When we got to out hotel around 7 pm last night in a town an hour from the New York State Fair we were asked by the good folk at Ithaca's Holiday Inn how our travel had been and I mentioned that we had gotten a little damp at the fair but all had gone really well otherwise. I then hear:
"I hear the butter sculpture isn't that great this year."
To which I was a little surprised and mentioned that I understand that the butter sculpture is quite the thing apparently to New Yorkers and that we had heard a number of comments from the crowd some saying in past years the small refrigerated case had held eight or ten figures and not just this year's three. In response someone else said "but look at the ears and those shoe laces". It was getting like the impressionists trying to get a handle on the surrealists down there on the floor of the Dairy Products Barn, except they were crushing into a refrigerated circular windowed display and not fonger-pointing over absinthe and Gitane.
Comments
gr - September 4, 2006 8:33 PM
I know, Alan, I had a call from my mother wondering what I thought of the butter sculpture. I am glad I went and took notes for her benefit, but she was not impressed with my report....
T-Bo - September 5, 2006 1:16 AM
I thought the butter sculpture was weak compared to past years. The people in previous editions almost looked like butter-covered humans, they were so realistic. Look at the kid's neck in the picture above. What is he, half-giraffe? The big talk was about soccer mom showing some butt. Geez.
I wasn't as impressed as in previous years but would like to note it's better than anything I could ever do. Stick of butter? No, butter stick figures, if I was the sculptor.
Alan - September 5, 2006 8:21 AM
Here is 2004's for comparison. Much less neck.
Alan - September 5, 2006 8:29 AM
Such emails I get:<blockquote class="smalltext">I submit for your consideration the following butter sculptures sighted yesterday at the CNE. Please feel free to publish any of them should you believe they make a small contribution to the understanding and appreciation of butter sculpture by the general public.</blockquote>I think the last one holds the clue to the camera holder's identity.<p><center><img src="images/2006e/fleabutt1.jpg" vspace="20"><p><img src="images/2006e/fleabutt2.jpg" vspace="20"><p><img src="images/2006e/fleabutt3.jpg" vspace="20"></center>
gr - September 5, 2006 8:37 AM
Godzilla is a winner in my book.
cm - September 5, 2006 9:03 AM
I'm sorry now I didn't make it to the agriculture building.
portland - September 5, 2006 12:42 PM
none of them are a 1200lb chocolate moose.
T-Bo - September 5, 2006 1:17 PM
Captain Jack looks forlorn and doomed, doesn't he? Love those tentacles and THOSE TEETH! And more than one sculpture.....we've been to the CNE twice, and I'll say it again. It's the State Fair, only cool and with class.
Did you say 1200-pound chocolate moose.....aaarararaoooghghghghh (think Homer and doughnuts, or pie, or...)
Flea - September 5, 2006 8:48 PM
I am just pleased the CNE has butter sculpture and hence a veneer of buttery authenticity.
T-Bo - September 5, 2006 9:36 PM
"Come to the CNE.....It's utterly, butterly good!"
Well, maybe not....
NYCO - September 6, 2006 9:20 AM
Here's the unbelievable thing about this year's NYS Fair butter sculpture -- once again, it was fatherless. This is almost the same sort of tableau as last year, with the two kids and Mom, where everyone was wondering "Where's Dad?" There was quite an outcry.
Anyhow, the guy who does these sculptures is actually capable of much better work; I've seen it on his website. Obviously the Pennsylvania State Fair pays him a lot more to do THEIR butter sculpture than the NYS Fair does.
Alan - September 6, 2006 9:52 AM
Now it comes out. Back handed dealings with the Pennsylvanians being alleged. Maybe an extra carton of milk making it to the porch, if you know what I mean.
Flea - September 6, 2006 6:28 PM
Blame Canadian butter sculpture subsidies. Banned by NAFTA but is the treaty enforced? The hell it is.
Betsy - August 22, 2007 11:04 AM
Does anyone know what they do with the sculpture after the fair is over? I've heard everything from use it for popcorn at the movies to melt it and make pancakes!
Alan - August 22, 2007 11:11 AM
Here we go. The butter sculpture angst begins. I, for one, will see it again this year. We are praying as a family for less neck.
Bets - September 7, 2007 10:12 AM
My question still is: what do they do with the butter after the fair is over???
Alan - September 7, 2007 10:13 AM
I thought there was an arrangement with the lobster booth at the Maine State Fair.