1st Place Winner: Of Men and Martians: A Close Reading of a Cow Pea

Abstract

I was really looking forward to going to the “Food: Fact or Fiction” exhibit at the Perlow-Stevens Art Gallery, and I was disappointed when the weather interfered with our class trip. This exhibit seemed like it might be a good place to find ideas regarding the Mizzou Advantage initiative of “Food for the Future,” so my friend and I decided to make our own excursion to the gallery one afternoon. We were blown away at the quality of art throughout the gallery! As far as the specific exhibit went, it was interesting to see how the assorted artists explored different food-related themes. The media varied from fibers to ceramics and glass, from oil-color paintings to photography. Some were a critique on consumer culture, while others challenged conceptions of what the essence of a particular food actually is. However, a common theme ran through the pieces: all managed to use their respective media to convert the seemingly mundane topic of food into art.