2023 Stanislaus County Fair: Participating in The Textile Arts & Literary Arts- Contest and Exhibits

2023 Stanislaus County Fair; Textile Arts Exhibit. Photo: Roxanne Rodriguez Rangel

Summer, Central Valley California

Beautiful fields of fruit trees, towering stalks of corn, and twisting trunks of grapevines spread far out into the horizon. On the country roads and back highways, large trucks drive off the farmlands carrying loaded trailers overflowing with ripe tomatoes and ripe pumpkins. These trucks, filled with the fruits of California’s Agricultural Industry, are headed to nearby canneries ready to be steamed and canned, then shipped to grocery stores all over the world. It’s truly a sight to enjoy, one I admire each and every year. 

On this particular highway, trucks pull a different load. Disassembled carnival rides and attractions are folded up like mechanical origami, traveling to its next destination: The Midway of the county fair! 

Stanislaus County Fair Gate. Photo: Roxanne Rodriguez Rangel, 2023

Each summer, Californian counties host an annual fair. The fair is a place where the local community can gather together to enjoy food, entertainment, agriculture, technology, share knowledge and expertise, as well as showcase local farmers, bakers, and artisans. Local businesses can set up vender booths promoting or selling their products and services, while the carnival lights up the night sky. The sounds of thrill induced shrieks fill the air as fair-goers are twirled and tossed about on their favorite rides. 

At the Stanislaus County Fair, held each year at the Turlock Fairgrounds, buildings showcase the Contests and Exhibits. As we make our way through the crowded walkways to these buildings, let me share with you the inspiration for my California Day Dress… 

Creating a California Day Dress: Poppy Inspired

“No poet has yet sung the full beauty of our poppy. No painter has successfully portrayed the satiny sheen of its lustrous petals. In its abundance, this colorful plant should not be slighted: cherish it and be ever thankful that so rare a flower is common.” -John Thomas Howell, Marin Flora 

​I adore California Golden Poppies. Simple, delicate petals folding around each other in the prettiest shades of orange. Here, in my home-state of California, the springtime view of the hillsides are filled with hues of lush green, sprinkled with vibrant golden poppies growing through the fertile soil, standing confidently in the shining rays of sun. This scene was the inspiration for my day dress! 

"Backyard Poppy". Photo: Roxanne Rodriguez Rangel, 2012

As I held the 2023 Stanislaus County Fair Contest and Exhibit Handbook, gazing at the numerous sewing and textile categories, I knew I wanted to create a day dress that reflected the very land it was made on for my exhibit entry. I chose the magnificent poppy, with a contrasting grassy green, as my subject, and began to conceptualize vintage dress silhouettes for this design. 

Behind the Scenes: Creating a Hand-Painted Textile. Photo: Roxanne Rodriguez Rangel

When making artsy dresses, I love using a simple muslin fabric as the base. For this dress, I envisioned hand-painted techniques, as well as fabric appliqué and beadwork. 
I wanted the green paint to drip UP the dress, creating the illusion of wild poppy stems! I began to prepare my painted muslin fabric. 

Behind the Scenes: Fashion Sketch and Fabric Preparations. Photo: Roxanne Rodriguez Rangel

I painted my drippy paint design using diluted green fabric paint, then satin-stitched orange fabric shaped petals. I hand-stitched beads in both the poppies as pollen detail, as well as on the green dripped paint, like beads of morning dew… 

Behind the Scenes: Fabric Preparations: Applique. Photo: Roxanne Rodriguez Rangel

Behind the Scenes: Fabric Preparations: Applique and Other Details... Photo: Roxanne Rodriguez Rangel

The result was exactly as I envisioned! Once the fabric had been prepared, I began cutting out and sewing together my Vintage Inspired Day Dress.

Behind the Scenes: Dress Construction Begins! Photo: Roxanne Rodriguez Rangel

The Finished Dress! 

Roxanne Rodriguez Rangel California Day Dress, 2023. Photo: Roxanne Rodriguez Rangel

Roxanne Rodriguez Rangel California Day Dress, 2023. Photo: Roxanne Rodriguez Rangel

Roxanne Rodriguez Rangel California Day Dress, 2023. Photo: Roxanne Rodriguez Rangel

At last, my dress is completed! 

Back At The Fair: Contest and Exhibits: 

Let’s walk together into the second to last exhibit hall. This hall is filled to the brim with art, baked goods, preserves, and fresh produce that has been entered into various categories of contests by local residents. 

I’m immediately surprised by the numerous rows of high quality photography entered into the photography categories showcased. Rows upon rows of photos are displayed. These photos capture much of the natural beauty of California: wild flowers, animals, and local landscapes are popular subjects this year. I realized then how many people have access to such high quality cameras these days, compared to years past: Very cool! 

We make our way to the textile and sewing exhibits. I was shocked to see a Blue Ribbon on my dress! This dress was entered into the category: Professional Clothing & Textile Contest. 

Roxanne Rodriguez Rangel California Day Dress, 2023. Photo: Roxanne Rodriguez Rangel

In addition to my dress, I also entered my Blog Article, Rendez-Vous:  Lee Alexander McQueen and Ann Ray -The Crocker Art Museum- Sacramento, California, into the Best Blog Contest… I was amazed: Another Blue Ribbon! ​

Best Blog Contest, 2023. Photo: Roxanne Rodriguez Rangel

Participating in the 2023 Stanislaus Fair was a great experience! I hope I was able to inspire fellow artisans with both of my exhibit entries! 

If you would like to see my California Day Dress in person, I will be showcasing this specific dress, alongside my newest dress creation, at the 2024 Valley Art Association’s Spring Art Show in Oakdale, California this March! Here are the details: 

Valley Art Association Art Show 
Oakdale, California 

Free Public Exhibit: 
Saturday, March 9th, 10am-7pm
Sunday, March 10th 10am-5pm

Thank you for reading my Blog!

 I hope to see YOU at the next Stanislaus County Fair, this upcoming July!

Dress Maker, Roxanne Rodriguez Rangel with Roxanne Rodriguez Rangel California Day Dress. 2023 Stanislaus County Fair- Professional Clothing and Textile Contest.

Related Links: 

Rendez-Vous: Lee Alexander McQueen and Ann Ray- The Crocker Art Museum-Sacramento, California

A Look Back: Fall 2018

Representing Fashion Design as Art at The Valley Art Associations' 2023 Art Scholarship Fund Exhibition