From Barbie to Snoop, artists shape seeds into Minnesota State Fair favorites
Seeds used by crop artist Liz Schreiber sit in mason jar lids at her demonstration table in the Horticulture Building at the Minnesota State Fair on Thursday.
Ben Hovland | MPR News
Go Deeper.
Create an account or log in to save stories.
Like this?
Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.
The crop art exhibit at the Minnesota State Fair has become a must-see. This year has already seen long lines of people winding through the Agriculture Building and waiting to get an up-close view of the intricate art made from seeds.
MPR News host Cathy Wurzer talked with MPR News reporter Melissa Olson about this year’s bumper crop of artworks.
Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation.
Subscribe to the Minnesota Now podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.
We attempt to make transcripts for Minnesota Now available the next business day after a broadcast. When ready they will appear here.
Turn Up Your Support
MPR News helps you turn down the noise and build shared understanding. Turn up your support for this public resource and keep trusted journalism accessible to all.
Audio transcript
CATHY WURZER: OK speaking of the state fair, the Crop Art exhibit at the fair has become a must-see. There have been long lines of people winding through the Ag Hort Building waiting to get an up close view of the intricate art made from seeds. Melissa Olson is a reporter at MPR. She joins us now to talk about this year's bumper crop of artworks. I had to say that, Melissa. How are you?
MELISSA OLSON: I'm good. How are you, Cathy?
CATHY WURZER: Good. Thanks for being here. So I understand the state fair's commemorative art is created by a crop artist. Tell us more about that.
MELISSA OLSON: Veteran crop artist Liz Schreiber describes crop art as a mosaic of seeds. This year, Schreiber has created commemorative art for the state fair. Her piece, which features a Guernsey cow, incorporates lots of state fair iconography-- ears of corn, vintage tractors, stars and ribbons. All images of the fair she says she just loves.
Her commemorative work for this year's fair is exhibited in the Fine Arts Center and can be seen on posters all around the fair. I talked with Liz just after she finished her demonstration on the first day of the fair. And what's just incredible is that she creates many of her works using a toothpick and Elmer's glue. I talked with her a little bit about what she likes about seeds as a medium.
LIZ SCHREIBER: It's very meditative. And it's kind of like doing a puzzle. You get into it and then you kind of become obsessed for a while. You have to kind of keep anticipating parts being done. And it's-- I like the challenge of trying to make something look like someone or something, three-dimensional, you know.
MELISSA OLSON: Another familiar face at the fair, Superintendent of Crop Arts Ron Kelsey was honored earlier this year as a life member by the Minnesota State Agricultural Society, the governing-- the governing body of the fair. This will be Ron Kelsey's 75th year at the fair.
And if you're at the Crop Art exhibit, Ron is almost sure to be nearby educating fairgoers about Minnesota seed. He's got such great stories to share. His collection of 1,400 vintage cloth seed bags are sort of a visual history of Minnesota farming.
CATHY WURZER: I love the vintage cloth seed bags. I think they're pretty cool. Tell us more about this year's Crop Arts exhibit and the competition itself.
MELISSA OLSON: I visited the Crop Arts exhibit on the first day of the fair. The line was trailing out the door of the hall. It's estimated that over 200,000 people visit the Crop Art exhibit each year. And like years past, there are hundreds of entrants into the competition in over two dozen categories.
One of the important rules of the competition requires artists to use only seeds native to Minnesota. But that's hardly a limitation when considering the breadth of artwork on display. Visitors see everything from portraits of celebrities and politicians to landscapes and three-dimensional art pieces.
CATHY WURZER: There are some pretty interesting entries. Did you have any favorites this year?
MELISSA OLSON: Well, I totally hope that everyone takes the opportunity to visit the Crop Arts exhibit. And yes, I did have some favorites and noticed some themes. Lots of good puns on seed art. I laughed out loud at the portrait of rapper Snoop Dogg that tells viewers to "crop it like it's hot." I also liked a 3D work that commemorates the 50th anniversary of the first cell phone call.
And there are several beautiful pieces paying tribute to the late comedian Paul Reubens and his character, Pee Wee Herman. There are several takes on Barbie. There are lots of cheeky pieces, one by our state auditor Julie Blaha, who asks people to join her in her role as state beancounter by guessing how many beans and seeds she's used to create her crop art piece. So lots of fun and lots to see and enjoy at this year's Crop Arts exhibit.
CATHY WURZER: I love the fact that Liz said that she looks at this as like a mosaic with seeds. You know? Like, I like that visual. You wouldn't ever try this, would you?
MELISSA OLSON: I would love to try this, actually. I just admire the fact that they do this with a toothpick and Elmer's glue. It does seem so, so meditative, requiring lots of concentration.
CATHY WURZER: Well, if you do it, I'll do it. How does that sound?
MELISSA OLSON: Absolutely.
CATHY WURZER: We'll do it together. OK, Melissa, thank you so much.
MELISSA OLSON: You're welcome, Cathy.
CATHY WURZER: Melissa Olson is a reporter for MPR News. By the way, we're going to have a story on our website later today where you can see some photos of the amazing Crop Art entries this year.
MELISSA OLSON: I'm good. How are you, Cathy?
CATHY WURZER: Good. Thanks for being here. So I understand the state fair's commemorative art is created by a crop artist. Tell us more about that.
MELISSA OLSON: Veteran crop artist Liz Schreiber describes crop art as a mosaic of seeds. This year, Schreiber has created commemorative art for the state fair. Her piece, which features a Guernsey cow, incorporates lots of state fair iconography-- ears of corn, vintage tractors, stars and ribbons. All images of the fair she says she just loves.
Her commemorative work for this year's fair is exhibited in the Fine Arts Center and can be seen on posters all around the fair. I talked with Liz just after she finished her demonstration on the first day of the fair. And what's just incredible is that she creates many of her works using a toothpick and Elmer's glue. I talked with her a little bit about what she likes about seeds as a medium.
LIZ SCHREIBER: It's very meditative. And it's kind of like doing a puzzle. You get into it and then you kind of become obsessed for a while. You have to kind of keep anticipating parts being done. And it's-- I like the challenge of trying to make something look like someone or something, three-dimensional, you know.
MELISSA OLSON: Another familiar face at the fair, Superintendent of Crop Arts Ron Kelsey was honored earlier this year as a life member by the Minnesota State Agricultural Society, the governing-- the governing body of the fair. This will be Ron Kelsey's 75th year at the fair.
And if you're at the Crop Art exhibit, Ron is almost sure to be nearby educating fairgoers about Minnesota seed. He's got such great stories to share. His collection of 1,400 vintage cloth seed bags are sort of a visual history of Minnesota farming.
CATHY WURZER: I love the vintage cloth seed bags. I think they're pretty cool. Tell us more about this year's Crop Arts exhibit and the competition itself.
MELISSA OLSON: I visited the Crop Arts exhibit on the first day of the fair. The line was trailing out the door of the hall. It's estimated that over 200,000 people visit the Crop Art exhibit each year. And like years past, there are hundreds of entrants into the competition in over two dozen categories.
One of the important rules of the competition requires artists to use only seeds native to Minnesota. But that's hardly a limitation when considering the breadth of artwork on display. Visitors see everything from portraits of celebrities and politicians to landscapes and three-dimensional art pieces.
CATHY WURZER: There are some pretty interesting entries. Did you have any favorites this year?
MELISSA OLSON: Well, I totally hope that everyone takes the opportunity to visit the Crop Arts exhibit. And yes, I did have some favorites and noticed some themes. Lots of good puns on seed art. I laughed out loud at the portrait of rapper Snoop Dogg that tells viewers to "crop it like it's hot." I also liked a 3D work that commemorates the 50th anniversary of the first cell phone call.
And there are several beautiful pieces paying tribute to the late comedian Paul Reubens and his character, Pee Wee Herman. There are several takes on Barbie. There are lots of cheeky pieces, one by our state auditor Julie Blaha, who asks people to join her in her role as state beancounter by guessing how many beans and seeds she's used to create her crop art piece. So lots of fun and lots to see and enjoy at this year's Crop Arts exhibit.
CATHY WURZER: I love the fact that Liz said that she looks at this as like a mosaic with seeds. You know? Like, I like that visual. You wouldn't ever try this, would you?
MELISSA OLSON: I would love to try this, actually. I just admire the fact that they do this with a toothpick and Elmer's glue. It does seem so, so meditative, requiring lots of concentration.
CATHY WURZER: Well, if you do it, I'll do it. How does that sound?
MELISSA OLSON: Absolutely.
CATHY WURZER: We'll do it together. OK, Melissa, thank you so much.
MELISSA OLSON: You're welcome, Cathy.
CATHY WURZER: Melissa Olson is a reporter for MPR News. By the way, we're going to have a story on our website later today where you can see some photos of the amazing Crop Art entries this year.
Download transcript (PDF)
Transcription services provided by 3Play Media.