This article first appeared in The Independent Newspaper. Read more about #EverythingEastEnd here
Envision a world where artwork is edible. A place where the photographs or paintings hanging on a wall could not only be something for your eyes to consume, but jump onto a plate and become a delicious masterpiece for your stomach. This is the Palette to Palate series, curated by Kara Hoblin of North Fork Art Collective, and held at Bruce and Son’s in Greenport on spontaneously chosen dates.
On Thursday, August 22, I experienced one of the art dinners in the series, titled “Hypnagogia: Weird Dreams.” Hypnagogia is defined as the transitional state between wakefulness and sleep, adding another sense of creative mystery to what was ahead. There were seven paintings on the wall curated by Hoblin. Once the pieces are displayed, chefs Scott Bollman and Brian Russell curate a menu of their own to literally, or symbolically, emulate the art. The final piece in this pyramid of imagination is the wine pairing, done by Channing Daughters Winery.
“The idea is to allow people to connect through their passions,” Hoblin said. “We all put our piece of the puzzle together to create the whole experience: art, wine, food, and people.”
The first of seven pieces was Hoblin’s “Out of Water” acrylic on wood, that was paired with a sashimi dish of watermelon, tuna, and cornabria blossoms. The course was the most literal artistic interpretation of all the dishes, in the shape of a whale, with a bright, floral touch. The ones to follow were more abstract takes, such as with Dennis Chalkin’s “at 33,000 ft,” archival legacy fiber paper photograph.
“It’s strange for me to talk about one image when I’ve taken hundreds of thousands,” said Chalkin. “I’m inspired by life. I always take my camera with me.” A display of thinly sliced peaches graced the plate with whipped goat cheese, symbolizing the clouds in the photograph, along with watercress, and dukkah — an Egyptian condiment consisting of a mixture of herbs, nuts, and spices. Elizabeth Karsch “Sea Robin” acrylic, pastel, oil pastel, and color pencil on wood panel followed and was paired with squash, tomato, and vegetable ash. These three dishes were accompanied by a white, Tocai Friulano wine.
Sarah Satory’s “No Direction, But Not Lost” charcoal and conte on BFK paper piece was complimented by a twist on traditional clam chowder — vegetable, chervil, and truffle, paired with a rose cabernet sauvignon 2018. Carl Timpone’s “Emptiness is Form Metal Print,” was represented with short ribs, depicting rocks, with mushroom, seaweed, potato, and horseradish. Dessert was a cheesecake with blueberry, blue cheese, and yka leaves to emulate the butterflies of Vu’s painting “Letting Go,” acrylic on wood.
“It was about a girl, about a breakup, and letting go,” Vu said. “Facing the reality that identity is completely different. Letting go of a certain identity to create another one.”
Sylvia Channing of Channing Daughters Winery, “7,” was paired with a CBD latte.
Chefs Bollman and Russell mastered the art of turning culinary dreams into a reality in this unique collaboration among likeminded individuals. At the dinner, conversation flowed: discussions of love, passion, invention, and community. Through art, Hoblin has opened up a multi-sensory world where palette and palate intertwine.