tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4073789.post115689285631650641..comments2024-02-23T20:05:42.671-06:00Comments on Eyeteeth: Incisive ideas: Agitcrop! Political Art of the Minnesota State FairUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4073789.post-1157048502924404962006-08-31T13:21:00.000-05:002006-08-31T13:21:00.000-05:00AGIT-CROP!! That's the best thing I've heard in a...AGIT-CROP!! That's the best thing I've heard in a long time! I love this art form and can't wait to see this year's selection in real life--its the highlight of the MN State Fair for me (besides "The Old Mill Stream Log Ride" of course). Crop Art combines elements which make up my own midwestern aesthetic: Humor, assemblage, homeliness (in the old-fashioned use of this word--i.e. of the home), born of local objects at-hand, narrative, text and texture, recalling our agrarian roots, a subtle use of color variance, impermanancy (the colors will fade), tradition, and all existing somewhere along the kitsch vs. high art continuum! I especially love Laura Melnick's creative visual puns and twists that pack a punch, allthewhile still making you smile, regardless of your political beliefs. (Although that's just a guess--I happen to be aligned with her political beliefs as far as I can tell, so I guess I really can't make that claim...). But I think the best part about crop art as "agit-crop" is its elemental familiarity and gentleness--we can't be afraid of the lowly spit pea--and so, this lowers one's guard and allows the viewer to be open to the idea expressed. It's not an in your face protest--the mere process takes HOURS--and therefore I believe it is much more effective. And fun. And who can argue with that. Congrats to all of you who got your pieces finished in time. I vow to have one in next year's show--so I better get to work.Maria Bianchihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10777747211385138624noreply@blogger.com