Conshohocken artists are once again behind one of Pennsylvania’s most beloved winter traditions, writes Jason Nark for The Philadelphia Inquirer.
Sculptors Jim Victor and Marie Pelton unveiled the iconic butter sculpture at this year’s Pennsylvania Farm Show in Harrisburg.
The 1,000-pound creation honors America’s upcoming Semiquincentennial. It is titled “A Toast to Our Nation’s 250th Anniversary: Inspired by Founders. Grown by Farmers.” The detailed scene depicts 1776 Philadelphia, featuring Benjamin Franklin and the Founding Fathers raising a milk toast, with nods to Betsy Ross and the Liberty Bell.
Victor and Pelton, longtime collaborators based in Conshohocken, have worked in a range of unconventional materials, including chocolate, cheese, and ice. Still, it’s their butter sculptures that have brought them the widest recognition. The butter, donated by national dairy producers, is sourced from surplus product that can’t be sold to consumers.
The Pennsylvania Farm Show, the nation’s largest indoor agricultural exposition, runs through Saturday at the Farm Show Complex. The event features live animal exhibits, food vendors, concerts, and hundreds of educational displays, with free admission and paid parking.
To learn more about this year’s Farm Show centerpiece, created by two Conshohocken artists, visit The Philadelphia Inquirer.
