BY SUNSHINEGIRL
On a warm and sunny day, my friends and I adventured to the Great Allentown Fair. My friends and I entered the agricultural building because we all wanted to see the Iron Chef competition. Instead, we stumbled upon an art exhibit. In my life, I’ve been to a couple of fairs but never seen one with an art exhibit in it. My friends and I were instantly drawn by the different mediums of art and the nature of the pieces. The hall was filled with vintage dresses, portraits, and mini models, just to mention a few mediums. We would call out to each other when we found something amusing or intriguing. The sound of the other events served as a reminder of the present as some of us looked at pieces from the past. The pieces on display were in contrast to one another, but they served as a collective representation of the Allentown community. The vintage items were a reminder of those who came before the present generation of the community. What was really interesting to see was that the pieces were all made by people of different ages and backgrounds. The various mediums in the art forms showcased the diversity of the Allentown community. The art exhibited seemed to have pop culture, religion, and history as its muses. One of the pieces that caught my eye was a pixelated portrait of the 1950s icon Marylin Monroe. Although none of my friends or I were alive during the 1950s, we clearly knew who Marylin Monroe was. This made me think about how pop culture influences our culture and will continue to influence generations to come. At the same time, I saw various paintings containing Christ as the subject, which showcases one of the prominent religions in the Allentown community. Then I saw a pixelated portrait of the Marvel character Thor, which highlights the impact of the Marvel franchise on this generation and is a reflection of the past generation that was influenced by the comics when they came out. Overall, these pieces were a reflection of the artist and the diversity of Allentown. What surprised me was that at the same exhibit, pastries, and agriculture were being displayed just like conventional pieces of art. This made me realize that agriculture is a distinctive part of the Allentown community. We often disregard the importance of agriculture in our lives, but the showcasing of all the different vegetables and fruits made me realize that agriculture is essential to our community. It also made me see agriculture in a different light. Instead of seeing agriculture as a form of nutrition, I saw it as an art. When we think of an art exhibit, we don’t immediately think about having produce there, but here at the Allentown Fair, it made sense. I really enjoyed the art exhibit at the fair, and I appreciated that it made me stop and think about art. The Allentown Fair was actually great, and I give it a 5-out-of-5 review.
