Beginning August 26, 2024, the South Texas College Pecan Campus Library will present State Fair, an exhibition produced by the Dolph Briscoe Center for American History at The University of Texas at Austin, presented in partnership with Humanities Texas, the state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities.
“State Fair” is a visual distillation of Arthur Grace’s photographic odyssey through fairs in ten states—California, Colorado, Florida, Indiana, Kansas, Minnesota, North Carolina, Ohio, Texas, and Virginia. Time and again, regardless of geographical location, Grace’s images deftly capture the strange mixture of the traditional, the kitsch, and the off-the-wall that is unique to these annual gatherings, which began as a celebration of rural American life and have evolved into super-sized extravaganzas. Whether the photographs show the beaming pride of 4-H egg champions, the intensity of a tattooed arm wrestler, or a forlorn alligator waiting to be “wrestled” in a wading pool, the authenticity of Grace’s imagery is unmistakable.
There will be a reception on Sept. 23, from 5 – 7 p.m. at the STC Pecan Campus Library.
The exhibition will be available to the public from August 26 to October 2, 2024. For more information about viewing hours or to arrange group visits, contact Gina Otvos, Coordinator of Library Art Galleries at (956) 872-3488.
Humanities Texas develops and supports diverse programs across the state, including lectures, oral history projects, teacher institutes, museum exhibitions and documentary films. For more information, please visit Humanities Texas online at http://www.humanitiestexas.org or call 512.440.1991.
South Texas College Library Services contributes to academic success at South Texas College by providing learning-centered environments, exceptional services, and high-quality information resources.
