I’m use to seeing Xenobia Bailey waling the streets of Harlem decked in signature cap, crocheted work dress, and vintage glasses—this   prolific fiber artist is all about the FUNK.

Truly Food for Thought

featured in the NYTIME, written By JAN ELLEN SPIEGEL
April 13, 2012

THE study of food has had a home in higher education for generations. Agriculture was a founding mission of the land-grant university system started in the 1860s. Nutrition programs are commonplace. Culinary schools were around long before Julia Child turned Le Cordon Bleu on its butter-sauced ear.

But in an era of widespread interest, if not downright concern, about how that ear of corn, destined for a pot of boiling water on a perfect summer evening is grown, processed, marketed, distributed and used — and what it means for health, commerce, the economy and even the ecological state of the planet — colleges and universities have come to realize that the classic food disciplines simply will not do anymore. For more read NYTIMES

If you count yourself like most food loving New Yorkers who consider themselves aficandos of Food and Art, you’ll want to check out this year’s Umami Festival bustling with lots of fab happenings from films series, food events, and with a special, live addition of The Food Seen on Heritage Network Radio hosted by Michael Harlan Turkell, food writer and photographer. A unique, recently published book and CD project presents recipes by top chefs scored by Brooklyn based, indie rock band, One Ring Zero.  Lead by composer Michael Hearst, the band experimented with a variety of musical styles according to each chef’s vision. The lyrics were contributed by Mario Batali, Tom Collicio, and David Chang, among others.

In the spirit of the project, this event brings together live music, delicious food and drinks, and some personal reflections on both. This final component will be presented by food writer and photographer Michael Harlan Turkell, hosting a special addition of his talk show The Food Seen on Heritage Network Radio from Roulette.

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The No Longer Empty crew strikes again with their latest major project, This Side of Paradise opened on April 4, 2012—what’s behind the gates of the Andrew Freedman Home will clearly make the Bronx’s a hotbed of artistic endeavors and much needed cultural destination. The NLE curators transformed the interior space with the works of  select visual artists addresses site specific work that respond to such issues as memory, immigration, storytelling, aging and the creation of fantasy informed by the original concept of the Home “being poor in style” suggests. This Side of Paradise celebrates human ingenuity, the strength of the human spirit and the resilience needed to fashion beauty, hope and rejoicing. This show features over 35 artists of which include Linda Cummingham, Justen Ladda Sofia Maldonado, and Federico Uribe, you still have time to hang out at the Andrew Freedman Home work the show runs through 05 June, 2012. For more fun happenings in the Bronx check out No Longer Empty website.

This installation takes place at The Andrew Freeman Home once  a haven, paradise, for the rich elderly who had lost their fortunes. Bequeathed by millionaire Andrew Freedman, the Home provided not only food and shelter but all the accoutrements of a rich and civilized life style – white glove dinner service, a grand ball room, a wood-paneled library, billiard room and a social committee who organized concerts, opera performances and the like.

Referencing this quixotic history, This Side of Paradise references the past and reconnect the vision of Andrew Freedman to today’s Bronx and its realities. The exhibition and its extensive public programming onsite and offsite draws together the economic and social history of the Home with the present day realities of the Bronx and its residents.

Philadelphia, the city of brotherly love was crowned Fiber Month by Mayor Michael Nutter. This March and April Fiber Philadelphia 2012 will hosting a series of lectures, exhibitions planned for 40 locations at such major institutions as Moore College of Art and Design, Crane Arts building and numerous independent art galleries. Elissa Auther, kicked off the opening weekend with a lecture at Moore College of Art and Design on, Fiber in the 21st Century Art World,  on the explosion of fiber and fiber-base practices in contemporary art and everyday life. Elissa is Associate Professor of Contemporary Art at the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs and Adjunct Curator at the Museum of Contemporary Art, Denver and her book String, Felt, Thread and the Hierarchy of Art and Craft, published by University of Minnesota Press in 2010. For more information click the calendar of events: Fiber Philly events.

Below: Materiality Exhibition held at Moore College of Art and Design.

Lots of amazing presentations jumping off throughout  Social Media Week, however I started my Valentine day off with Digital Voyeurism panel held at the Hearst Magazines Urban Theater.  Much like the early onset of food bloggers revolutionized blogging—now design/lifestyle bloggers are making huge strides blogging about what’s chic and using social media— all has changed the way people decorate there spaces. Speaking on the what’s chic Bryan Batt,  Jeanine Hays, and Christiane Lemieux, each shared stories of about their blogs, shops and products. Now design bloggers are taking the lead with decorating magazines following suit and featuring eclectic colorful home decor photography from a more humanistic perspective rather then sterile sparse decor of the past.

Bryan Batt

Food Fight: If you’re riled up over food why not join the conversation surrounding food questions of sustainability, obesity, sovereignty, ethics, culture, science, innovation, diversity and the future. Design Indaba is gathering some designers, artists, chefs, thinkers and food experts and posing some provocative questions. You’ve got food in your face! Join the food fight and have your say too. For more information click Design Indaba Food Fight. 

Above: Photo featuring Martin Hablesreiter one half of Austrian design duo Honey and Bunny, with Sonja Stummerer. Although they work in architecture, product and exhibition design, their primary focus and interest is in food design. Recently they published the book Food Design XL. Below: Clip from the Food Design film  highlighting design themes of  Honey and Bunny’s work.