SAFS goes Exploring: “Farmland: Food, Justice, and Sovereignty”
Print
EmailA Multidimensional Look at Agriculture Through Art at the MSU Broad Art Museum
Recently, a diverse group of undergraduate and graduate students from PSM’s Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems (SAFS) program came together to experience “Farmland: Food, Justice, and Sovereignty,” an evocative art exhibition currently on view at the MSU Broad Art Museum. The exhibit, which runs through July 27, invites viewers to reimagine the landscape of agriculture—not only as a means of production, but as a dynamic intersection of culture, history, justice, and survival.
Assembled with insight and care by assistant curator Dalina A. Perdomo Álvarez, the exhibit brings together a striking array of media, from painting and sculpture to video, collage, photography, and historical artifacts. Many pieces are drawn from the MSU Museum collection and the Broad collection, while others were assembled from artists and contributors across the state.
SAFS students, ranging widely in age, background, and academic focus (and bound by a passion for food), were guided through the show by Perdomo Álvarez, taking in powerful visual narratives that challenge conventional views of agriculture and food systems. The experience encouraged students to consider agriculture not only through the lens of science and policy, but also through memory, identity, resistance, and hope.
Perdomo Álvarez’s deep connection to the 1914 painting “Michigan Pasture with Cows” by Mathias Joseph Alton inspired her contributions to the exhibit, as it brings into clear focus the contrast between an idealized scene of domesticated farm animals, and the prairies full of native bison of earlier days. “It’s a startling lesson,” she explained, “of how humans shape foodscapes—and how food becomes a tool of control over land and life.”
Katherine Alaimo, SAFS program director and organizer of the group tour, reflected on the broader value of the visit.
“It’s important to get out of our boxes and into the world and have shared experiences as a basis for mutual understanding, broader conversations, and ultimately, change.”
The exhibit also features recent work supported by exhibit funds, including a video focusing on urban farming efforts in Flint. One installation invites viewers to consider the true history behind agricultural innovation—such as updated signage accompanying a historic model on the hybridization of corn, a change prompted by research and advocacy.
Detroit’s 1960s avant-garde art scene also makes an impressive appearance, with works from Gordon Newton from the Wayne State University collection:
Of the many highlights are these WPA-era architectural models depicting barns: created for educational purposes. From the MSU Museum collection. And if you had any doubt that farm equipment makes good art, you need to go. And don’t miss these sketches of concept tractors from International Harvester:
To enrich public engagement before the exhibit closes, the museum is hosting several special programs:
Related Events:
GARDEN EDITION: Deep Rooted with Beal Botanical Garden
Sunday, July 13 | 1:00 – 2:00 PM
Beal Botanical Garden
Join garden experts in an exploration of plant histories and food traditions rooted in our local soil.
Art in the Afternoon Chill Out: A Celebration of Food and Community
Saturday, July 19 | 1:00 – 3:00 PM
Broad Art Museum
A lively gathering with local growers, community members, art-making stations, and food for thought—and the table.
Film Screening: Michigan Agriculture Documentaries
July 8, 6:00pm
This special screening showcases films that expand on the themes of the exhibition, featuring stories of urban agriculture and food sovereignty in Michigan communities.
Did You Guys Eat? / ¿Ya Comieron?: Stories of Michigan Agriculture (2025), dir. Stephany Slaughter (presented by Producer Nick Wracan)
The Kings of Flint (2011), dir. Geri Alumit Zeldes and Troy Hale
Flint River Farm (2012), dir. Geri Alumit Zeldes and Troy Hale
Organic Network (2024), dir. Elena Sheperd
“Farmland: Food, Justice, and Sovereignty” reminds us that agriculture is more than what we grow—it's who we are, how we relate to each other and the land, and what we choose to nourish in our communities. Don’t miss this opportunity to see food systems through fresh eyes, and to reflect on how art can till the ground for a more just and sustainable future.
Exhibit runs through July 27 at the Broad Art Museum
Admission to exhibit and all event is free and all are welcome.
For more information, visit: broadmuseum.msu.edu
