"I've always wanted to do a show about food, because food is my jam." Glitter Milk Gallery owner Miranda sharp's love of food inspired the gallery's newest show, "Buffet," a smorgasboard of fun food-themed paintings, prints, and sculptures. All of the work has a fun, slightly macabre aesthetic, from Alison Bamcat's Dirtcup Delight, an angry Oreo-eating ghost, to Kim Nguyen's Sushi Sushi On The Soy Shore. The latter is a detailed illustration of anthromorphised sushi contents frolicking in sticky rice and seaweed, highly reminiscent of Roland Topor's artwork for Fantastic Planet.
Other works combine food and sexuality such as Anna Lisa Schneiders Beat My Meat and the funny, BDSM-themed print Coffee Is Your Master by Ryan Brady.
While most of "Buffet" features paintings and prints, my favorite pieces were the ones expressing the theme using different media. Stephanie Kang's Zine How to Eat Ramen: A Guide should be required reading for every hipster who lunches at Bandit Queen. Gala Delish's Sugar Bomb(s) are arranged on a tea tray and look good enough to eat. Alexandra Johnson's embroidery Royal Sweets not only includes beautifully embroidered candies, but the frame is covered in sprinkles. Terra Lockhart's Peach Queen is a dripping delight, combining illustration with melting wax peach candlesticks.
There was one definite miss: Sarah Fries' Shrine to the Goddess of Agriculture. The installation was a hodgepodge of fruits, vegetables, candles, crystals, a small print of a generic-looking goddess figure, and several astrological symbols. There are many farming and agricultural deities across the workd, from the Phillipine's Lakapati, the Taino's Yucahu, and many more across the world. Agricultural shrines and harvest rituals vary from culture to culture, and objects placed on shrines have very specific roles and meanings. Fries' shrine doesn't make any sense: the symbol for the planet Saturn makes no sense in the context of this piece, because Saturn is not involved in any traditional harvest rituals, or in agricultural astrology.
Unfortunately, many indigenous religions, rituals, shrines, and sites of worship were destroyed by colonialism and racism. Appropriation and good gentrification are major problems in Grand Rapids, and this shrine feels like a wasted opportunity to feature the work of an indigenous artist and practitioner rather than a bad imitation.
If you want to sink your teeth into "Buffet," you can contact Glitter Milk Gallery at [email protected] to arrange a private viewing, or inquire about purchasing the art on display. Follow Glitter Milk's Facebook page for info on upcoming events, including the closing reception at the end of this month.
Disclosure: The author has a working relationship with Giltter Milk Gallery owner Miranda Sharp, who is providing poster designs and creative support for the Grand Rapids Feminist Film Festival.
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