State Fair (Photographs by Arthur Grace)

State Fair (Photographs by Arthur Grace) is a visual distillation of photojournalist Arthur Grace’s 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. You can almost hear the shouts from the midway, smell the animals in the barns, and taste the cherry pie.

Sure to bring back vivid memories for anyone who has ever attended a state fair, and bound to entice the uninitiated, State Fair reminds us how much we still crave real experiences beyond the fantasies we see on our computer, TV, and movie screens. It shows that, far from being an anachronism in the twenty-first century, state fairs are a vital, living tradition throughout America.

State Fair (Photographs by Arthur Grace) was created by the Dolph Briscoe Center for American History at The University of Texas at Austin, presented in partnership with Humanities Texas.

Gallery Hours: Tues-Sat from noon to 5PM
Irving Arts Center’s galleries are open for viewing free of charge during regular gallery hours Tuesday through Saturday from noon to 5 PM.