Today I learned about the passing of filmmaker George Kuchar. In his honor, I am reading his screenplay Kiss of Frankenstein, a farce about a “pierogi purgatory”. Here is the first line:
“Listen, Coco: This was a lousy idea to come to these creepy mountains in search of garlic recipes. Garlic makes your breath stink. There’s nothing even remotely romantic about it.”
Download the full screenplay here: http://www.ubu.com/ubu/unpub/Unpub_012_Kuchar_Frankenstein.pdf
We here at GARLIC & GREENS are inspired by the urban agriculture movement, and also by artists who are delving into these topics in creative and unusual ways.
Here are some recent works we’ve been thinking about lately:
Jeremiah Jae – Soul Controller
Jessica Mallis – Brassica
Photos from the JOURNEYS event on August 6 have been uploaded. Captions and audio soon to follow. Click on the album cover to view:
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| JOURNEYS: exploring Black culture through migration history and food heritage |
Every Wednesday GARLIC & GREENS volunteers at the Green Youth Farm Jr. at Reavis Elementary School. Here students LaTavia and Malik and instructor Molly work together to cook greens for the community lunch. Usually we cook outside but there were record high temperatures so we took the kitchen inside that day (it was too hot inside too!)
GARLIC & GREENS recently participated in Please touch the artwork, a multi-sensory art exhibit for people with low or no vision. Curator Emma Stein explains: “In addition to advancing the field of art accessibility, the exhibition will also provide a meaningful experience for the sighted, giving participants an opportunity to branch out of strictly visual modes of engagement with artworks.”
GARLIC & GREENS was represented by a short audio track and posters designed by Jamie Sebold. Listen for the voices of Archeworks alumni Madhoolica Dear, Jeff Burandt, Graham Giovagnoli, and Liz Kramer!
Photos from the INTERSECTIONS event on July 22nd have been uploaded! Captions and audio soon to follow. Click on the album cover to view:
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| INTERSECTIONS:exploring disability, race, and community through art and culture |
Here are two recent articles about the project. Let us know what you think!
G&G in Time Out Chicago: http://timeoutchicago.com/arts-culture/art-design/14854523/garlic-and-greens-captures-the-history-of-soul-food
Fereshteh’s personal essay about the project in Issue 11 of AREA Chicago: http://areachicago.org/p/issues/immigrations/garlic-greens/
Hardcopies of the AREA newspaper will be distributed starting Friday the 22nd. Come to the INTERSECTIONS event first, then head to the Disablity Pride Parade open mic downtown, and conclude your evening at the AREA release party in Pilsen.
On June 11, Archeworks members Madhoolica, Jamie, and Fereshteh volunteered with others to help plant hundreds of native plants for a new garden at Dyett High School, a project hosted by Washington Park Conservancy and instigated by Dyett’s art teacher Janine Favia. This volunteer work is part of GARLIC & GREEN’s outreach efforts at Dyett High School and the surrounding neighborhood. Check back soon to see images of the new social space Jamie and Madhoolica have been designing for Dyett High School along with other Archeworks members.
Find more images from the work day on the Washington Park Conservancy Flickr photo album.
This video is a trailer for a new documentary about Mr. Okra, a man who sells vegetables from his truck in New Orleans. Here in Chicago, we have a few folks selling vegetables from parked cars and popsicles from bicycle trailers and wheeled hand carts, but laws on food vendor carts are very prohibitive. In recent years there has been increased interest, and with advocacy, restrictions could be lifted. GARLIC & GREENS just learned that there is a grocery store on wheels touring Chicago’s west side. Check out the story here: http://www.wbez.org/blog/city-room-blog/2011-06-15/grocery-bus-west-siders-jump-health-bandwagon-87887#
Yesterday Fereshteh met with Eliza Fournier and Jesse Rutschman at Reavis Elementary on 50th St. to learn more about the Jr. Green Youth Farm program, which is run by the Chicago Botanic Garden. As part of G&G, Fereshteh will be volunteering every Wednesday with students who are learning about gardening and green job skills. In addition to field trips and hands-on activities in the garden, youth will work in teams to prepare snacks from the previous day’s harvest. She says: “I’m looking forward to talking to them about food heritage and introducing them to my favorite vegan soul food recipes!”