The WVU Food Justice Lab and WVU Libraries’ Arts in the Libraries committee are seeking content from scholars, artists, community groups and practitioners for a curated art exhibition that addresses issues related to Food Justice.
“The Food Justice Lab is thrilled to support WVU Libraries with an art exhibit that will elevate the rich histories of Appalachian food heritage, explore the inequities presently coded into our food system and help us to imagine a more just and resilient food future for our region,” said Joshua Lohnes, WVU Food Policy research director.
The production and distribution of food shapes landscapes, defines economic systems and informs cultural practices. Over the past fifty years, the corporate capture of our food system has reinforced gender, race and class inequities in fields and processing factories, kitchens and grocery stores, between households and across neighborhoods.
Food Justice in Appalachia will open in the Downtown Campus Library in the summer of 2021 with an online component also available. Later plans include travel throughout the state and archiving in the Research Repository. This is the fourth large, cross-disciplinary and collaboratively curated exhibition coordinated by WVU Libraries.
“We want bring together artists, story-tellers, students, and scholars to highlight the intersecting values that shape our foodways through the lens of regional food activists working to address hunger and build alternative food futures through various media in this collaboratively curated exhibition,” Libraries Exhibit Coordinator Sally Brown said.
The deadline to submit proposals is Feb. 1. Sponsorships are available starting at $100 to help the production of this exhibit.
Find more details and the proposal submission form.
For more information, contact Libraries Development Director Paula Martinelli at paula.martinelli@mail.wvu.edu.
To launch the discussion, Lohnes will give a virtual presentation on food justice in Appalachia Friday, Jan. 22, at noon, as part of the Art in the Libraries Virtual Program Series. Register for the Zoom presentation.
Sign language interpreting and captioning services are available by request for participants who are deaf or hard of hearing. To request an interpreter or captioner, contact Jason.Kapcala@mail.wvu.edu at least three business days prior to the event.