Decorated Barns of Southeastern PA

Based on over a decade of field research throughout Southeastern Pennsylvania in six counties, Patrick Donmoyer’s survey of decorated Pennsylvania Barns reveals a diverse and colorful tradition of folk art that has persisted to the present day and overlaps with many other artistic, ritual, and architectural traditions. Donmoyer will provide insights into the lives of specific barn painters and their distinctive works and processes. In addition, the content of the designs will be compared to trends in Pennsylvania German folklore, especially as it pertains to beliefs and practices associated with the agricultural lifestyle, religious expression, and observations of the heavens.