The “Great Minnesota Get Together” aka the Minnesota State Fair, remains a special place in my heart since my wife brought me there on a date in 2011. I’m proud to be apart of the largest fine art exhibition in Minnesota in 2024, the 113th Fine Arts Exhibition with Juror Brett Kallusky (photography). I appreciate the support of Brett Kallusky for his time and energy in jurying the largest exhibition in the state. Also, special thanks to Jim Ross for the framing (Ross Frame Shop).
This photograph remains special to me, as it is the same county fair which served as the summer highlight for my mother-in-law. The Mahnomen County fair remains the oldest and smallest county fair in Minnesota, and the barn pictured was designed by Cass Gilbert, the same architect as the Minnesota Capitol building in Saint Paul.
After weeks of planning, a mural-sized photograph was produced on June 30, 2023 at the Mahnomen County Fair— a summer highlight for many agricultural youth in the region. This photograph included over 75 participants from the community— including over a 25 members of the White Earth Nation— which agreed to serve as reciprocal, active participants in the photographic process.
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Juror's Statement:
"I spent nine hours reviewing 939 submissions with the task of narrowing them down to 112 accepted works. When reviewing the submitted photographs for the MN State Fair Fine Arts Exhibition I found it relatively easy to pick the strongest, initially. Those were photographs with thoughtful compositions, excellent technical skills in terms of color balance or tonal range, lighting, and compelling content. It was relatively easy to reject the works that lacked those qualities too. I spent the most time digging into the last 40 accepted photographs.”
About The Last Fair series
After the Ramsey County Fair in St. Paul, Minnesota was canceled in 2021, I asked fairgoers at other fairs what they would miss most if it were their last year. A common response was the 4-H animal shows, highlighting deep-rooted connections between communities and agriculture.
Rural communities in the U.S. are undergoing significant transformations, with the number of retiring farmers increasing while new farmers are on the decline in Minnesota. As a parent, I am troubled by what this means for the next generation’s understanding of farms, sustainability, and stewardship of the land, especially in the face of climate change. These worries, coupled with the dwindling interest in agriculture among children, motivate my artistic endeavors.
The shift from small family farms to large monoculture operations has had a profound effect on rural America, with county fairs being one of the casualties. Once a vibrant showcase of diverse livestock, some county fairs now see sparse entries in competitions once fierce. Despite diminishing appeal of county fairs to today's youth, these events remain crucial in passing on life lessons and agricultural traditions.
Drawing inspiration from the works of Dutch painter Pieter Bruegel and American folk artist Grandma Moses, I use a large format camera and studio lighting to capture the essence of contemporary agrarian practices at these remaining country fairs. Through the lens of “in-camera photography,” I aim to shed light on the evolving face of American farming and the importance of preserving its heritage.
