Winner Faces Backlash Over Inappropriate Entry
In an unexpected turn of events, the Kentucky State Fair’s miniature contest winner nearly lost his title after officials discovered that one of his entries was a replica of a porn set.
Preston Poling, popularly known as The Bearded Miniaturist, was awarded the white ribbon last week for his “simple design.” However, by Tuesday evening, he started receiving messages from friends informing him that his piece had been removed from the fair’s exhibition.
Poling shared his excitement in a video posted on Instagram, standing proudly in front of his miniature set. “It was such a fun piece to make,” he exclaimed. However, in the caption, Poling revealed that the build was removed just 12 hours after filming the video, with state fair officials deeming it “inappropriate.”
“Ironically,” read the text in the video, “the little crybabies’ attempt at censorship made this build EVEN MORE FAMOUS!!”
Social media frenzy
Known by his handle @the_bearded_miniaturist, Poling said the piece garnered significant attention on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok. The contentious piece is a miniature replica of the high-profile porn set, “The Casting Couch,” complete with gray carpet, a brown leather sofa, and a desk with a monitor showing camera footage aimed at the couch.
Other winning entries
Poling had submitted four pieces for the contest. His miniature scene based on a set from the award-winning show “The Walking Dead” earned him the best-in-show title, while another family-friendly piece based on the children’s book “Goodnight Moon” won a craftsmanship award.
Close call with disqualification
According to LPM News, Poling claimed that state fair officials considered disqualifying him entirely and removing his other entries from the competition. However, he was ultimately allowed to keep his winning ribbons, and the remaining miniatures stayed 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,” Poling explained, as reported by LPM News.
“It gets people talking,” he added. “That’s what art is supposed to do.”
Future plans for the controversial piece
On Facebook Live, Poling revealed his plans to display “The Casting Couch” in his Mellwood Arts Center studio once the fair is over. An artist on the Canadian competition TV show “Best in Miniature,” Poling has been building miniatures since 2020.
The controversy surrounding Poling’s entry has ignited discussions about the boundaries of art and censorship, making his miniature set even more talked about in artistic circles.