‘If you get it, you get it,’ said the artist

A winner at the Kentucky State Fair miniature contest nearly lost his title after fair officials found out one of his entries was based on a porn set.

Preston Poling, also known as The Bearded Miniaturist, won the white ribbon last week for his “simple design”, but by Tuesday evening was getting messages from friends telling him his piece had been removed from the fair’s exhibition.

…

The piece is a miniature replica of the high-profile porn set, “The Casting Couch” – complete with gray carpet, brown leather sofa and a desk with a monitor sat on it showing camera footage aimed at the couch.

It was one of four pieces Poling submitted for the contest, with his miniature scene based on a set from award-winning The Walking Dead getting him the best in show title, and another much more family-friendly one based on the children’s book Goodnight Moon winning a craftsmanship award.

Poling, according to LPM News, claimed state fair officials considered disqualifying him completely and removing his other entries from the competition as well.

However, thankfully, the state fair has allowed him to keep his winning ribbons and the remaining miniatures on display at the fair.

“It was more of a tongue-in-cheek, kind of humorous, if you get it, you get it kind of thing,” he said per LPM News reporting.

“It gets people talking,” he added. “That’s what art is supposed to do.”

  • the post of tom joad@sh.itjust.works
    64·
    3 months ago

    There’s 0 reason for a piece like this to be removed, there’s jokes in Disney movies racier than this. I can only imagine the judges felt stupid and there aint a pettier person than someone who considers themselves a judge having their ego pricked

  • Stern@lemmy.world
    54·
    3 months ago

    Considering they have a craftsmanship award seperate from best in show its hard to say the contest is a more technical one rather than artistic at heart, so even thinking of pulling something like the casting couch, which merely implies something is downright silly.

  • Coelacanth@feddit.nu
    44·
    3 months ago

    Would be silly to ban this because of the implication. There is literally nothing untoward with the submission. It’s just an empty room. Anyone who knows what it refers to have already seen the material it references so who exactly are you “protecting”?

  • IvanOverdrive
    23·
    3 months ago

    if you get it, you get it kind if thing

    Oh, I got it. And I applaud his taste.