VOTE FOR FIRECRACKER THIS SUNDAY AT SLOUP! January 25 2011
The crew at The Firecracker Press are teaming up with Kim Wardenburg (Artist/Printmaker), Carlos Dominguez (owner of Latino Americana), and Ana Rivera (of El Chico Bakery) to make fully printed, edible tacos this year during the SCG printmaker's conference in March. We've been collecting stories from Cherokee Street businesses and residents in order to develop imagery that will be printed on tortillas, cooked, and made to order while you wait. The goal of the project is to build bridges between cultures in one of the most diverse neighborhoods in St. Louis, Cherokee Street. Stop by SLOUP on Sunday, January 30th from 2-4pm at the Contemporary Museum in St. Louis to vote for our proposal and help make this project possible.
It's important to note that this is a non-profit undertaking and if you'd like to read our proposal it's listed here...
SLOUP #12
Proposal: Cherokee Street: A Collaboratory for Edible Ideas
Facilitators: Eric Woods (Firecracker Press, Owner/Printmaker) and Kim Wardenburg (Artist/Printmaker)
The establishment of community is almost always thought of in positive terms, but the borders and common characteristics that define a community can also create divisions within or around it. Kim Wardenburg took this as the underlying theme when she began a series of edible prints on flatbread, in contemplation of the significance of covenant and community in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. While FRESH BREAD was very successful in stirring conversation, it is hard to gage any immediate or lasting impact, due to the geographical distance of the issue in comparison to the involved community. Thus, currently, Eric Woods and Wardenburg are now reconsidering the themes in FRESH BREAD and the possibilities of stimulating conversation and positive community relationships in a localized context: the Cherokee Street neighborhood of St. Louis.
Cherokee St. boasts a socially and culturally diverse community of individuals who have invested their lives and families into the growth and future of the neighborhood. In an effort to facilitate cross-community convergence on Cherokee, project coordinators Eric Woods and Kim Wardenburg are collaborating with Carlos Dominguez of Latino Americana Restaurant, as well as Ana Rivera of El Chico Bakery and other participants from the neighborhood, to serve up the "Printmakers' Special", a taco meal complete with edible, printed tortillas inspired by the people of Cherokee Street!
★ Inspiration: Interviews and conversations held prior to the conference with local business owners and residents.
★ Focus: The importance of developing community and the impact of family-run businesses on the progress of the neighborhood.
★ Materials: Interviews will be translated into imagery and printed on corn tortillas with edible ink. Additionally, plates, napkins, and the tissue wrapping each taco will be printed, making an edible, printed (and delicious) meal.
★ Date: Friday, March 18th, 2011, concurrent with the SGCI Printmaking Conference.
★ Intent: This project is an opportunity for the local community to voice their impressions of the neighborhood and introduce Cherokee Street to the 1500+ visitors who will be there for the conference.
★ SLOUP's involvement will extend the aspect of community involvement in the project even further, beyond Cherokee to the rest of St. Louis. If this project receives SLOUP funding, the money will pay for:
- the cost of ingredients for the edible ink and the corn tortillas
- silk screens, emulsion, squeegees, and other materials for printing
- food-safe letterpress ink for napkins, cups, and tissue paper."