Politics of the Kitchen
NEW!
Politics of the Kitchen brings together artists working with a variety of photographic media who stir up new considerations that define the kitchen as something more than a place where food is cooked: the kitchen as an ideological space. Like a lively dinner conversation, this exhibition is centered around food, but expands into larger themes of labor, economics, family, nature, society, and culture.
Through the work of 15 artists and collaborators, the exhibition considers how the domestic realm is reflected in the culture and politics of our times. Lindsey Beal’s study of feeding infants and Santina Amato’s Portraits of Women with their Weight in Dough complicate our views of biological connection.
Food culture is explored in Stephanie Shih’s ongoing project, Asian American Still Life, and in the photographs of gas station kitchens by Kate Medley.
Several artists bring domestic labor into new light through their use of materials: Luisa Hübner’s kitchen implements; Bridget Conn’s tea-soaked collages; scarred cutting boards by Judy Haberl; and embroidered obituaries in Jane Waggoner Deschner’s work. Dana Sherwood’s feasts for wild animals and Rebecca Memoli’s vases explore the tension in the human/animal interface. Chow and Lin examine global economic disparity, while Ciurej and Lochman interrogate consumption in Recipes for Disaster.
The kitchen as a nexus of family dynamics is shown in the photographs of Dona Schwartz and Linda Varoma, and in the humorous videos of Hillerbrand and Magsamen. The diversity of approaches by these artists expresses the complex ways the language of food can speak.
The exhibition offers a cornucopia of engaging programming opportunities, from using food and innovative storytelling to engage the public in discussions about differing cultures; to workshops that expand public discourse and perspectives related to domesticity; to youth activities that play upon the action of following recipes and the history of instruction-based art. As with all of EUSA’s touring projects, an educational programming and engagement guide filled with resources and ideas accompanies the exhibit.
Politics of the Kitchen is co-curated by Barbara Ciurej, Lindsay Lochman, and Aline Smithson and evolved from a series of features on Lenscratch, the online journal of contemporary fine art photography. Founded by artist and educator Aline Smithson in 2007, Lenscratch is a platform dedicated to supporting and celebrating the photographic arts and photographic artists through exposure, discussion, community collaboration, and education. They also provide an ever-expanding database of opportunities for artists and useful information about both creating and promoting their work.
Exhibition Details
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Content
Fee Includes:
Press Kit
Registrar’s Packet
Programming Guide
Gallery Guide
Text Panels
Narrative Labels
Full Insurance
Installation Instructions
Custom-Designed and Built Crates -
Curated By
Barbara Ciurej, Lindsay Lochman, and Aline Smithson
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Organized By
ExhibitsUSA, Mid-America Arts Alliance
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Out-of-Region Rental Fee
$6,500
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In-Region Rental Fee
$3,900
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Duration
7-week display
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Shipping
Van Line
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Running Feet
Approx. 220 ft
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Square Feet
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Security
Standard
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Number of Crates/Total Weight
Approx. 4 Crates, Weight TBD
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Insurance
The exhibition is fully insured by ExhibitsUSA at no additional expense to you, both while installed and during transit.
Tour Schedule
Politics of the Kitchen is touring June 2025 through May 2030. The dates below reflect seven-week exhibition periods. Dates are subject to change; please contact MoreArt@maaa.org or (800) 473-3872 x208/209 for current availability.
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June 16–August 22, 2025
available -
September 1–October 20, 2025
available -
November 10, 2025–January 7, 2026
available -
January 28–March 16, 2026
available -
April 6–May 25, 2026
available -
June 16–August 11, 2026
available -
September 1–October 20, 2026
St. Lawrence University
Canton, NY pending -
November 10, 2026–January 7, 2027
available -
January 26–March 26, 2027
available -
April 6–May 25, 2027
available -
June 16–August 11, 2027
available -
September 1–October 20, 2027
available -
November 10, 2027–January 7, 2028
Refurbishment at Mid-America Arts Alliance
Kansas City, MO booked -
January 28–March 16, 2028
available -
April 6–May 25, 2028
available -
June 16–August 11, 2028
available -
September 1–October 20, 2028
available -
November 10, 2028–January 7, 2029
available -
January 28–March 16, 2029
available -
April 6–May 25, 2029
available -
June 16–August 11, 2029
available -
September 1–October 20, 2029
available -
November 10, 2029–January 7, 2030
available -
January 28–March 16, 2030
available -
April 6–May 25, 2030
available