Federal Grant Allocated to LUAG for Initiative Promoting Local Ties and Community Unity
On February 17, Lehigh University Art Galleries (LUAG) will launch the "Taste of Art" program, a unique initiative that combines art history lessons with live cooking demonstrations. Funded by a $48,440 grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) American Rescue Plan, this free public program aims to support local Southside restaurants and foster positive relationships between Lehigh University and its neighbours.
The star of the February 17 event will be The Taste Smokers, a Chicago-style barbecue and soul food establishment. Pit Master Quartez "Q" and Veronica Moore will lead the cooking demonstration, featuring a signature recipe from The Taste Smokers and its connection to the influence of the "Great Migration." The program will explore works by artists featured in LUAG's current exhibition, "Young, Gifted and Black."
The Taste Smokers started as a food truck in 2018 and now have a brick and mortar location at 318 E. Third Street. Participants in the Taste of Art program will receive a kit that includes a recipe, signature ingredient, and a reproduction of the featured work of art.
Throughout the program series, which will conclude at the end of 2022, several workshops in Spanish will be offered. The program will also feature cooking demonstrations led by art historian and chef Maite Gomez-Rejón, who will provide easy-to-follow instructions for cooking the recipes at home while connecting the cuisine to a larger historical and cultural context.
As the program progresses, a free Community Cookbook will be produced, featuring all of the recipes, restaurants, and works of art from the Taste of Art program. Participants in the program are eligible to win gift certificates to the restaurant partners.
The Taste of Art program on February 17 will take place at 7 p.m. For more information about the program and future events, visit www.luag.org. Join us for an evening of art, food, and culture at LUAG's Taste of Art program!
- The "Taste of Art" program, a combination of art history lessons and live cooking demonstrations, will delve into global cuisines and their cultural significance.
- The program, funded by a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services, aims to support local restaurants and foster positive relationships between Lehigh University and its neighbors.
- Participants in the program will have the opportunity to learn about the influence of the "Great Migration" through a cooking demonstration led by The Taste Smokers, a Chicago-style barbecue and soul food establishment.
- The program, which includes workshops in Spanish and features cooking demonstrations by art historian and chef Maite Gomez-Rejón, will also provide resources for self-development through online education, such as recipes andHEADER connections to historical contexts.
