Organized thematically, this exhibition uses an artistic lens to examine food beyond its purpose as body fuel.
In its most prosaic sense, food is a physical necessity for survival, yet its overall significance transcends beyond mere sustenance. Food is integral to our communities, relationships, cultures and languages. People interact with food on varying levels. Some of us grow it; more of us buy it. We transform it by cutting, cooking and dressing it with spices, marinades and garnishes. We use food as an intermediary to connect with others through holiday meals, business lunches, dates and more. We fight over food. We deny food to others as a tool of suppression and cultural erasure. We fear for our health, feeding a growing global population and the effects of climate change on food production.
Through the works of artists such as Enrique Chagoya, Damien Hirst, Hung Liu, Analia Saban, Lorna Simpson and Andy Warhol, it becomes clear why food is a recurring subject in art, ever since the spark of human creativity was ignited thousands of years ago.
The UAMA invites you to make a non-perishable food donation to the UArizona Campus Pantry when you visit.
Add another layer to your exhibition experience by exploring Community Food Stories on the UAMA Connects mobile guide. The stories are authored by members of Tucson’s food community and provide a unique way to engage with works in The Art of Food, whether through personal reflections, recipes, poems, or introductions to local food culture and history.
About the Jordan Schnitzer Family Foundation
At age 14, Jordan D. Schnitzer bought his first work of art from his mother’s Portland, Oregon contemporary art gallery, evolving into a lifelong avocation as collector. He began collecting contemporary prints and multiples in earnest in 1988. Today, the collection exceeds 19,000 works and includes many of today’s most important contemporary artists. It has grown to be one of the country’s largest private print collections. He generously lends work from his collection to qualified institutions. The Foundation has organized over 110 exhibitions and has had art exhibited at over 160 museums. Mr. Schnitzer is also President of Harsch Investment Properties, a privately owned real estate investment company based in Portland, Oregon, owning and managing office, multi-tenant industrial, multi-family and retail properties in six western states. For more information about the Jordan Schnitzer Family Foundation, please visit jordanschnitzer.org.
