The Annual Butter Unveiling
The 58th annual New York State Fair butter sculpture makes its public debut this morning at 9:30 a.m. Located inside the Dairy Products Building at the fairgrounds in Geddes, the sculpture remains under wraps until the official reveal ceremony. This event precedes the opening of the full fair by exactly one day.
Sculptors Jim Victor and Marie Pelton spent nearly two weeks working in private to complete the project. They molded 800 pounds of unsalted butter into a form kept secret from the public. The butter used for the project arrived earlier this month from O-AT-KA Milk Products in Batavia. This specific supply was deemed unsuitable for retail store shelves, making it a viable candidate for this large-scale art installation.
A Long History of Dairy Art
Victor and Pelton have collaborated on this project every year since 2003. This current work marks their 24th year of consecutive partnership at the state fair. Their history with the medium is extensive. Over the decades, the display has featured everything from disco dancers and marathon runners to iconic cultural figures like Darryl Strawberry. Other past designs include the Wizard of Oz, a pizza tosser, and a cow jumping over the moon.
Historical records show the tradition of butter sculpting at the fair dates back well beyond the current sculpting team. William Clements produced sculptures from 1969 through 1986. During that era, the themes frequently shifted between local fair milestones and abstract pop culture references. Following Clements, artists like Raymond Mackintosh and Sharon BuMann took over the work before the current team began their tenure at the turn of the millennium.
Monitoring the Reveal
Spectators can watch the reveal live through the official syracuse.com Facebook page. This broadcast allows people to see the design without traveling to the fairgrounds. Reporters will be on-site to document the finished piece with photos and video. For those planning to visit the grounds in person, the sculpture will remain on display throughout the duration of the fair.
Some attendees prefer to see the work in person before viewing digital images. The physical experience of walking into the Dairy Products Building serves as a long-standing tradition for many fairgoers. The sculpture is housed in a climate-controlled environment to prevent the 800 pounds of butter from losing its structural integrity under the summer heat. The broader significance of this project lies in its role as a promotional vehicle for the regional dairy industry, drawing focus to agricultural production through a unique, public medium.