Harvest of Heritage Exhibit Tours the State

Traveling Exhibit

Harvest of Heritage is a touring exhibit showcasing the artwork and stories of Colorado traditional artists who have, or had, close ties to agriculture. Featured artists were chosen because they had met the highest standards of Colorado Creative Industries’ Cultural Heritage Program. Many have been awarded state grants and fellowships to help them preserve and present, pass on and celebrate the traditional art form in which they excelled. Many served as master artists who passed on skills and knowledge to a next generation of apprentices. Two of the featured artists, San Luis Valley weaver Eppie Archuleta and Carbondale ornamental ironworker Francis Whitaker (deceased) received National Heritage Fellowship Awards, the National Endowment for the Arts’ highest honor for our nation’s tradition bearers.

The exhibit consists of a large interpretive display as well as eight display cases. One side of the interpretive panel features photographic and written information about a wide variety of our state’s finest traditional artists. A few examples include Dutch Hop Musicians from northeastern Colorado, a saddle maker from Meeker, a cowboy wood carver from Walsenburg, and an African-American storyteller from Denver. The other side of the panel features information about local Colorado activities, events, and organizations that celebrate traditional cultures.

Harvest of Heritage display at Museum of Western Colorado.
Photo by Wes Allen, Museum of Western Colorado.

Eight to ten display cases also travel with the exhibit, showcasing the artwork of many of the featured artists. Some examples are working ranch gear made from braided rawhide and leather from northwestern Colorado, an example of Mexican fabric art from Denver which is used to teach children about agriculture, and a decorative piece made from plaited wheat from northeastern Colorado. At some venues, large display cases featured saddles made by Colorado Saddle Makers Association members.

Since September 2010, museums and cultural centers throughout the state have graciously hosted Harvest of Heritage. Each site has its own wonderful story to tell so we have included the list below not only to show where the exhibit has visited, but also to encourage you to learn more about, and visit these great cultural assets that help preserve and present Colorado’s rich cultural heritage.

Funding for the exhibit from the National Endowment for the Arts American Masterpieces program which was awarded to Colorado Creative Industries (CCI) which in turn contracted with the Museum of Western Colorado to carry out the project. Colorado’s Cultural Heritage Program is carried out through a partnership between CCI and the Museum.

For further information on Harvest of Heritage please contact Ronna Lee Sharpe, rsharpe@westcomuseum.org or visit the Museum of Western Colorado website.

Harvest of Heritage Tour Schedule (Past and Future)

September 2-25, 2010
Fort Garland Museum (San Luis Valley)

Wood Carving by Mark Wells of Walsenburg on display at the Museum of Western Colorado.
Photo by Wes Allen, Museum of Western Colorado

October 1-30, 2010
Old Town Museum (Burlington)

November 4-22, 2010
Museum of Northwest Colorado (Craig)

November 29-Dec 11, 2010
Cortez Cultural Center (Cortez)

February 25-June 30, 2011
Museum of Western Colorado (Grand Junction)

July 5-August 19, 2011
Town of Windsor Art and Heritage Center (Windsor)

August 26-September 5, 2011
Colorado State Fair (Pueblo)

October 4-27, 2011
Rocky Ford Business and Arts Incubator and Entrepreneurship Center (Rocky Ford)

November 4-5. 2011
Grand Junction Cowboy Poetry Gathering @ Museum of Western Colorado (Grand Junction)

January 6-22, 2012
National Western Stock Show (Denver)

February 9-April 8, 2012
Telluride Historical Museum (Telluride)