Columbus Dispatch Article - February 3, 2010
Menu full of information to chew on
by Nick Chordas
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
In a series of movies throughout February, the Wexner Center for the Arts will showcase the good, bad and downright-scary aspects of food production.
"Field & Screen: Films About Our Food," to begin Thursday, spans a range of topics -- from the potential hazards of industrialized farming depicted in the acclaimed documentary Our Daily Bread to the exploitation of Ethiopian coffee farmers in the sobering Black Gold.
Not all of the nine selections will quell appetites, though.
The series will conclude with a celebration of food: Babette's Feast, a 1987 Danish drama featuring one of the most sumptuous meals ever committed to celluloid.
"As much doom and gloom as the series portrays, food is ultimately one pleasure that everyone shares," said David Filipi, film/video curator at the center.
"We worry about pesticides and hormones in our food, but, at the end of the day, everyone enjoys a fantastic meal with friends.
"That's why Babette's Feast is the punctuation mark of the series."
The series idea originated in August during an artistic retreat at Williams College in Williamstown, Mass. -- with many of the projects gastronomic in nature.
"It was really interesting to see that so many artists in so many disciplines were dealing with food issues in their work," he said -- "and not just environmental issues but very specifically about food and nutrition.
"That led to the film series, but we wanted to make sure it was more than that. We wanted to engage restaurants that are using organic or locally grown products. We also wanted to engage the people who are providing those products."
A free panel discussion tonight will precede the series. It will feature Jeni Britton Bauer, a co-owner of Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams, based in Columbus; Jaime Moore of Wayward Seed Farm in Marysville; and Michael Mercil, an Ohio State University professor whose exhibit "The Virtual Pasture" is displayed outside the Wexner Center.
The event will be moderated by Amy Bodiker of Chefs Collaborative, a national nonprofit group that fosters sustainable-food efforts.
"There will be the basic conversation about shopping at farmers markets or supporting local businesses as a way to build community," Bodiker said, "but I prefer conversations that show people instead of tell them.
"In Jeni's and Jaime's example, certainly, these are people making conscious choices in their businesses. My hope is that, through talking about those personal journeys, people (who attend the discussion) can see themselves in that work."
Filipi hopes that the movies prompt a similar reaction.
Beyond the suggestions listed during the end credits of films such as the Oscar-nominated Food, Inc., screening Friday, Michael Jones of Local Matters will host a short "Now What?" segment after the movies have been shown.
"We'll offer people ways to be involved," said Jones, whose organization promotes access to locally grown food.
"It's not like you have to go out and solve global warming, but it's also probably not as simple as changing your light bulbs.
"There are concrete and simple things people can do."
Still, Filipi noted, the films to be screened raise as many questions as they try to answer.
"It's really easy to say 'local food' or 'slow food,' " he said, "but that really doesn't solve the problem of people who don't have enough to eat or can't afford locally grown food -- when the cheapest food is often the least nutritious.
"What I'm interested in now is whether there will be books or films about how we answer those questions."
In other words, the series could trigger a second helping.
"Hopefully," Filipi said, "we'll continue to explore events around this issue."
What's on tap
"Field & Screen: Films About Our Food" will take place at the Wexner Center for the Arts, 1871 N. High St. Screenings start at 7 p.m. Admission to the movies, including double features, is $7, or $5 for members, students and senior citizens. Call 614-292-3535 or visit www.wexarts.org.
Films and related events:
• Tonight: "AgriCulture," a panel discussion with Amy Bodiker, Jeni Britton Bauer, Michael Mercil and Jaime Moore, at 7 (free)
• Thursday: The Gleaners and I (2000) and Our Daily Bread (2005)
• Friday: The End of the Line (2009) and Food, Inc. (2008)
• Feb. 11: The Great Food Speedup: From Hunter-Gatherers to Microwaves, introduced by Rick Prelinger of the Prelinger Archives
• Feb. 18: Black Gold (2005) and Darwin's Nightmare (2004)
• Feb. 23: an artist's talk with Natalie Jeremijenko, 4:30 p.m. (free)
• Feb. 25: "Meet Your Farmers: A Community Supported Agriculture Fair," featuring representatives from nearby farms, 5 p.m. -- followed by Food Beware: The French Organic Revolution (2008) and Babette's Feast (1987)
