Food Cycles

Ourobous, the Greek symbol of eternity, came to my mind as I looked at images Francine Zaslow was creating for a collaborative cookbook. Known for imbuing all objects with a layer of sensuous texture and mystery, Zaslow added a sense of reverence to basic elements of sustenance. Nose-to-tail cooking techniques were the basis of this cookbook and provided the concept and context for our exhibit. Images most emblematic of the fundamental and eternal cycles were chosen. I exhibited several in our group exhibition at Tokyo Photo in September of 2013.

On it’s way to a cookbook, the work was influenced by the practice of utilizing the whole animal in foods of other cultures. The decision to print the digital images in black and white turned vegetables, fish and fowl into sculpture; a feast of texture and painterly still-life beauty. Known for her attention to detail and a Zen-quality of suspension – Francine enhanced the “otherworldly” quality of the prints with painted backdrops by Susan Strauss. The eloquent artist statement by Tom Babbitt speaks to the journey beyond food to the cycles of life, art and spirit that the images evoke.