05-16-06

Media Release

OSU Opens 25-Year Retrospective of "Art About Agriculture" in Portland on May 19

PORTLAND, Ore. - The College of Agricultural Sciences at Oregon State University is presenting a 25-year retrospective of its annual juried art competition, Art About Agriculture.

This fine art exhibit, "This Bountiful Place: Art About Agriculture," will be on display at the Oregon Historical Society, 1200 S.W. Park Ave., in Portland from May 19 through Sept. 17.

The exhibit will showcase original art from the OSU College of Agricultural Sciences Art About Agriculture permanent collection. Works draw from more than 25 years of juried competition, including drawings, fiber arts, mixed media, prints, sculptures and paintings, all from Pacific Northwest artists.

"Reaching beyond simply illustrating agriculture in Oregon, 155 regional artists have created profound works of art that connect us to our agricultural landscapes and the related natural resources of the Pacific Northwest," said Shelley Curtis, directing curator of the Art About Agriculture collection.

"Together, they let us experience the style and lore of the West, western landscape and light; agricultural practices and products that provide sustenance; people in relation to land and to toil; and the cultural diversity found in the Pacific Northwest."

Accompanying the OSU exhibit will be the "Oregon Originals" exhibit, featuring the art of Amanda Snyder and Jefferson Tester. This exhibit opened at the Oregon Historical Society on May 12 and will be up until Nov. 27.

Brenda Hood of Corvallis sponsored the retrospective, in part, with a gift in memory of her late husband, John Gordon Hood, enabling the College to publish an exhibition catalog in association with the Oregon Historical Society Press. The catalog includes essays and color illustrations of each of the 183 artworks in the retrospective exhibition, provenance for the artworks, and appendixes of volunteer jurors for the annual competitions the hosts for the annual tour shows.

To learn more about OSU's Art About Agriculture program, go to: http://agsci.oregonstate.edu/art/