A Feast for the Eyes
Artists from downtown New York gathered at Agathe Snow’s Chinatown loft in the middle of December, 2007 to share a feast entitled, “First Postapocalyptic Christmas Dinner.” These artists are not normally written about how well they eat but on this night a glimpse into the lavish feast are given. Being artists, the presentation of Snow’s loft was fantastic and elegant. Jars of oils, potions and jams were installed in the entryway. In the main room, a table made of upside down bookshelves displayed the food that was to be enjoyed. (MUHLKE, 2007)
Snow is an artist known for her generosity and presentation of food as art. She has crafted Hero sandwiches for a Feed the Troops campaign, served Sunday dinners a hipster club called Beatrice Inn and created food from-the-heart for fashion shows. Snow blurs the line between food and art.
An issue not rose in the Elizabeth Telfer, Food as Art article is the concept that presentation and cultural significance plays a role in how much an art food really is. By utilizing the emotional significance of her presentations, Snow couples amazingly crafted feasts with emotionally driven presentations. I believe that this helps break the mold that food is not an art. Her food tastes, looks and has an emotional feel which helps to make a stronger case for food as an art.
Snow is not concerned that her food is or isn’t art though. She enjoys what she does and hopes that her work has an impact on the lives she touches. Being raised in a family of restaurant owners, food design was second-nature. Where she pushes the envelope is the presentation and format that her food is received.
Works Cited
MUHLKE, C. (2007, December 16). A Feast for the Eyes. Retrieved February 2, 2008, from New York Times: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/16/magazine/16food-t.html?scp=1&sq=food+as+art&st=nyt
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1 comment:
This article sounds fascinating in that this feast is celebrating so much more than simply eating, but rather preparation, coordination, and has cultural and historical significance.
Telfer could have definitely focused on the cultural aspect of food as art. There was a special emphasis on the topic in the article we read prior by Dissanyanke, and I found her outlook to be much more fascinating as it delved a bit deeper into food and its significance on culture, societies, and different backgrounds and upbringings.
I also find that the presentation of food and all that it entails is an enormous part of any gathering as it shows time, effort, and creativity on the preparer, like that of Snow. It is easy in a typical day to neglect to appreciate the little things in life that mean so much. At restaraunts, your grandparents house, or even for yourself, that extra bit of elegance and care put into cooking and settings can add immensely on a deeper level to an eating and gathering experience.
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