In the Field 08 - June 2013 - Food for thought

Also found Johnny Cupcakes store 
on Martha's Vinyard

First case of my research is the art practice of Jeanne van Heeswijk. Her assistant told me that one of the first art projects Jeanne did was arranging a dinner. Not only the menu but also the location, the entourage, the seating at the table was composed to created a situation of optimal inspiration. Now as well in Rotterdam as in Liverpool one of the main activities Jeanne has initiated concern food: a neighborhood kitchen in Rotterdam and a bakery in Liverpool.
In the flux factory, my second case, I found out that for all the decades this organization exists they have had a thursday potluck at least every month and for a long period even every week. One or more artists would arrange the evening as an inspiring event and hard core "fluxers" consider this diner the core event of the factory.

Soon after I came here I visited the Highline. Here one of the New York performance veterans of the Fluxus movement Alison Knowles staged a performance called "make a salad". Together with the audience she prepared a massive salad and handed it out for free to the audience.
By the end of may I was invited by performance artist Richard Jochum to attend to his monthly event "diner a vingt" at the art space of the Emily Harvey Foundation one of the former strongholds of the Fluxus movement. He told me he was not shire wether this event was art but he did present it a few days later at the Bushwick Open Studio's event. His presentation was part of a program called: "We eat We are".

My third case "the colony" at Moma Ps1 appeared to be hosted by Anne Apparu … food artist. No need to explain that one of the main activities were happening around the diner table.

I remember the conclusions of a european investigation into European Cultural values in 2007. It reads that: "Food forms the most common means of cross-cultural contact". Maybe we should turn the museums and theaters into public kitchens.

Richard Jochum (2013) "Diner a Vingt"