Amuse Bouche™: Weekly Musings on Food & Life
Enjoy it...while it lasts, 2007
Where Art and Food Collide: An Interview with Artists Timothy Berg and Rebekah Myers
By Suzanne Lenzer
Food has long served as inspiration for artists, and I think it can also be said that art inspires chefs. But what’s really interesting to me is that both cooking and art follow similar processes: they begin with an idea or a thought that needs to be translated using either ingredients or a specific medium. The outcome may be different—one may live on a plate and the other on canvas–but the creative path is comparable.
Eat your heart out!!!, 2008
With this in mind I wanted to talk to people who were somehow linked to both worlds, so I sought out Timothy Berg and Rebekah Myers—two collaborative artists who have breached the food world in their work. Specifically, it was Berg and Myers’ All Things Good… exhibition at the Dean Project Gallery in New York last year made them irresistible candidates for discussion about food and art.
SL: What commonalities do you believe exist between the visual arts and food/cooking?
TB/RM: Our background is in ceramics and ceramics in particular has a great deal in common with cooking in terms of the process. We work with recipes both for claybodies and glazes. Some of these recipes have been passed down and others are one’s we have developed or experimented with and discovered produce phenomenal results. In ceramics we are firing our work, another obviously analogous process for baking or grilling. The process of making something whether out of clay or other materials is always very similar to cooking in our minds because we generally start with a basic idea of what we’d like to finish with and what the steps might be to produce that result. Finally, beginning with good materials is like having superior ingredients, and craftsmanship in either process is crucial to a visually appealing or delicious tasting result.
get'em 'fore they're gone, 2007
SL: Food and art can both be incredibly inspiring and evocative, but they can also be taken too seriously. Your work is very balanced—thought-provoking yet whimsical at the same time. Can you describe your shared philosophy/outlook, how you find this balance?
TB/RM: We are both interested in creating work that is thought provoking and whimsical as you described. This is not always easy but when, and if, we strike this balance it comes from allowing our ideas to marinate—another cooking analogy. We may begin thinking through our ideas several months before beginning work on them or we may begin work and be forced to start again. In either case the ideas evolve from a process of continual questioning. This continual questioning sometimes focuses around whether the ideas are compelling enough and other times is concerned with whether or not the work is engaging aesthetically.
Artists Timothy Berg & Rebekah Myers
SL: How do you decide what you’re going to create—why a Creamsicle and an ice cream sandwich instead of a Mallomar or a Fig Newton?
TB/RM: Well Fig Newtons are definitely too healthy. Originally we made the ice cream treats as counterpoints to other pieces. The piece Enjoy it…while it lasts was a counterpoint to tip of the iceberg (precious cubes). And Eat your heart out was a counterpoint to between a rock… Both of these pieces are meant to be considered within a broader context; one that demonstrates the important interconnectedness between human appetites and the implications that these appetites have on our environment. Ice cream treats were initially interesting to us because they are exceedingly seductive in their form, color and symbolic value. Since they are frozen treats they inevitably have to transform or be consumed. This predicament seems to fuel the insatiability that people exhibit when eating these treats. In our minds there are few other things that so clearly embody conspicuous consumption.
SL: Okay, on to real food. What do you two eat for breakfast?
TB: Honey Nut Cheerios and either coffee or a vanilla soy milk latte.
RM: Raisin Bran and some strawberries or black berries.
SL: What’s always in your refrigerator or cupboard?
TB/RM: Vanilla soy milk, black beans, garlic, fresh baby leaf spinach, olive oil.
SL: Do you have any food memories you can share that have inspired you–your own personal madeleines so to speak?
TB: I’m not sure this particular story is one that inspired any of our work, but in college I ate frequently at a restaurant that served sesame tofu. I enjoyed this tofu so much that I wrote an “Ode to Sesame Tofu.” I took Rebekah on our first date to this restaurant and I told her I liked the tofu so much that I had written a poem in homage to it. Of course she immediately asked me to recite the poem, which I did.
SL: This may seem a bit dark, what would your last meals be?
TB: Double stacked garden burger on a toasted sesame seed bun with pepper jack cheese, guacamole, tomato, pickles, mushrooms, and catsup, a side of crispy curly fries and a cold glass of beer, and for desert a hot out of the oven chocolate brownie with vanilla ice cream on top.
RM: Too dark.
SL: When you fly do you carry your own food? If so, what do pack?
TB: If I am thinking ahead I try to pack a Tiger’s Milk bar for a snack.
RM: I always eat an entire roll of Mentos over the course of the flight.
SL: Do you cook and if so, can you share some of your specialties?
TB: I enjoy making pizza from scratch. Nothing fancy just the dough recipe from our King Arthur Flour Cookbook and a home made sauce with veggies and mozzarella cheese.
RM: Mushroom, Spinach and Tofu Quiche.
SL: Knowing that you both cook, what music do you listen to while you’re chopping?
TB/RM: Mostly we listen to NPR. Marketplace is good to chop to.
Filed under: contemporary art, epicurean, New York | 36 Comments
Tags: All Things Good, art, artist, creamsicle, Dean Project Gallery, food, interview, Rebekah Myers, Timothy Berg
What i don’t understood is in reality how you are now not really a lot more smartly-appreciated than you might be right now. You’re very
intelligent. You recognize therefore significantly relating to
this subject, made me for my part believe it from numerous numerous
angles. Its like men and women are not involved until it’s something to accomplish with Woman gaga! Your personal stuffs outstanding. All the time handle it up!
This excellent website definitely has all the information and facts
I needed about this subject and didn’t know who to ask.
Great beat ! I would like to apprentice while you amend your
web site, how can i subscribe for a blog site? The account helped me a acceptable deal.
I had been a little bit acquainted of this your broadcast
provided bright clear idea
My spouse and I absolutely love your blog and find a lot of your post’s to be exactly what I’m looking for.
Would you offer guest writers to write content for you personally?
I wouldn’t mind writing a post or elaborating on some of the subjects you write with regards to here. Again, awesome blog!
Asking questions are actually pleasant thing if you are
not understanding something completely, but this post provides nice understanding yet.
Hello! Do you use Twitter? I’d like to follow you if that would be okay. I’m undoubtedly enjoying
your blog and look forward to new updates.
Hey there are using WordPress for your blog platform?
I’m new to the blog world but I’m trying to get started and create my
own. Do you require any html coding knowledge to make your own blog?
Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Appreciation for other sorts of useful site. Where by more might I get of which kind of details written in this sort of best manner? I’ve a job that I am simply right now concentrating on, and I’ve recently been in the look out for similarly info.
Hello! I just would like to give you a huge
thumbs up for your excellent information you have right here on this post.
I’ll be returning to your blog for more soon.
It’s a nice and practical part of information and facts. Now i’m pleased that you simply contributed this beneficial information with us. Make sure you remain united states updated like that. Many thanks for spreading.
Je souhaiterai vous dire que c’est vraiment un plaisir de visiter ce site
Nice weblog right here! Additionally your web site a lot
up very fast! What host are you the use of? Can I am
getting your associate hyperlink for your host? I want my web
site loaded up as fast as yours lol
There are also mods that allow teen Sims to have sex and also get pregnant, such as with The Sims 3 teen pregnant
mod. The point of the game is, in fact, to gather your missing
actresses in order to shoot the ultimate porn-movie: deep minds at
work here. Just like many health conditions, there is not necessarily a clear cause and effect when it comes to vaginismus.
Hey, merely changed into aware about your site through The search engines, determined that it’s definitely insightful. We will be watchful pertaining to brussels. I will be grateful any time you carry on that in future. Many folks will probably be benefited from your publishing. Best wishes!
I’m really loving the theme/design of your web site.
Do you ever run into any internet browser compatibility problems?
A handful of my blog readers have complained about my site not
operating correctly in Explorer but looks great in Chrome.
Do you have any suggestions to help fix this issue?
I read this paragraph completely on the topic of the difference of most recent and preceding technologies,
it’s amazing article.
Quality content is the key to be a focus for the viewers to pay
a quick visit the site, that’s what this site is providing.
Do you have a spam problem on this site; I also am a blogger, and I was wondering your situation; many of
us have developed some nice practices and we are looking to exchange solutions with other
folks, please shoot me an email if interested.
I couldn’t refrain from commenting. Perfectly written!
Hi there i am kavin, its my first time to commenting anywhere, when i read this
piece of writing i thought i could also make comment due
to this brilliant article.
Hermes caleche soap Amuse Bouche™: Weekly Musings on Food & Life | ArtsÉtoile
Quality content is thee secret to interest the viewers to go to see the web
page, that’s what this web pzge is providing.
Bring 2 cups of water to a boil and add the red quinoa.
Stone Age is long gone, but this simple example shows why we have this mechanism.
I think most of us bought into this promotional title
Superfoods but when last time the ‘mortal’ continental cucumber was claimed to be one of the Superfoods, I woke up.
It’s difficult to find experienced people for this subject, however, you seem like you
know what you’re talking about! Thanks
Hi, for all time i used to check webpage posts here early in the morning, as i like to
gain knowledge of more and more.
Blackjack On-line, is probably the most fulfilling gaming providers – study frankie dettori slots to make your prize.
There is also a syncing problem with the second generation of Sony E-Series
as it is not compatible with Windows 7. If I didn’t
know about a subject I applied myself to learn until I conquered it.
i – Pod touch made a huge impact when it was launched by
Apple because it took the entire idea of MP3 players a step further.
Awesome! Its really remarkable paragraph, I have got much clear idea concerning from this piece of
writing.
Very good website you have here but I was wanting
to know if you learned of any forums that go over the same topics discussed here?
I’d really like to be a part of online community in which I can get responses from
other experienced individuals that talk about the same interest.
If you have any suggestions, please tell me. Many thanks!
Stipulations of their endless conniving, they keep unscrupulously shaped the wrong image
for the world at large. In addition to the daily Slot Tournaments, Go Casino sends players invitations
and free entries to special tournaments. m just
scratching the surface here because some of the tantalizing transsexuals T-Girl Network features will do just about anything
deliciously nasty that will get your giblets tingling.
Sure maybe these ‘newbies’ don’t have the collectors edition of ‘Slapshot’ or know
that ‘Brass Bonanza’ by the now defunct Hartford
Whalers was the most epic sports song ever, but at least they are starting to get it.
Cross Dressing Guide – Learn everything about feminization and
pass as a genetic female today. If so, then you are in the appropriate location buddy.
Hi there, just became alert to your blog through Google, and found that
it’s really informative. I am going to watch out for brussels.
I’ll appreciate if you continue this in future. A lot of
people will be benefited from your writing. Cheers!
Again, You – Tube provides the broadest assortment of languages as well as subtitles done by people
belonging to different origins to help their fellow mates. These
free movie websites also would update the user with the latest trailers.
One had to either carry the movie CD to experience a movie or
should go to a theatre. However, there are several different ways you can do
this.
Thanks , I’ve recently been looking for info approximately this subject for ages and yours is the greatest I’ve found out till now.
But, what about the bottom line? Are you sure in regards to the supply?
You really make it appear really easy together with your presentation but I to find this
matter to be actually one thing which I believe I would
by no means understand. It seems too complex and extremely large for
me. I am having a look forward for your subsequent publish,
I will attempt to get the dangle of it!
Thank you, I’ve recently been looking for info about this topic for a long time and
yours is the greatest I’ve came upon so far. However,
what about the conclusion? Are you positive concerning the supply?