What Artists Knead (2015)
Project: Creative Engagement and Dialogue through breadmaking
Role: Creator, Lead Artist/Ethnographer
Locations: Dorchester (Four Corners public lot), Jamaica Plain (private home), Mattapan (community yard), Roslindale (private home); Roxbury (Haley House Cafe)
Audience: individual artists residing in Boston
Partners: City of Boston Mayor’s Office of Arts and Culture, artist-hosts in 3 neighborhoods, Haley House Cafe
Synopsis:
Shaw Pong created, curated and co-hosted “What Artists Knead”, a series of five breadmaking parties for local artists in five different neighborhoods of Boston (Dorchester, Jamaica Plain, Mattapan, Roslindale and Roxbury) over five consecutive days to invite individual artists to network and participate hands-on in breadmaking and dialogue about formation of Boston’s cultural plan. Bread was kneaded at one party, shaped at the next, and eaten at the third, creating an edible chain of connection from neighborhood to neighborhood, and conversation to conversation. A portable outdoor oven was created and transported to two of the parties which were held in outdoor locations. Summer 2015.
Party # 1: Four Corners Lot, Dorchester
Inaugural event, with portable outdoor bread oven, for artists to make bread and talk about artists’ needs in the city of Boston
Party # 2: A’s Home, Jamaica Plain
Dough mixed at previous party was shaped into loaves, with new dough mixed for the next day’s party, followed by dialogue about how the City of Boston could support artists’ needs
Party # 3: Mattapan Cultural Arts, Mattapan
Participants baked & shaped bread from previous two parties, mixed & kneaded new dough for the next day’s party, and talked about neighborhood-specific needs for arts and artists to thrive in Mattapan neighborhood
Party # 4: B’s Home, Roslindale
Bread-making chain continued, with conversation about needs of artists in the city of Boston
Party # 5: Haley House Cafe, Roxbury
Fifth and final party was celebrated with breadmaking and dialogue at the historic Haley House Café, a beloved neighborhood gathering place for artists, organizers and activists.
