Art News

Fair Art

A sampling of some of the State Fair’s greatest artwork

Erin Adair-Hodges and Sean McCullough

Quilting and sewing winners

You may go to the 2009 New Mexico State Fair for the chance to eat a giant turkey leg with a fried Twinkie chaser. You may stay for the opportunity to experience rides that will throw you backwards in a loop while blaring ’80s metal music in your ears. But don’t leave without exposing yourself to the art of the State Fair. The mind-bogglingly diverse work of people of all ages from all over the state—from the oil paintings of the Fine Arts Gallery to the LEGO dioramas in the Creative Arts Building—makes the fair one of the most exciting arts destinations of the year. I can’t think of another place where one can see traditional New Mexican inlay woodworking along with a giant Mr. Potato Head and sock puppets. Don’t miss out.

An extremely lifelike baby doll

A portrait of Frida Kahlo by Andreinne Weiss, third grader at Eugene Field Elementary

“Taped In,” metal sculpture by Bradley Gray

“Mr. Potato Head,” carved from a giant piece of wood, by Nicholas Smith

“Porcina,” some pig by Robin Riekeman

A clown knit of yarn and dreams

“If You Are What You Eat, You Are Awesome,” oil and acrylic by Kim Snitker

“Dragon Football” by Ciara Nevarez

A piece in tempura by Natalie Armijo of Robertson High School

LEGO Michael Jackson concert. Nine kinds of awesome.

Santa Fe Public Schools presents “Big Face Kitten”

“The Heart of the Big-I” by Herbert Norgorden

Tiny pre-human running in “Mammoth” by Doyle M. Dobbs

The 3-D intensity of “The Mail Order Bride” by Jimmie F. Swift

I dare you to look away from Steve Cowder’s “Stare”

Crocheted Virgen and teddy bear blankets by Lucy Sena and Lisa Ortiz.

Personally, my favorite piece of the fair.

Art is where you find it.