NEW YORK MILLS — The New York Mills Regional Cultural Center's newest display features photographs by Jon Solinger about life on small farms in rural west central Minnesota. The show entitled "Deep Roots: Sustaining a Living Community" will be on display from Feb. 1 through March 4. A reception will be held on Friday, Feb. 24, from 4-6 p.m.
Jon Solinger, in collaboration with members of the Lake Agassiz chapter of the Sustainable Farming Association and MANNA Food Co-op, and with the support of West Central Initiative, has created a gallery exhibit about life and work on small farms in the region.
The exhibit emphasizes the "why" of farmers’ chosen way of life, over the "what" and "how." It addresses the human side of agriculture and local food: what the work means to people and the emotional responses to the trials and rewards of life in sustainable farming and food production. It is art that celebrates farmers and producers who bring to their work an ethic of living well on the land by practicing environmental stewardship and building economic resilience. It looks into the related essential relationships between farmer and land, food producer and community, among farmers and within families.
The exhibit consists of photographic portraits of the people, animals and landscapes engaged in the work of sustainable farming and local food. It also includes an oral history component; transcribed interviews with the subjects reveal personal glimpses into the motives and thoughts of the people in this network of food producers.
The New York Mills Regional Cultural Center Gallery is free and open to the public. Gallery hours are Wednesdays and Thursdays 10 a.m.-7 .pm., Fridays 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and Saturdays 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Private viewings can be arranged anytime by calling Cheryl Bannes at 218-385-3339 or emailing cheryl@kulcher.org .
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A gallery reception will be held on Friday, Feb. 24 from 4-6 p.m., which will include an artist talk by Jon Solinger. Light refreshments will be available. Visit kulcher.org or call the Cultural Center at 218-385-3339 with any questions.
