A new photography exhibit explores how Red Deer compares to various global cultures that, together, create a diverse culinary landscape.
Red Deer Eats offers a visual glimpse into the diets of three local families as well as a behind-the-scenes look into a day at the Red Deer Food Bank.
The Red Deer Museum and Art Gallery decided to create the piece of work in an effort to delve into the local perspective of Hungry Planet, an international visual showcase of human food consumption showing at the art gallery.
“It’s just sort of helping that process of thinking that these things are happening on the world stage but how is it relevant to me here?” explained Lynn Norman, communications and marketing co-ordinator for MAG.
“Food is the universal human experience. I think our approach to food can tell us a lot about who we are as a community, as a people.”
In Hungry Planet, photojournalist Peter Menzel and writer Faith D’Aluisio set out to capture what global families have for nourishment. A total of 30 families from 24 countries posed with a week’s worth of groceries for the project that diversely features everything from American fast food to waterside markets in Mali.
The Hungry Planet exhibit at the museum includes 48 photographs from 12 of these countries.
Norman pitched the idea of Red Deer Eats, however, upon noticing a Canadian family isn’t included in the international project.
“You always want to make it relevant for the people in your community,” she said of spearheading the local project that mirrors the international exhibit.
Staying true to the themes in Hungry Planet — how people use food, the globalization of the human diet and that hunger persists worldwide — local photographer Dwight Arthur was commissioned to capture what three Red Deer families and the food bank have on their grocery list.
Rene Michalak, a self-described “foodie,” represents environmentally-conscious individuals who choose food from an organic approach.
Don and Joan Hepburn represent health conscious senior citizens.
And the Olstads represent a young family that strives to eat nutritiously.
Those involved said they committed to accurately representing their true weekly intake, adding the project gave them an opportunity to step back and analyze what they’re eating.
This is something, they said, all people should feel inspired to do after looking at Hungry Planet and Red Deer Eats.
“Right now, there is considerable concern about obesity and diabetes and other diet-related health conditions,” Don Hepburn said. “So if this exhibit gets people thinking about what they’re eating, I think it’s well worth the wait.”
Michalak said the stark contrast found in the images from America and Bhutan should raise an appreciation for different diets and lifestyles.
“It’s a look at how much food we consume here versus how much food they consume there,” he said of the exhibits. “It’s so much less, but they’re all smiling, happy faces. It’s a measure of nutrient value as opposed to how much you’re eating.”
Brian Olstad also said the greatest strength of the visual displays is the opportunity to compare.
He said it was interesting to find a spot where his family fits in with the Hungry Planet pictures, which show such extremes as an American family surrounded by its weekly pizza intake and an African family with rationed portions of rice and lentils.
“There’s a lot of room for reflection,” Olstad said. “To be able to say, ‘Wow, look at how different this is and look at what I can do better.’ You’re comparing yourself.”
Olstad also admitted to feeling a bit guilty when he looked at the Red Deer Eats portrait of his family. The photo was taken in their kitchen and shows Olstad, his wife Heidi, who is a registered dietician, daughter Sophia, three, and son Oliver, 14 months, surrounded by the food they typically eat in seven days.
“When you compare my week to somebody else’s week, and I need a whole room and they need a table, that’s amazing,” he said.
Hunger is a worldwide reality, which is why the Red Deer Food Bank is also featured in Red Deer Eats.
“I think it’s important (people) realize hunger takes place here,” said Fred Scaife, executive director of the Red Deer Food Bank. “No matter where it is, whether South Africa, Bosnia or Eastern Asia, hunger is hunger.”
Arthur spent a day photographing activity at the food bank, which has experienced roughly a 125 per cent increase in demand in the last 18 months.
“I think this gives us the perfect opportunity to show that there are some things that cross all borders and all nationalities,” Scaife said. “And one thing is hunger.”
Hungry Planet is showing at the Red Deer Museum and Art Gallery and Red Deer Eats will be up on Friday. Both shows run until June 20.
The opening party for the exhibits will be held on May 1 from 2 to 4 p.m.
Bring in a food bank donation and MAG will waive the charge of admission.
ptrotter@www.reddeeradvocate.com