Texas Craftsmen Showcase Talent at State Fair Creative Arts Competitions

Creative Arts Building Highlights

• 🎨 The State Fair's Creative Arts Building features stiff competitions in categories ranging from canning and ceramics to fine art and baking.
• ✨ This year's theme, "Texas shines bright," is reflected in the diverse and talented entries on display.

Woodworking and Artistic Challenges

• 🪵 Jay Sterns, a woodworker, shares his story of creating a wooden eye for his surgeon after undergoing nine eye surgeries.
• 👁️ Crafting the iris perfectly was the biggest challenge, taking 5 to 10 hours to complete.
• 🏆 Sterns has been entering the State Fair for 11 years, showcasing his skills and earning first and second place ribbons.

Award-Winning Paper Artistry

• 🏆 Kent Bushart's paper sculpture of Santa Claus and his "naughty or nice surveillance center" won overall best in show, earning three ribbons.
• 🎅 This intricate Christmas decoration is made 100% from Italian Fabriano paper, known for being fade-resistant.
• ✂️ Bushart has been creating 3D art from paper for about 15 years, perfecting his technique with better materials.
• 💡 The idea stemmed from childhood attempts at construction paper crafts, now realized with advanced paper and glue techniques.

A Gallery of Texas Talent

• 🌟 The Creative Arts Building serves as a gallery displaying the winners and ribbons from years past.
• 🎭 The variety of arts and crafts demonstrates the immense talent present among Texas craftsmen.