St. Paul Artist Chosen to Create 2014 Minnesota State Fair Commemorative Art

ST. PAUL, MINN. (01/07/2014)(readMedia)-- Emily L. Taylor of St. Paul has been selected to create the Official 2014 Minnesota State Fair Commemorative Art. After reviewing the 154 submissions from the Commemorative Art Call for Submissions in 2011, 2012 and 2013, a panel of judges named Taylor the Official Artist. Her original interpretation of the Great Minnesota Get-Together will be unveiled at the State Fairgrounds in June.

"This has been an amazing experience," Taylor said. "Having the opportunity to work with such a great group of people in an effort to help preserve the State Fair as we know and love it is a privilege. I can only hope that this painting will capture for the public what I feel is the essence of the Great Minnesota Get-Together's community and spirit."

Taylor truly lives, eats and breathes the Minnesota State Fair, living only blocks away with her family. Born in Minneapolis, she graduated from South High School and then attended the Minneapolis College of Art and Design where she discovered a love for illustration and earned her BFA. Taylor is now a professional artist and teacher. Her medium of choice is watercolor although for large-scale public works she uses acrylic and latex paints. Taylor has painted a series of watercolor paintings titled "A Place In Time" which includes works such as "The BBQ" owned by the Cooperstown Graduate Program and "A Highland Ball," a depiction of St. Paul's Highland Park Little League Fields. She has completed several large-scale latex and/or acrylic paintings including paintings for an interactive exhibit at The Farmers' Museum in Cooperstown, N.Y., a mural for the children's wing of Lake Harriet United Methodist Church in South Minneapolis and a traveling mural for the City of Eden Prairie. Her passion is in creating personal connections with the visual world. She recently started her own arts education business named Artfulu. Visit emilyltaylor.com for more information.

The commemorative poster, a limited number of signed giclee prints and other merchandise featuring the art will be available for purchase after the June unveiling. Proceeds will support the Minnesota State Fair Foundation 501(c)(3) mission to preserve and improve State Fair buildings, grounds and educational experiences. The original art will be on display during the 12-day run of the 2014 State Fair.

The 2014 Minnesota State Fair Commemorative Art will be the eleventh in a series of artwork created annually for the fair. In past years, Minnesota artists have included: Steve Johnson and Lou Fancher (2004), Mary GrandPré (2005), Nancy Carlson (2006), Michael Birawer (2007), Edie Abnet (2008), Leo Stans (2009), Deborah Voyda Rogers (2010), Steve Thomas (2011), Joe Heffron (2012) and Marie Olofsdotter (2013). A gallery of past artwork is available at mnstatefair.org/art.

The Minnesota State Fair is one of the largest and best-attended expositions in the world, attracting nearly 1.8 million visitors annually. Showcasing Minnesota's finest agriculture, art and industry, the Great Minnesota Get-Together is always 12 Days of Fun Ending Labor Day. Visit mnstatefair.org for more information. The 2014 Minnesota State Fair runs Aug. 21 - Labor Day, Sept. 1.

-MSF-

Posted Tuesday January 07, 2014 at 11:20 am by Minnesota State Fair
Last Updated Friday January 24, 2014 at 11:47 am