Show and Tell for 48 Hours This Weekend
Once upon a time before I became a food writer, I worked in the art industry creating stuff. Many people scratch their heads when they see how my career has shifted, but if you find yourself joining this group, let me drop some knowledge: food and art are pretty much the same thing if you squint, sniff and sip long enough.
If you don’t believe me, let me give you an example. A couple of years ago, I became obsessed with the secret bakery called Chinatown Cake Club, a project owned and operated by multi-faceted artist/pastry chef/wonder woman Victoria Yee Howe, which is now defunct.
Upon a recent search for what was going on with Chinatown Cake Club, I discovered Victoria’s exciting upcoming collaboration with the talented Seattle based artist, Sierra Stinson, called Show and Tell, a 48 hour pop up mobile art gallery, book store, and reading room in the form of a moving truck. This dynamic duo has fully curated the event, which will be traveling all around the city this Saturday and Sunday, August 13th and 14th from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. each day.
This is Sierra, and this is her website.
To get a better sense of what’s going down this weekend, check out a recent Q&A that I did with these two artistic renegades below. According to the gals, the goal of Show and Tell is, “Hopefully this will be the beginning of something that resonates and continues in other forms around the country or the world. This is our first collaboration and most likely not our last.”
How do you two know each other?
Victoria: We are both old friends of old friends. Many years ago I was living in Seattle with my boyfriend, and after we broke up he moved to the apartment across the hall. Sierra was his stylish art curator roommate!
Sierra: I have met Victoria a few times in the last few years. She inspires me and accomplishes more in a year then most do in ten.
How did you come up with the Show and Tell concept?
Victoria: I was in Hong Kong a few months ago and was inspired by all the great new businesses and art that are popping up there, but also the lack of support and distribution of small press and independent printed matter. I used to run a pop-up bakery when I lived in Manhattan (Chinatown Cake Club) and the idea of creating temporary public spaces stayed with me - I like the idea of curating and controlling an environment, inviting people in, and exposing them to new things. Years ago I used to work at a small press library as a curator and I wanted to come up with a way to combine these two experiences and open a temporary forum where I could share with people independent books and magazines I liked or thought should have more recognition.
I knew Sierra ran a successful pop-up art gallery (Vignettes) based out of her apartment in Seattle and I asked her to get involved so we could join forces and show fine art as well as sell printed work. Doing it in a truck is almost incidental - I just liked the mobility and anonymity of taking over a space and then leaving. It’s actually kind of fitting because Sierra lives in Seattle and I’ve been living on the west coast this summer, taking a break from living in New York, so both of us are sort of in transit.
Sierra: I am literally along for the ride. Victoria pitched the idea to me a while back and together through long distance emails, short visits to a uhaul and skype conversations we have pieced together what this project means for each of us and combined our visions into what it will be.
How did you pick the selection of artists that you will be showing?
Victoria: There were some artists and magazines I already knew about but a lot of my favorite titles were recommendations from old friends, new friends, and small publishing and distributing companies I found out about while I was researching this project. Getting an enthusiastic, personal recommendation is probably my favorite way to find out about new things - when a friend asks me to check something out that they like it’s usually really good. That’s kind of the idea with Show and Tell - everything that we’re featuring is hand-picked and cohesive.
Sierra: I know most of them through curating exhibitions in Seattle. A couple I met through school. One was my foundation’s teacher at Cornish College of the Arts. There are a handful that I am working with for the very first time. I wanted to only exhibit Seattle and NY based artists in order to unite the two. One of my goals is to work on exporting artists and art out of Seattle so this opportunity seemed fitting.
What are some of your favorite items that will be featured in Show and Tell?
Victoria: I don’t have any one specific favorite but I have favorite groupings. I enjoy reading about food and I managed to put together a nice selection of independent food magazines that are really beautiful. Condiment, Swallow Magazine, David Horvitz’s new ‘My Grandma’s Recipes’, Put A Egg On It, a new zine by Joshua Ploeg, and even a zine all about mayonnaise…there are many others I love. I also have learned so much about these wonderful publishing houses I wasn’t aware of before, like Publication Studio (a multi-city bookmaking endeavor) and Textfield, who are based in LA and distribute really excellent photo zines, magazines, and artist books from around the world.
Sierra: There are twenty artists all together each selecting or creating new works for this exhibition. I like the mystery of not always knowing what you will end up with. I am looking forward to Klara Glosova’s porcelain popsicles dipped in chocolate and Susan Robb’s sculpture created from The Long Walk, a project she did in the Pacific Northwest this last month. I can’t say what my favorite creations are- only that having them installed altogether in this space will be the exciting part for me.
Where do you (each) pull inspiration from into your own artwork?
Victoria: There is inspiration everywhere! Sounds cheesy but it’s true. If you surround yourself with interesting people and thoughtful art how can you not respond? Just doing this project makes me want to put our more of my own work or work harder to distribute other artists’ work in other cities.
Sierra: I completely agree with Victoria. Inspiration is all around you. I find mine mostly while in transit which is why this project resonates for me. My work has become more about the act of bringing people together to share and converse about creations then actually making work. To enable is my goal in my own artwork.
I’m still in shock/awe that refreshments will be provided by Chinatown Cake Club. Any hints as to what kinds of delicious confections that will be offered?
Victoria: I’m resurrecting the Cake Club for this event and making lots and lots of cake, as well as a cooler of homemade hibiscus lemonade, both of which we will be giving out for free until we run out. I haven’t entirely made my mind up about the recipe yet but it will be something summery and light. I just found a box of vintage cake decorations at my house so those will probably be making an appearance, too.
Sierra: I might have to eat them all…
Will the Chinatown Cake Club cookbook be available for purchase over the weekend?
Victoria: I’m actually out of copies right now but I might do a second run so we can sell them this weekend!
Sierra: ??!!!
Will Chinatown Cake Club ever return to NYC and open up those sweet sweet doors of confection once again?
Victoria: Probably not. I still freelance as a pastry chef here and there and the Chinatown Cake Club was a great experience but it was one small thing out of the many things I do. I would rather focus on my main interests, like writing, art, and promoting and distributing other artists’ work.
How can people locate the truck over the course of the weekend?
Victoria: We have a Twitter feed (www.twitter.com/showandtell_nyc) where we will be posting our locations in real-time as we drive around New York City. People can also call our number, which will be posted on our site the morning we take off. We’re planning on hitting some of our favorite neighborhoods, like Chelsea, Chinatown, Tribeca, Dumbo, Queens, and Williamsburg.
Sierra: If you see a uhaul parked along the street just pop by, it may be us or someone moving. One never knows….!
Why do you think pop-up shops are a popular trend in our current food and art landscape?
Victoria: I’m not entirely sure. Opening a store in a temporary pop-up scale gives you a lot more flexibility and it can allow you to focus more on your content and mission. I have a short attention span and doing a short-run pop-up/exhibit is fun because it funnels all of my energy and enthusiasm into an intense, concentrated effort.
Sierra: I think pop up shops have been a trend for a long time all throughout the world. Whether they contain art or food. They are fun, temporary and can easily get a concept across if attended. I’ve always like the idea of shifts taking place within small movements. I only do one night exhibitions at Vignettes because it treats the fine art as though it were a concert. You have to be there that night between those hours to see the show or you won’t see it again in that form. I want there to be excitement about fine art like there is in music.
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So there you have it. Go find the truck this weekend via twitter, and make sure to visit their website and Twitter page for more information.
Show and Tell Pop Up Truck: August 13-14th
12 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday
