By Catherine Ellerton
Moapa Valley Progress
As I approached the Fairgrounds on Thursday, April 7, a burst of wind and a cloud of dust enveloped me. As I swirled about and finally let it carry me, I ended up in a magical building and found the Land of Oz! The Fine Arts Building had been transformed into a wondrous land of color, sight and sound.
I wandered through the Haunted Forest. Within each dark corner could be found so many intriguing items. An award-winning brilliant blue gown sewn by Linda Carson was on display. Also wine, cooked goods, sewn articles and quilts that told a story. The multiple award winning “Red River Pepper Sauce” (Best of Show, Best of Class, Champion and Adult Judges’ Choice) made by Linda Lyon cried out for an unfulfilled taste test.
Within the Village Square, scrapbooks, greeting cards, pottery, Lego cars and rigs, stained glass, dolls and fluffy pillows and animals could be found.
Drawing close to the Emerald City I discovered many wonderful experiments in the world of science. These studies were so diverse in nature that it became an obsession to see each and every one. The intriguing study on “Lymphocytes and Leukemia” (Tembra Spiller of Las Vegas) was followed by a Universe made out of Styrofoam balls (Allexandria Carter of Las Vegas) which preceded the question – “Which wood burns the more slowly – ash or pine? The conclusion was the opposite of the hypothesis for 4th grader, Gage Stone of N. Las Vegas.
It was discovered that when environmentally friendly or unfriendly dish soaps came up against earthworms, neither mattered, the affect was the same so found Allex Lourenco of Las Vegas. While Billy Zielinski of Boulder City, Nevada, was a winner with his solar powered plane.
“Wired Up About Electricity” won the Best of Class Ribbon and proved the hypothesis of Gunner Stone of N. Las Vegas.
I was drawn to the sound of munchkins giggling and excitedly talking and found Dorothy (Sierra Staley), the Cowardly Lion (Heather Parrish), the Scarecrow (Kameron Moore) and the Tin Man (Pamela Mecham) surrounded by the citizens of Emerald City. The munchkins from the land of Bowler Elementary, Ms. Buchanan’s 2nd grade class, asked many questions of these strangers.
Christopher wanted to know where the Tin Man got his Ax. The Tin Man sheepishly answered that he had made it. Billy jumped in and asked Dorothy what was in the basket that she carried. Dorothy quietly answered, “Bread.” Upon further questioning it was found to be made from a recipe her Grandfather had given her and there was white and wheat bread to be found.
Next there was a beast so scary and, yet, who shook with fear. Lorelei, with pity in her heart, asked the Cowardly Lion why he was so scared. “It is a scary world out there,” came the reply.
Not to be outdone, Rhomio approached the Scarecrow and asked why he was made of straw. The Scarecrow eagerly replied that he was born on a farm and straw was all they had. Then he was challenged on why he wore tennis shoes. “They help to scare away the crows,” said the Scarecrow in defense.
It was time for the munchkins to move on to other areas of this magical land. Dorothy clicked her ruby slippers together and the quartet continued down the Yellow Brick Road.
The townspeople of Emerald City were gathered in the area of the schools. Cunorah Academy Jr. High of Las Vegas created a wonderful wall of tapestry. Yet, on closer look, these pictures were made of moulding clay!
Moapa Head Start Preschool, The Cappalappa Family Resource Center, Mountain View Christian Schools, and Bowler Elementary were some of the schools represented by works of art on display.
As my travels continued, I found the field of poppies which contained many wondrous varieties of plants. From roses to cactus and succulents to geraniums and palalaenopsis (orchids) to the Award Winning asparagus entered by Larry Barnum. Other fine vegetables brought a feast for the eyes. The vine tomato plant created by the MV Farm (Demo Garden) looked good enough to eat. The Container Gardening entries inspired this viewer for next year’s fair entry.
Overhead Professor Marvel floated up, up, ever up as he surveyed the wonderful captured images of the world below. Photographs in color and black and white of people, places and things and fine art of every medium and imagination surrounded the visitor in the Fine Arts Galleries.
As the Professor left the Land of Oz, so I took my leave with the message emblazoned on the colorful, Reserve Champion Quilt of Lea Hurst ringing in my ears – “There’s No Place Like Home.”
