Agricultural Photography Exhibit
Magnificent images reveal Marin's agrarian roots and present bounty, offering an intimate look at what life was like for Marin ranchers and farmers from the 1920s to the recent past.
A centerpiece of West Marin’s celebratory Western Weekend, the richly historic material included in the exhibition, Honoring Those Who Labor On the Land, is drawn from two distinct bodies of work: one by M.B. Boissevain, Marin’s first farm advisor from 1920 to 1950, and the other by local award-winning photographer Art Rogers, who has documented Marin’s agricultural roots for over 50 years.
Boissevain was a skilled and prolific large-format film photographer. His 4 x 5-inch negatives capture a rarely seen view of the lives, farms, ranches and working landscapes of Marin during the Progressive Era of the early 20th century. Over his 30-year career, he established 4-H clubs for youth, introduced innovative ideas and technological advancements, promoted farmer collaboration, organized a daily agriculture segment on Marin’s first radio program and penned a weekly ag column for the Marin newspaper.
Rogers, 76, has been photographing the agricultural community of the North Coast since he arrived in the early 1970s. His stunning, serene and dynamic images reflect the deep bond between people, animals and landscapes. The Point Reyes Station resident has received many accolades, including a Guggenheim Fellowship, a National Endowment for the Arts grant and a SECA Art Award from the SFMOMA. Since 1974, he has contributed weekly to The Point Reyes Light on the popular Family Album page. Additional historic agricultural photographs will be installed in windows and inside some Point Reyes businesses – including Cabaline (11313 CA-1) and Studio A Salon (11203 CA-1) -- during Western Weekend.
This special exhibit is made possible through the generous support of John Wick, a Nicasio rancher. Additional support has been provided by Madeleine Ballard, Jim Chapman and the Western Weekend Committee. David Lewis, Director of the University of California Cooperative Extension - Marin, provided the charitable loan of the Boissevain exhibit.
Western Weekend, celebrated annually since 1948, will be held on June 7 and 8. It will feature a lively Sunday parade, fresh produce, Marin Farm Bureau’s famous chicken barbecue, a barn dance and other festivities.
The event is free. The theme of this year’s event is “Honoring Those Who Labor On The Land” in tribute to ranchers and farm workers who have made West Marin a national model of locally produced food.
The exhibit will be open to the public from noon to 4 p.m. every Friday, Saturday and Sunday afternoon from 12-4pm in June following the opening on June 7th.
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To learn more about Western Weekend, visit www.westernweekend.org for a complete list of sponsors, schedule, parade entry forms, maps and more.
