Editor’s note: Between 2005 and 2008, Dallas artist Thor Johnson visited the annual State Fair of Texas at Dallas’ Fair Park and photographed moments that stood out to him. He shared them with friends. At the time, the New York-based artist Tom Moody wrote of them:
“It’s fall, and that means it’s time for another installment of Thor Johnson’s Texas State Fair Photos. The photos really strike a chord with me — they’re like the perfect combo of love and hate, sarcasm and pathos. Somebody could probably take the same ‘kind’ of photos at Coney Island in NY, but I don’t think anyone here hates Coney Island or its denizens. Whereas, Texas (especially Dallas, where these are taken) has this layer of righteousness that suffuses ordinary ignorance and exploitation, making it seem more pernicious. I know Johnson loathes the false piety but as I said, there is also love in these photos. I went to the State Fair a number of times and it was always a kick.”
Below are some selections from Johnson’s collection of State Fair images. Captions are his.
No Alcohol
Hummer Lust
’till Gabriel Blows
2nd Place Doll
Photo Op
Sweet Sweet Freedom
General Lee
Alligator Crocodile
Angry Woman
Fat Albert
Super Obama
Fun House
Boomer Sooner
Free Scooter
Body Paint
Manifest Destiny
Stuffed Animals
Corny Dog Lady
Apocalypse Preacher
6 comments
Thank you Glasstire!!!!
Great stuff. We haven’t gone to the fair in a long time we got to do it next year.
Rest in Peace Michael Marcoe, murdered in Garland last November, fellow Scorpio, I miss you buddy
https://www.cbsnews.com/dfw/news/garland-murder-investigation-michael-william-marcoe/
Thank you Michael! Maybe next year, I was a damn Scorpio and didn’t get out from under my rock this year 😀 <3
It is harder to take photos of people unaware now. When I took these photos, I used a digital camera and phone cameras did not exist. So it goes
Also Rest in Peace Tom Moody 🙁