The Art of Butter

 Sculptors have different mediums to work with such as marble, metal and butter. Butter?? Yes there are some who shine in this creamy medium. Their works are breathtaking   - and delicious.

Food writer Christina Morales wrote about the Rodin of butter sculpting in yesterday's New York Times Food section. His name is Gerry Kulzr and he took over from the reigning scultor of the Minnesota State Fair, Linda Christensen.It's not an easy medium. Mr. Kulzer , an art teacher at Eden Valley-Watkins High School had to shadow his predecessor to learn the intricacies of working with cold butter. Unlike other mediums, it melts and is harder to work with than his ususal clay .It's also more difficult to layer than clay. How did he get the job?He was chosen from a pool of five applicants picked by Ms. Chistiansen and the Midwest Dairy Trade Group.His skills at sculpting and bronze casting stood out as did his bakckground, He grew up on a grain farm and worked on his cousin's dairy farm. This gave him an intimate understanding of the craft.

He then trained with Ms. Chritensen. His first sculpture was that of a Minnesota farmer, mirroring hers. They made sure the features were aligned.The ultimate sitter was the dairy princess, Princess Kay of the MIlky Way Brenna Connelly.It was a two day posing. She had to move her head in different positions so Mr. Kulzer could capture every feature with perfection. He used a wire hoop and his knife that he found in a second hand shop "Old Faithful" to cut off large chunks and then mold the squishy spread to form ears and her nose. This is mothing new. The first butter sculpture happened a century ago .In 1965 the Midwest Dairy Group rhought it would be a fun idea to sculpt the finalists in the Midwest Dairy's pageant. Nine hundred pounds of butter is needed for this and they have donated it. Thankfully the butters goes home with the princess. Ms. Connelly used it for her brother's pancake graduation breakfast. He's called dibs on the nose but she'll keep the rest intact.

Butter sculpting may seem extravagent in this day and age. Yet it's a fun way to celebrate the finalists and the dairy industry. it's alsoa  neat way to show off a sculptor's talent.