One silly thing--as we were waiting for our taco salads, Lorri mentioned that she thought we had just been on TV. I turned around to see a guy with a steadycam wandering around Treat Street, and then re-focused my attention on pending lunch. Later, on Facebook, I found out that it was Huell Howser's camera guy. Had I recognized him, I would have tried to insert myself into my second Huell Howser TV production (the first being a couple of years ago at a calligraphy conference in Pomona when I was actually interviewed by said HH). So funny given the great amusement I have had at his expense over many years. (Tom says, "Lightning does strike twice!")
Basically, I dragged poor Lorri around the fairgrounds at warp speed to make sure she didn't miss anything I liked. Well, we did have a sit-down for a few minutes to listen to a bluegrass band while eating our taco salads. Then it was zoom time. We'll see how awkwardly she avoids my gaze around fair time next year. I predict too many depositions to transcribe.
Day Three (Friday, Aug. 13)--I was focused on only one activity on Friday. I had signed up as one of the "plein air painters". "Plein Air" is just the official name of the art of painting scenes outdoors and not from photographs. All of the artsy stuff I've done in my life and I've never taken paints and paper or canvas outside to create a picture on the spot--one of the oldest and most basic forms of art there is. I felt it was my duty to try it out.
The deal is that all the artists report to the arts building at noon on Friday. Ideally, by then, one should have figured out exactly where to set up outside. I had been there since 10:30, walking and looking, and had not yet settled on a scene. Painters are to begin no earlier than 1pm and turn their work in no later than 4pm. At 12:30, I finally figured it out, set up, then watched the time on my phone creep by until it was legal to start.
Three hours might seem like a long time. For a sermon or a dental visit, it is. For a painting, well...I really wanted to go with colored pencils or pastels for speed, but wasn't sure about the rules, so I chose gouache, which is opaque watercolor (a little more forgiving than the transparent sort).
As for the scene, one of my favorite aspects of the fair is how they manage to cram all this wild fun zone equipment in amongst the trees without destroying either the trees or the equipment. There's also the crazy juxtaposition of bucolic nature tones and frenetic, cacophonous movement and artificial whoopie colors. Here's a shot of my stuff before I started, then a picture of my subject matter from the chair.
I started with quick pencil sketch, moving on to pen-and-ink rendering, and ended with the paint. Meanwhile, random folks and a series of carnie guys stopped by to chat about it all. By 3:30, I was throwing paint around in a frenzy. Of course, I didn't "finish". But, rules are rules, and I turned it in at 4 straight up. It turns out, there were only about 7 or 8 painters. Most, I learned, belong to a local plein air club: some encouraged me to join. Perhaps.
As for the results, only six people actually turned their pieces in to be judged. You can see the results in the photos. The big purple ribbon is "best in division", but the plein air contest was the only catergory in the division. So, sort of a two-for-one situation.
Moving on to:
Day Four (Sat., Aug. 14)--Saturday evening, we had signed up to help with the beer/wine concession, which is run as a fundraiser for Music in the Mountains. We arrived in enough time to get a bite to eat and see the results of the plein air competition. Then we cruised over to learn all the names of the kinds of beer and also how to pull a tap or pour a bottle without ending up with too much foam in the cup. I think we got pretty good at it! Tom, especially. He filled hundreds of 12-ounce cups most of the night (4 1/2 hours) and I served over a counter. It was fun and we enjoyed doing the "beer ballet" with the other 6 or 7 folks in cramped quarters as we all quickly ducked in and out of each others' pathways and arm movements with full cups and almost no spills. Who knew I would ever find myself slinging orders of Shock Top and Tumblr like a pro and having fun? We'll do it again next year. (Too busy for pics)
Last one:
Day Five (Sun., Aug. 15)--There was only one thing left to do: Make the enchiladas. I had signed up for one more competition, which was the last of the Special Food Contests. It was their first year to offer a Veggie Dish contest. I waffled a bit early in the afternoon, thinking I might just blow off the $2 entry fee and stay home, but decided to go ahead with it, anyway, in deference to the organizers.
I took my green cheese enchies over, all hot and bubbly, and set them on the tables near where my cheesecake had sat several days earlier. This recipe, which I've been making for many years, has a tomatillo/poblano-chile sauce over Mexican cheese/corn-tortilla enchiladas. I added spinach to the filling, this time, to make them even, well, greener. Only about 11 entries, this time. Better odds. It paid off with a second place ribbon and a nice "food scoop" (the winner was a deserving quiche with a nice smoked-mozzarella flavor). You know when you chop up a couple of tomatoes and need to get them into the bowl or pot? This scoop is the transportation. The SUV of scoops, actually. I already had a smaller one from IKEA and use it all the time. From now on, my veggies or shredded cheese will travel those few inches in style!One more year, living proof that the key to winning stuff at your local county fair is to move to a county with fewer than 100,000 residents.
And I was done. I bet you are, too.
