The Food Show Politics, Pleasure & Pain

"Eating is perhaps our profoundest enactment of our connection with the world." Wendell Berry

The Santa Fe Council for the Arts and the Capitol Art Foundation presented The Food Show: Politics, Pleasure and Pain in 2005 at the State Capitol building in Santa Fe. The exhibit featured photography, sculpture and video that dealt with one of the most essential elements of life and culture: food.

Some years ago the idea for The Food Show grew from the observation that most Americans have no clue where their food comes from and nor do they seem to care. This disaffection encourages the loss of small farms, family farmers and ranchers (and their integral importance in our communities), the indiscriminant use of pesticides, herbicides, chemical fertilizers and genetic engineering in agribusiness, loss of diversity, hunger, obesity and a lack of appreciation for the miracle of food.

The offerings of the Food Show included photographs by Alvaro Antonio Garcia, Miguel Gandert, Bobbe Besold, Jo Whaley and Janet Russek; Colette Hosmer’s sculptural work of food made from earth, soil and sand, Celia Rumsey’s installation and sculptural work, painter David Nakabayashi’s Consumption Series of modern retablos, video artist Susanna Carlisle’s dance-like installation, Peter Woytuk’s huge sensual food forms, Joe Girandola’s original work dealing with Mad Cow Disease, a banquet by Steina, plates of petals by Erik Hoffner, meat paintings by Mike Geno, seeds and dinnerware by Eddie Dominguez and a food mandala by Chrissie Orr and Ana MacArthur.

The "Roundhouse" New Mexico State Capitol,
The Food Show was installed just beyond this entrance and in the main rotunda.
The Capitol building features a unique collection of New Mexico art displayed throughout.

"Blackbirds & Apples" by Peter Woytuk

"Pair of Pears" by Peter Woytuk

View of The Food Show, October 2005.

"Cuts of Meat" by Mike Geno

"Hot Dog 2002", carved wood and duct tape by Joe Girandola

"Rio Grande Endangered Fish," one of series of ten (duct tape) by Joe Girandola

"Burger King wrapper torso with scale" by Eddie Dominguez

"Bread Mandala" by Chrissie Orr and Ana MacArthur

The bread installation was set up outside on the State Capitol building's terrace.
The artists photographed the transformation of the bread and seed installation.
It fed many birds and small animals for months.
Learn more about the mandala tradition here.

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