A Salute to State Fairs

State Fairs: Growing American Craft is the first exhibition dedicated to artists' contributions to the U.S. tradition. There are over 240 artworks, dating from the mid-19th century to the present.  

A must-see is a life-size butter cow, created on-site by Iowa State Fair's official butter sculptor, Sarah Pratt. It should also be interesting to view the size 96 boots worn by Big Tex from the State Fair of Texas, as well as Rod Zeitler's pyramid of 700 glass jars of preserved fruits and vegetables. While he's been a doctor for many years, Rod has also become a ribbon-winning ''canning superstar.''

The display opens on August 22 at the Smithsonian's Renwick Gallery in Washington, D.C., and runs through September 7, 2026.

A catalogue will be available to purchase at the museum's store or online.

For more, visit  

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