State Fairs features over 100 photos of extraordinary and unconventional crafts from state and tribal fairs, including needlework, basketry, ceramics, crop art, butter sculpture, Nordic Rosemaling, and Spanish Colonial embroidery. Essays trace the history of fair crafting from the 1840s to today, exploring how fairs connect communities, showcase women’s achievements, highlight Indigenous traditions, encourage youth participation, and more. From kitschy to tender, these crafts and the local and regional traditions behind them create a vibrant portrait of American culture. 

Learn more at Smithsonian Curator Mary Savig’s virtual author talk. Register at: https://libraryc.org/salinaspubliclibrary/160881