I do believe that the general idea behind any kind of submission of one's work to a county fair exhibit is the implication that this is what folks in this community have been up to since the last fair, a year prior--preserves, quilts, artwork, animal-raising. Most people grow what they preserve. Most quilts take more than a day. These things take time.
For me, especially this year, it was all about what I'd been doing, oh, say, last week.
I'm not exactly certain why I just can't do my thing all year, then leisurely pick a few samples of my continuous, ongoing effort in specific areas.
My style seems to hinge more on how crazy I can make my life. On Sunday, July 24th (last possible day, of course), I went online and listed a bunch of items that I thought it would be fun to offer for judging at this year's Nevada County Fair. I chose various examples of my work--none of which I had actually even begun at that point, 10 days before turn-in day. I guess it would have been more appropriate to check the box next to "work I would really like to start and finish". The extra little joke I played on myself was that I somehow had gotten the submission date wrong, and it turned out to be a day earlier than I'd planned (if you can call that "planning")--Thursday, August 4th.
That's just how I roll, as they say.
Inevitably, there were a few casualties along the way. Plus, it would be difficult to call any of the pieces exactly a crowning achievement of the last twelve months.
I signed up to exhibit seven creations--a calligraphy, a pastel, a basket, a cartoon, and an appliqued wallhanging to be judged before the Fair began (which is this Wednesday). A cheesecake and a batch of salsa are to be made and judged same day. "Simplify" was my rallying cry! I thought I could do it all.
The calligraphy was a Victor Hugo quote about music I'd wanted to do for some time. I kinda knew how I wanted it to look. Three attempts later, along with various technical difficulties (fussy pens, non-sticky tape for paper-stretching, etc.), I ended up with something entirely other. Fine, but definitely other.
I cut the pastel paper in half to make it a more likely survivor. Pastel is newish to me, and I'm still trying to find my voice with it. Every piece is highly experimental. I'm not so sure that what I ended up with is what I want to say. But it was fun and I learned a bunch. That counts, right?
In this photo, you can see three attempts at the Hugo quote (two unfinished) and one rather intense version of my neighbor's front yard in pastel.
I only work on baskets in the evenings for a couple hours at a time. And I haven't finished even one in the last year. I have a mostly-made one from last summer, but a cord in the tenerif snapped and, well, never mind. So, I started a new fifty-plus-hour job with only about 15-20 hours available. It's a small basket.
You can see how far I got with the wallhanging. I will finish it. Later.
And I just forgot about the cartoon, which was supposed to be a picture of a miner having fun at the Fair. Since they are using my drawing of a miner on all the promotional materials this year, I thought I might just do well on this one. At the top of the page, that's a picture of the posters we're seeing all over town these days, by the by. Fun!
As for the two food items, well, I had some fun with some last year. I got a second place with my enchiladas, so I thought I'd give the cheesecake category another try (Wed night's competition) and whip up a batch of salsa cruda (Fri).
The Fair begins on Wednesday. It goes until Sunday--five days. I'll probably go over there every day for at least a little while. Because of having had my drawing chosen for the Fair Logo, I get free tickets, parking and rides. Yeah, I'll be over there a lot, flashing my VIP parking pass.
And I'll visit my little pieces, now and again and vow that next year will be different! Yup, the Fair is in the air!!
