Food as Art

     Sometimes food becomes the medium for a work of art.  That is certainly the case in the Dairy Building at the Minnesota State Fair.  Each year a Dairy Queen is named, along with her court of Princesses.  Tradition has it that for the 12 days of the fair they assume the title of "Princess Kay of the Milky Way." 

 

     And another long standing tradition is that their likenesses are carved from a 90 pound block of butter.  The "butterheads" are carved by an artist in public view in a rotating studio with a brisk interior temperature of 40 degrees to prevent the butter from melting. 

 

It is a daunting challenge for both the artist and the subject as they are bundled up to keep warm while the sculpture takes shape.  It is always a major attraction as thousands of fair goers stop by to view the work in progress.

 

    









The finished works are then displayed around the perimeter of the interior of the cold storage rotating studio.  Take a look at the hometown of one of this year's Dairy Princesses!