Features Fruit Production
Agriculture art exhibit unveiled at Ontario AgriCentre

Public spaces throughout the new
Ontario AgriCentre will feature original artwork depicting agriculture
and rural life, as part of an AgArt Exhibition showcased at the recent
official opening of the building.

Public spaces throughout the new Ontario AgriCentre will feature original artwork depicting agriculture and rural life, as part of an AgArt Exhibition showcased at the recent official opening of the building.

The exhibition provides a unique opportunity to view original agricultural artwork – including paintings, sculpture, stained glass and photography – in a very accessible venue. Designed to replicate “Main Street agriculture,” the AgriCentre draws regular visitor traffic to its 20 plus tenants, and with its more than 200 employees on site. There are three main ways to participate in this new AgArt Exhibition – through donations, loans or consignment. Companies, organizations, artists or individuals are encouraged to donate art to the collection, or donate money to be used to buy permanent pieces. To date, donations have been made by the Innovative Farmers’ Association of Ontario and Great Lakes Hybrid, Swine Genetics of Appin, Ontario. Artwork can be loaned to the exhibition for six-month to one-year periods to keep the exhibition fresh and changing. And artists can apply to have their work on display. All submissions will be juried before being accepted for exhibition. The Ontario AgriCentre will also purchase artwork to establish a permanent collection. The first three pieces purchased for the AgArt Exhibition are Farm Décor by Fergus, Ontario artist Melanie Higham. The oil on canvas series is a fun collection of brightly coloured farm animals on stark white canvas. To pay tribute to agricultural leaders, the AgArt Exhibition will also feature a rotating selection of portraits from both the Canadian Agricultural Hall of Fame and the Ontario Agricultural Hall of Fame.