Story by Lynda L. Hall

Art and food have shared a dinner plate (and a canvas) since humans first began depicting the world around them. Paleolithic cave paintings in Lascaux, France illustrate the hunting of food; art collections around the world overflow with still life paintings of fruit.

But the seeds of a new art project planted at the Ottawa Art Gallery promise to take the relationship between artist and food much further.

In December, the Gallery put out a call for proposals from artists for community-based projects exploring food production and distribution which would span nine months. The submission deadline is Tuesday, February 1.

Tentatively titled “Will Work for Food,” it is the brainchild of the gallery’s Curator of Contemporary Art, Andrea Fatona, who for years has wanted to bring artists and non-artists together to grow food. About a year ago, over a serious of stimulating potluck suppers, Fatona gathered a group of artists (myself included) to brainstorm a vision for what was possible.

With a collaborative approach to the art making, Fatona believes that both the artists and the viewers witnessing the project growth will gain insight into the complexity of our global food system and develop a deeper understanding of the cultural and personal significance of food.

Indeed, the project’s primary goal of catalyzing discussion and debate around food through socially engaged art couldn’t be more timely. Last week’s Globe and Mail article “Soaring global food prices spark fears of social unrest” is one example of the kinds of stories appearing more frequently in mainstream media.

A second article in the same issue of the Globe, “Honey laundering: The sour side of nature’s golden sweetener,” offered broad context of food production challenges as evidenced in the global honey market. The closing paragraph of the article sums it up nicely:

"This issue really is a facet of the whole global food trade,” said Ms. Pundyk, whose book The Honey Trail explores the impact of globalization on bees. “We have become accustomed to getting whatever we want whenever we want it, and there will always be someone out there keen to pander to this.”

It usually takes massive crop failures due to unpredicted climactic factors, natural disasters, or disease (e.g., the infamous 1800s Irish Potato Famine) before we begin to consider the work of farmers and question our assumptions surrounding that fully-stocked supermarket down the road.

Two examples: When the cost of oil goes up, so does the cost of transporting food around the world. This cost is carried over to the consumer as higher retail food prices. And when global transportation systems falter (as they did in the aftermath of the 9/11) the food lifeline falters along with them.

While no single art project can galvanize quick and dramatic changes to a mainstream food culture that values time and money over taste and experience, “Will Work for Food,” is a statement by the Ottawa Art Gallery that art-making has a relevant role to play within society.

Creative thought cultivated through the research, exploration, and intervention of artists can lead to innovation with real-life applications. Artists who choose to work with the broader community open themselves—and those working alongside them—to greater possibilities.

For details on submitting proposals, contact Andrea Fatona at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .