Seed Queen: The Story of Crop Art and Amazing Lillian Colton

by Colleen Sheehy, Karal Ann Marling (Foreword)

At the same time Andy Warhol was changing American art in New York City, Lillian Colton, owner of the Cinderella Clip ’n’ Curl in Owatonna, Minnesota, launched her own version of pop art. From her patient hands, practiced at embroidering linens and crocheting lace, came captivating portraits of Jesus, Elvis, Oprah, Lady Diana, Clinton, and Prince, intricately rendered in timothy, bromegrass, canola, poppy seeds, salsify, alsike, bird’s-foot trefoil, grits, and wild rice.
 

Seed Queen brings to light the story of this crop artist extraordinaire—how she developed her matchless aesthetic by merging rural traditions from her childhood on a farm with a love of Hollywood movies, training as a hairstylist, and skills in drawing and painting—and the larger story of crop art as it has evolved over time.
 
This lively illustrated volume features dozens of color images of Colton’s crop art and of the work of those she has continued to inspire since she took home the blue ribbon for her portrait of Nixon at the 1969 Minnesota State Fair. Countless artists have taken the genre in new directions in recent years, opening up the pantheon of the famous, taking on political issues, and satirizing those in power—all through the meticulous positioning of thousands of individual seeds. 
 

Colleen Sheehy is the director of education at the Weisman Art Museum and teaches art history at the University of St. Thomas.

Genres: Art

128 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 2007

Reviews

[Selene Colburn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was reading David Foster Wallace and it was making me feel stupid (more on this later) and I needed something that would serve as an antidote and make me feel open, expansive, and inspired. The story of Lillian Colton's rise to the top of Minnesota's crop art practitioners was just the ticket. Her breathtaking portraits of everyone from Richard Nixon to Bob Dylan to Oprah Winfrey to Kenny Rogers are rendered in media such as bird’s foot trefoil, poppy seed, grits, bromegrass, salsify, cream of wheat, watermelon seed, grits, and pine needle. It was fascinating to learn about the diverse set of interests (cosmetology, needlework, farming, oil painting, pop culture) that made Colton excel at the form. As a bonus, the reader learns a great deal about the history and aesthetics of the state fair movement, a topic that has held my interest since the days when my husband was writing a master’s thesis quantifying entries at a Vermont state fair (he’s since switched to margarine legislation, which is more fascinating than it sounds, almost Pollan-esque, really). Also, the book is beautifully designed and traces Colton’s influence on new generations of Minnesota seed crop artists as they turn their talents to subjects such as Hello Kitty or the vices of first ladies (Mrs. John F. Kennedy: smoking!). This was really rock and roll.

[Terry · Rating 5 out of 5]

What’s not to love about this great book? Wonderful photos of Colton’s and other’s work. Also a good history lesson in agricultural fairs and folk art. Any Minnesotan who’s visited the State Fair and enjoyed the seed art competition will enjoy this one. And if you’re out-of-state, this would help you learn about one of our fine traditions without having to leave home!

[Jim · Rating 5 out of 5]

seriously weird art form, but you do w/what you got. and if you are a brilliant artist like Lillian Colton, you make art from seeds and win award after award. the story of her life w/lots of photos growing up and stories about Minn. from the 20s - 90s. don't know why i got this, or why i read it when there are lots of other books in front of it, but i'm glad i did.

[Missy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh hooray for seed art!!!

Hooray for Lillian Colton!

[suzy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a cool book. I'm in it.