While at the State Fair

This year being the centennial State Fair Art Exhibition, the organizers said it aimed to represent the highest quality of MN art.

There are two pieces with SW connections in the state fair art exhibition in the next 12 days.

Lydia Bickal who just graduated last spring has a paper sculpture piece in this show. First, it's very unusual and rare for high school student to have work accepted in this exhibition. Secondly, the sculpture category is always more competitive ( even U of MN professors had rejections) and rarely has any works that are folk artsy. This is not the case in the painting/drawing categories where in most years, there are always a few pieces that makes you scratch you head. ( MN folk artsy nice?) Lydia's piece is actually a 3 year journey in the making- a rare focused development for teenagers.

The piece is in column 14 display area, on the left side when you walk in( you see red numbers high up on the display wall indicating the area of display. )

The second piece is by Larry Risser, a retired SW English teacher. Some of you older folks might remember Larry. He has a digital color photography in the column 12 display area.

It's inspiring and encouraging for all of us. Old dogs can learn new tricks as the saying goes. ( Actually Larry and I talked about photography even when he was busy teaching English; it had been a dream and goals of his for many years.)

Enjoy the state fair in the next 12 days and if you happen to be there, it's good to take in some beauty while eating junk food.

Ben Zhao,
Southwest Art Teacher