Sketch and release
Artists send food-themed work on tour at ‘Sustainable Feast’
Art About Agriculture’s annual touring exhibition of natural resource-themed artwork has landed in Newport.
The theme of the 39th annual juried competition, created and curated by Oregon State University’s College of Agricultural Sciences, is "Sustainable Feast,” and it presents art from almost 50 Northwest artists whose work explores food production, consumption, sustainability, diversity and innovation.
Three special events on Friday, Aug. 5, will make viewing the artwork at the two hosting sites even more tasty.
The Pacific Maritime Heritage Center will host the main exhibition in its newly renovated Mezzanine Gallery through Sept. 30.
The opening reception will include a panel discussion on sustainable seafood and student-made products from the Beaver Classic food truck.
All are welcome to the panel discussion about Oregon’s diverse marine resources and the strategies, innovation and markets that sustain this important Oregon industry. Panelists are Laura Anderson, Local Ocean Seafoods owner and industry advocate; Erick Garman from the Oregon Department of Agriculture; Heather Mann, executive director of Midwater Trawlers Cooperative; Christina DeWitt, director, OSU Seafood Research and Education Center; Gil Sylvia, OSU Emeritus, Hatfield Marine Science Center; and Dave Stone, director of OSU Food Innovation Center.
“It is always a thrill to share the connection of art and agriculture with this program,” said Staci Simonich, dean of the College of Agricultural Sciences. “There is nothing quite like it across other land grant universities, making this just one more example of what makes Oregon State so special.”
The exhibit also includes objects from the Lincoln County Historical Society’s collection.
The Newport Visual Arts Center is hosting a supporting exhibition of 12 pieces from the exhibit in its Upstairs Gallery through Aug. 27.
There will be opening receptions at both hosting sites on Friday.
This year’s open call for artwork received 290 responses from artists in Oregon, Washington and Hawaii. The tour includes artwork by artists from 12 Oregon counties, five Washington counties and one county in Hawaii.
“I am continually inspired by the many varied interpretations of our calls to artists to submit creative work for the Art About Ag program,” said Owen Premore, directing curator of the program. “The ability for art to uniquely capture the tension between demanding economies and delicate ecosystems as we ponder the meaning of a ‘sustainable feast’ is truly powerful.”
The program was established in 1983 as the region’s first annual agricultural-themed arts competition and touring exhibit. It recognizes professional and emerging Northwest artists, creates a growing, dynamic, permanent collection of fine art based on portraying agriculture and natural resources and presents the permanent collection and touring exhibits across the state.
Artworks are exhibited on the OSU campus in Corvallis and by loan agreement throughout Oregon and the Northwest. As of May 12, the permanent collection contains 395 works by 235 artists.
The Pacific Maritime Heritage Center is located at 333 SE Bay Blvd in Newport. For more information, go to oregoncoasthistory.org or call. 541-265-7509.
The Newport Visual Arts Center is located at 777 NW Beach Drive. For more information, go to coastarts.org or call 541-265-6540.
For more information on the competition and tour, go to agsci.oregonstate.edu.
Friday, August 5
2 to 4:30 pm - Opening reception at Newport Visual Arts Center’s Upstairs Gallery.
3 to 4:30 pm - Panel discussion at the Pacific Maritime Heritage Center.
5 to 7:30 pm - Opening reception at Pacific Maritime Heritage Center with the Beaver Classic food truck.