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Nearly 800 people registered to show crop art at the Minnesota State Fair, and 451 of them submitted their work. People use the art form to express everything from state pride and pop culture to political beliefs.
A lot of crop art this year referenced famous artworks from history like Van Gogh, Picasso, Botticelli and Vermeer. This could be influenced by the Minneapolis Institute of Art, which is hosting a crop art exhibition after the fair closes. A team from the museum will pick 10 pieces to showcase.
There’s lots of corn dogs, corn on the cob and even s’mores — and two tributes to Top the Tater. A few pieces mark the 100th anniversary of “The Great Gatsby,” by local author F. Scott Fitzgerald. Others show love for Minnesota landmarks like First Avenue, Hook and Ladder Theatre, Split Rock Lighthouse, Ely's Historic State Theatre and the painted dining room at Naniboujou Lodge.
There are several artworks dedicated to Melissa and Mark Hortman and their dog Gilbert who were killed in June.
“There’s always some political ones. But what I’m really seeing this year in the political ones is it is about memorializing Melissa Hortman and her family and her dog, that we are honoring someone who gave so much to Minnesota. I think that’s really lovely,” said Marta Shore, the assistant superintendent of crop art at the State Fair.
This year there were 798 crop art registrations (up from about 680 last year) and 451 submissions (up from 350 last year).
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