Food ways

This spring, I created a new mosaic of a peculiar subject: artichokes.

The catalyst for this piece was a call for artists to the annual Art About Agriculture exhibition, hosted by Oregon State University. The call was broad, allowing for wide interpretations on that theme. Coming from a farming family (my in-laws too), it was a task to narrow my focus from a wide array of inspiring Oregon crops and landscapes that have shaped my life.

I thought about plants and ag products that represent Oregon in a singular way, like the hazelnuts (we always called them filberts) that are almost exclusively grown in our state for the entire US market. I thought of my grandparents' Jersey/Guernsey dairy farm, as well as the sheep and alfalfa they raised. I reflected on the Italian plums, holly and replanted firs that populated my in-laws' farm, and the vineyards and cherry trees next door.

What finally captured my thoughts was something more personal, and connected to current events as deeply as it connects to my own farming ancestors. A photo I had taken years before, on a sunny fall day in the south park blocks at Portland's farmers' market. A vendor there had tables heaped with mounds of vegetables, and among those were the artichokes.

These particular ones were deeply tinged in purple, an heirloom variety transported by someone long ago from seeds saved in their home country, probably near the Mediterranean. The setting of a farmers' market has become somewhat commonplace in most American towns and cities, but only 25 years ago, they were quite rare.

It was about then, in 1999, that I made a break from office work to pursue the somewhat "new" dream of becoming an organic farmer, and a market like this one was my path to earning a living from it. We moved from Seattle to my husband's family farm in the Willamette Valley, and we proceeded to build a large garden and greenhouse for our new little business.

After 5 years of growing and selling at market, we shifted to landscape work (which pays better), but I've never lost my fondness for farmers' markets and the people who make them. The rich colors, flavors, sounds and smells are part of a tapestry that recalls other places around the world, where markets have never lost favor.

Food traditions form a backbone for every ethnic and geographical group in this country, and with the exception of indigenous folks, nearly all can trace those flavors back to a people from somewhere else. People who continue quietly growing and sharing those seeds, crops and dishes in daily life, to whom we should offer deep gratitude. For holding onto and then giving us the food ways that delight us today, and that hopefully we can carry forward to those who follow.

'Tradition'

A mosaic crafted entirely in Perdomo smalti, enamel glass made in Mexico adapted from the Italian tradition

18.5"h x 9"w

Join me for an opening reception May 5 at OSU's Giustina Gallery if you're near Corvallis! The exhibit will travel from here to Pendleton and then Oregon City, please visit this link for all the show dates and information.