August 16, 2022
4-H Preparation for Visual Arts at the Kansas State Fair
As most of us are finishing up county fair, it is time to start prepping for the Kansas State Fair. This information should clarify the changes to the 4-H Visual Arts department that were made last year. As local units are preparing to send 4-H Visual Art exhibits to the fair they should include three pieces of paperwork: 1) KSF Entry Tag, 2) Visual Arts Exhibit Release form and 3) Visual Arts Judging Rubric (please make sure the youth has answered the two questions on the top).
Each county can submit five Visual Art Exhibits, one in each of the following classes:
4501 Fine Arts: Oil, chalk, charcoal, dyes, pastels, pencil, ink, acrylic, or watercolor on canvas, canvas board, paper, wood, metal, or textiles, framed as a picture, prepared for hanging. Stretched canvas art on a wooden frame is considered prepared for hanging provided that frame has a hanger.
4502 Clay and Ceramics: Any original item made of clay; may be fired or unfired, hand formed, or thrown on a wheel. Self-hardening, fire/oven-cured, and/or cornstarch clays are acceptable. Items can include, but are not limited to, clay statues, bowls, etc.
4503 Leather and Jewelry: Any leather stamping, carving, tooling, lacing, or stitching piece or any jewelry piece made from any medium are acceptable exhibits.
4504 Three Dimensional: The piece must be observable on at least three sides and should be either free-standing or prepared to be hung. Craft and pre-formed or assembled projects are not acceptable.
4505 General Crafts: This category incorporates miscellaneous pieces that do not correspond to the four, above-mentioned categories.
Please make sure 4-H youth/families are aware of the copyright information - https://www.kansas4-h.org/events-activities/fairs/kansas-state-fair/docs/Copyright%20Document%207.8.21%20a.pdf.
Also, the items below were selected at the 2021 KSF, and will be returned at this year's KSF:
Woven Basket: Lydia Mason, Greenwood County
Pottery Bowl: Janae Wolf, Clay County, River Valley District
Honey Bee: Natalie Williams, Barton County, Cottonwood District
Sunflower (fiber art): Brynna Anderson, Saline County, Central Kansas District
If you have any further questions about the 4-H Visual Arts Department at the Kansas State Fair, please contact Department Head, Robyn Trussel at rdeines@ksu.edu.