When it comes to creating commemorative art for the Minnesota State Fair, artists from the east metro apparently have what it takes to please the eye. Or at least a panel of judges.
Steve Thomas of Lino Lakes will design the art that will appear on posters, limited-edition prints, T-shirts and other memorabilia that will be sold at the 2011 Great Minnesota Get Together. His handiwork will be unveiled in June and displayed in the Fine Arts Center during this year's fair, which runs Aug. 25-Sept. 5.
Thomas was chosen from more than 77 other artists who turned in proposals after fair officials put out the call for submissions. His selection adds to the string of artists from the eastern suburbs who have been tapped to design the official artistic interpretation for the State Fair. Last year's artist was Deborah Voyda Rogers of White Bear Lake, and Edie Abnet of Stillwater had the honors in 2008.
"It's exciting," Thomas said after he learned of his selection a few weeks ago. "There was some pretty stiff competition and diverse styles."
Fair officials announced his selection on Feb. 1.
This was the first time artists could submit work. For the past seven years, State Fair staff hand-picked the artist to create its commemorative art. This year officials wanted to have a wider range of artists and media to choose from, and advertised the opportunity to artists statewide, said Brienna Schuette, a fair spokeswoman.
That made it a bit tougher to pick this year's winner, Schuette said, but in the end Thomas' visual representation that presented a nostalgic yet current look at the fair "was the best fit."
Thomas, whose work is heavily influenced by pulp and poster art from the early- to mid-20th century, created a travel poster featuring the fair's iconic landmarks along with bold colors and text. He based his work on photographs he took while attending the 2010 fair, but he was not allowed to elaborate further, he said.
