Start Date
31 January, 2025
There will be 6 weekly meetings on Friday, 1 - 3pm, starting from 31 January.
Overview
Food has provided artists with inspiration throughout history and has even been used as a material for making artworks. It has taken on various meanings as symbols, metaphors and visual puns in narrative art, religious iconography and the genre of still life. Pop art celebrated not only food and drink, but also shopping, consumerism, advertising and display.
We will examine eating as ritual and shared experience with a range of tables and settings from art history. We will also discuss how artists have attempted to convey the pleasure of consuming food and the sensation of taste.
As the parameters of art have expanded in contemporary art, materials for creating art have become increasingly inventive. We will focus on a number of artists who have used foodstuffs for sculpting, painting and installation work.
Finally, we will examine links between the gallery and the catering business. The final session taking place at the Walker Art Gallery - meeting, of course, in the café!
Syllabus
Session One - 31 Jan - Food for Thought: an Introduction to Symbolism in European Art
Session Two - 7 Feb - Setting the Table: Wining, Dining and Art
Session Three - 14 Feb - Drink: from Hogarth's Gin Lane to fin-de-siecle absinthe consumers
Session Four - 21 Feb - Materials and Process: Artists, Kitchens and Cookery
Session Five - 28 Feb: - Food Glorious Food: A celebration of food in modern art – shopping, packaging, consumerism, advertising, display…we also examine links between the gallery, its café and food.
Session Six - 7 March - Site Visit: Walker Art Gallery. This session will take place at the Walker with discussion and gallery workshops.
Please note that the ‘last date available to book’ date is only a guide. We reserve the right to close bookings earlier if courses are over- or under-subscribed. In order to avoid disappointment, please be sure enrol as soon as possible. Registrations will not be processed until the following day if received after 3pm.
Course Lecturer: Julie Robson
Since completing her Masters Degree in Contemporary art at the University of Liverpool, Julie Robson has been contributing to short courses for both the University of Liverpool's Continuing Education Department, and its International Summer School. Julie has also carried out freelance work as a writer, lecturer and gallery educator at many galleries and museums in Merseyside and North Wales.
Courses fees: Full fee £95/Concession £50.
Back to: Continuing Education