographers talk about that same feeling of not really being there if you have a camera.

MN State Fair Sonnet - Day 4

Hucksters...
...Or anyone selling anything. Nearly every radio station and TV station has a booth at the fair. I am such a sucker for the newscasts at the fair because they’ll feature a new booth or new food. I may just have to get a Dole Whip this year just because Don and Amelia (of WCCO) love them. I miss the KLBB booth next to the roasted corn stand. We would get corn and listen to corny old music. My favorite KLBB moment was when a young hip intern, Brad Savage, was on the air some quiet weekend. All he said was, “I got two turntables and a microphone.” I was probably the only person listening who got the reference. We would tell our stories (like me taping the Super Saver show to send to a friend) to the lackeys running the KLBB booth and purchase all the souvenir crap they had.

I have dragged countless friends and relatives to the Chef Harvey booth for the same spiel. It’s the same guy, same spiel – although I can tell the regular guy sits out much more these days. The Ginzu knife guy, Sushi, Vitamix and anyone in the Grandstand is B list for me. But I still love them.

I've bought and really use a: broom, Micro fiber mop, sprinkler, matt cutter Swiss Peeler, German towel and much more. I love buying the newest gadget at the fair, because for the rest of the year (the unfair – like an unbirthday) I get to savior and play with the item until it because fair time again.

MN State Fair Sonnet - Day 3

This year’s crop (ha!) of new foods doesn’t look all that great. It’s all things done with potatoes – a Pot Roast Sundae; a scoop of mashed potatoes, roast beef, gravy, corn, and cherry tomato. Fry Dogs; a French fry covered, deep fried hot dog on-a-stick and a Tornado Potato; a spiral cut potato on-a-stick. Bogus!

Last year, it was a bacon fest, maple bacon, chocolate dipped bacon. Oh good, I loved them both so much, I ordered them multiple times. I can remember the year Pork chop on a stick débuted and the deep fried candy bar (which you have to get fresh and hot or forget it) and then the deep fried twinkie. Since you can go online and read about the new foods, I make up my own list of what and where and bring it with me. Like a shopping list.

MN State Fair Sonnet - Day 2

The food. You walk in the fair and you are immediately enveloped in a cloud of grease, chocolate and who knows what. There are some old school foods that scream state fair – cheese curds, foot long hot dogs, Pronto pups and cotton candy. Here’s what I don’t understand. There are people that go nuts over the fries at the fair. Plain old French fries. You can get French fries anywhere. And while I am a fan of Sweet Martha’s cookies, they are warm chocolate chip cookies but you can even buy them frozen and make them in your own oven. But hey, to each their own. My rule is, if I can’t make it home or get it at a restaurant, I’ll get it at the fair – mini donuts, corn dogs or what ever is new. New foods – tomorrow.

MN State Fair Sonnet - Day 1

State Fair Shadow Box
Originally uploaded by Debora Drower

I love the MN State fair because it’s like going to another world. A world of never ending happiness, you can always see the sun day day day or night night… oh wait. It does seem like you leave your world behind when you enter the state fair. The very first time I went, I was with a cynical friend who wanted me to hate it along with him. And I tried, but I couldn’t. I loved and love the State fair. All of it. Now I attend the fair with like minded friends who love it along with me. I’m going to write sonnet to fair every day to prove my love. And I'm going to dig up more photos of the fair. This is a shadow box I show at art fairs of all my fave things at the fair.

Happy Birthday, Amy Louise

Amy modeling
Originally uploaded by Debora Drower

Fuck you, you fucking fucker. And I mean that with all the love in my heart. (We said that to each other all the time - not mean but in jest.)

You know, we should be in Lake Nebagamon (the bag man - what?) You staying at the city campground and me at the B&B. I could sneak you and Todd muffins and coffee - Then in a canoe on the Brule and me eating big hunks of cheese. I'd bring the Cub Foods white birthday cake that we'd eat the picnic table by your tent. We could go to the Iron River Blueberry festival and get blueberry sausage and cheap blue sunglasses.

I miss you and I'll have a Captain and coke in your honor.

Running away

Dear everyone, I am running away.

I am going to a small town with really great neon signs - like the one in the movie, "Cars." I am never coming home. Unless I get hungry for the Edy's Slow Churned ice cream I have in the freezer.

love,
Debora

Powderhorn Art Fair this weekend!

Jolly Green Giant Shadow Box
Originally uploaded by Debora Drower

Come this guy and much much more at the Powderhorn Art Fair in Minneapolis, MN
on August 8th 10am - 6pm
and August 9th 10am - 5 pm.

Kinko

kinkos
Originally uploaded by labanex.com

More favorite things.

Maybe they changed the Kinko's logo because the "O" looked like a toilet seat.

I wish I had a cool indie copy shop that could match Kinko's prices, the credit card reader and being open 24/7. Ah well. Besides, it brings back the days of type class and endless copying, pasting stating and waxing with Carrie.

I just recently used the online print deal thing on Kinkos. That shit is pretty cool. I uploaded a PDF then drove over and picked up 30 folded, collated newsletters. I usually would print out junk on my inkjet and then copy it. This time, the photos weren't just grey boxes. Rock and roll! I do always sing this old sick song when I go there.

Maybe they'll change the song to FedEx the kid loving clown. Probably not.

Few of my favorite things

Izzy's Ice Cream
Originally uploaded by kaszeta

When I get sick, I get mean. I feel yucky and I want you to feel just as yucky as me. There, the truth. But if I can stay positive, maybe I won't be such a crab.

Last weekend, a few of my Hour Dollars friends asked if I wanted to go to Izzy's Ice Cream in St Paul. I was preparing to order just one scoop. That lil tiny scoop is the Izzy. It would be a big and little scoop. I had my flavors narrowed down. Vicki told me you can get 5 little Izzy scoops in a cup - a Dizzy Izzy. Oh lord. I had the Salted Caramel, the Hot (something) Sugar, the Pirate, Mexican Hot Chocolate and Midnight Snack. I wish they listed all the flavors and descriptions on their web page. Either way. I had 5 tiny flavors of ice cream. Heaven!

Harris Brick Building, Minneapolis, MN

Harris Brick Building, Minneapolis, MN
Originally uploaded by Debora Drower

I drove past this area tonight because I was at Magus books in Dinkytown. I decided to stop and take a walk around. The old mills, empty lots and the Intercampus Transitway make for an interesting walk.

Ride Like the Wind

Ride Like the Wind
Originally uploaded by -Dons

I wish I could decorate my bike and ride in some 4th of July parade. I wish I could go on a picnic or the beach then watch the Dyke Stadium fireworks from the HiLo parking lot in Evanston, IL. I wish I could be sent to bed even while kids are outside setting off small fireworks. I want to be 7.