FOOD LOVE

A Community Engaged Project 

April 3, 2015

Markland House Lawn

Flagler College Campus

St. Augustine, Florida

Students enrolled in my Installation and Site Specific class hand fed strangers in an intimate setting while telling personal stories. Each student prepared a meal that was nostalgic to them. Guests were seated in a tent with a fabric divider down the middle. Guests and students could not see each other. Guests were asked not to speak, simply listen and taste. Once the guest was seated, the student gently offered a taste of food by holding out a spoon/fork underneath the fabric divider. As the student fed the guest, a story was told about the memories associated with the food they had chosen to prepare. The interior of the tents were lit with white holiday lights and each student placed personal items and photos in the tent. Each guest spent approximately 10 - 15 minutes in the tent. At the end of each session, guest and student touched hands.

FOOD LOVE encompassed all the senses.
Sound. Voices whispering stories and the soft strumming of guitar.
Scent. The aroma of food being cooked and served.
Taste. Small bites of food for the palette.
Touch. The pulling back of fabric to enter the tent and a goodbye touch to the hand.
Sight. The event officially began when the sun set. The white tents glowed in the darkness under the large oak trees.

Reservations were made weeks ahead of time. The event was free and open to the public.

The students and myself designed, constructed and installed the tents. I would like to thank Russell Maycumber II, Russell Maycumber III, Luciana Gassett, Flagler College Maintenance staff, Laura Stevenson-Dumas and Holly Hill.