Agrarian Art and the Purpose of Existence: Old World Master Woodcuts to McGregor-Clement Calendars

Harvest since time immemorial was understood in ritual terms to be... essentially the purpose of existence." These words recently expressed by a prominent European historian affirm the abiding value of agriculture as the bedrock of civilization. In an age when connections to the land grow more distant with the rise of suburban and urban populations, many consumers take for granted the abundant supply of food found in grocery stores, farmers markets, and available now online. But awareness of agriculture and farmers wellbeing ought to be highest priority to everyone now and for the wellbeing of future generations. This program presents a series of exemplary works in fine art and photography that stir attention to these vital relationships. They include harvest images from the magnificent collection of National Photography Hall of Fame recipient John Clement commissioned by Dr. Alexander McGregor of The McGregor Company and rare woodcuts and engravings dating back to the 16th century. On exhibit for the program will also be a rare original print by Dutch master Rembrandt van Rjin, "Landscape with Barn and Flock of Sheep" (1660).

Dr. Richard D. Scheuerman will present on this topic, alongside collaborators Alex McGregor and John Clement, related to research compiled in their book Hallowed Harvests: Agrarian Depiction from the Bible, Literature, and Art to Early Modern Times.

Scheuerman grew up on a small farm between the rural Palouse communities of Endicott and St. John, giving him a very personal connection to the region’s Volga Germans. He has received the Washington State Historical Society’s Robert Gray Medal for outstanding contributions to history education and the University of California-Riverside Rupert Costo Medallion for Research in Native American History. He has co-authored more than ten books on Pacific Northwest history, including Harvest Heritage: Agricultural Origins and Heirloom Crops of the Pacific Northwest and Hardship to Homeland: Pacific Northwest Volga Germans.