Friday, July 4, 2008

Art in Corn

Mitchell, South Dakota
Although the “Corn Belt Exposition” began in 1892, the current Corn Palace dates from 1921. Each year, beginning in Spring and completed by the end of September, the exterior of the Corn Palace is stripped and new murals and decorations are applied, using locally grown corn, grain and grasses. Mitchell is considered the center of corn country (the high school sports team are the Kernels, the local radio station is KORN… - you get the idea?) The building is a large auditorium used for city events, including Corn Palace Week at the end of harvest.
The Corn Palace is also referred to as the World’s Largest Bird Feeder. Local pigeons feast on the decorations through the winter.
Designs are created by local artists and depict aspects of life in South Dakota.
A closer zoom of the above image.
From the front of the building.