Below, “Guavas on Grandmother’s Flowered Plate” by Dana Squires, and (above) “Cabbage” by Rod Weagant, are part of the new show at The Confluence: Art in Twisp.
Two upcoming exhibits at The Confluence: Art in Twisp celebrate something that every living human relies upon: food. Food is a necessity, but it “is so much more,” according to a press release from The Confluence. Food “nourishes not only our bodies, but our identities, traditions, and values.”
“Food for Thought” and “Oops, We Painted!” will run through Oct. 3. The community is invited to the opening on Saturday (Aug. 29) from 5-7 p.m.
The “Food for Thought” curator, artist Bethany Wray, said that the goal of the exhibit is “to highlight the various roles that food plays in our lives, as well as where it is sourced.”
For instance, she said, “We have some really great work that focuses on the beauty of food as still life, others showcasing the more intimate side of food as ritual, and work that is playful both in form and subject.”
Wray said she thought she would receive more submissions “centered on the political aspects of where and how we source our food, but I think the title ended up encouraging more light-hearted content,” she said, adding that “Confluence Gallery is planning to host a panel of speakers to address topics about food sourcing and ethics as it relates to the Methow Valley and Okanogan County.”
Many media
The show, according to Wray, will feature 17 artists and all kinds of media, including “a large oil painting of a cabbage by Rod Weagant, ceramic bowls incorporating morse code by Richard Caemmerer, and playful pop tarts made out of acrylic and wood tiles on canvas by Sarah Sims,” to name a few pieces.
Wray’s personal journey with food has taken her, one might say, from table to farm. “I grew up eating white bread and American cheese,” she said, “so the fact that kale and curry are a regular part of my diet is quite a leap.”
Raised in Southern California, Wray said that moving to Washington “really expanded my understanding of food and how it is sourced.”
life.
Concurrently, in the Community Gallery, Drawing Club will show “Oops, We Painted,” which will feature a series of food-themed painted still-lifes, the press release said. “In the spirit of Drawing Club, they are studies; a practice for the artist. … These quick sketches are a play and exploration of technique that show the spirit of the hand that brought it to life.”
At the opening, you will literally be fed, Wray said. “We are switching things up for the opening night by making appetizers featuring local produce and products from farmers around the region. The appetizers will have little cards accompanying them to advertise what product is being featured and what farm it came from.”
Buon appetit!
Learn more about The Confluence at confluencegallery.org or call (509) 997-2787.
