Ron Benner's Cuitlacoche Corn Roast
Ron Benner's Cuitlacoche Corn Roast
Celebrating the summer garden project "Your Disease Our Delicacy cuitlacoche"
Tuesday, September 16, 2014
5:00-7:00 pm
University of Toronto Student Union lawn
Across from Hart House, 7 Hart House Circle
The Justina M. Barnicke Gallery is pleased to host a Corn Roast by London, Ontario-based artist Ron Benner. The roasting of freshly picked corn is an integral part of the artists special summer-long garden installation, "Your Disease Our Delicacy cuitlacoche", at Hart House, University of Toronto. Initiated by the Justina M. Barnicke Gallerys 2011-12 Curator in Residence, Su-Ying Lee, the garden is one of several such projects by Benner, whose research into agricultureits interface with bioengineering, patenting world food heritage, capitalization of bio-diversity in the context of colonial and indigenous histories, and contemporary politicsspans over 35 years. Come out and celebrate the harvest, take a tour of the garden, and eat some fresh corn roasted and prepared by the artist himself.
Over the summer, Ron Benners garden has grown into a profusion of flowers and edible plants. Accompanied by photo-murals and specimen labels, the garden draws on the rich, but often forgotten history of pre-colonial indigenous cultivation in the Americas and its contribution to contemporary world food production tomatoes, peppers, tobacco, potatoes, beans, etc.. "Your Disease Our Delicacy cuitlacoche" involves encouraging the growth of cuitlacoche, a pathogenic plant fungus that forms on corn and is commonly known as Mexican corn smut. Viewed as a disease by some people and a delicacy by others, cuitlacoche serves as an apt metaphor for the contentious issues surrounding food production and consumption.
The final harvest before the Pan American Games occupy Toronto next summer, the Cuitlacoche Corn Roast provides the ideal opportunity for discussions around the cultural and political inheritance of indigenous Latin American food traditions within the Canadian context. Around the artists picnic table, conversations surrounding cultural appropriation can begin with a feast produced with Mexican corn smut and can develop throughout the year as athletes converge on Toronto.
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Justina M Barnicke Gallery
Hart House, University of Toronto
7 Hart House Circle
Toronto, ON M5S 3H3 CANADA
416-978-8398
Media Contact: Daniella Sanader, 416-978-5488, daniella.sanader@utoronto.ca
