Visiting the Fine Arts exhibition at the Minnesota State Fair can be at turns energizing and dizzying. The giant gallery displays 337 works across eight categories, from sculptures to textiles. By design, there’s no real cohesive order or thematic through-line.

In contrast to the political themes and slogans on display in the crop art exhibition, the Fine Arts show generally is not particularly edgy, favoring idyllic landscapes, nature imagery, poetic silos, serene ceramic works and a dose of whimsy.

Still, it’s a bit surprising that this year, of all years, the art didn’t have more of a focus on events taking place in our world – from wars abroad to mass deportations at home; attacks on universities and the news media; the use of federal troops against American citizens and more.

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