‘Artists’ Supper Club’, was initiated by Rowan Roscher, alongside Fern Lovande, Robbie L. Taylor, Kaya Lambie and Poppy Gannon, contemporary art practice students at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design.
‘Artists’ Supper Club’ is a collaborative project for artists to share their work through the medium of a shared meal. An invitation to see, talk, and eat art together. The suppers can play with the format of a shared meal in any way to provoke conversations about art, whether this be through the food itself, the table setting, or simply the questions posed in conversation.
The first Supper Club titled ‘An Evening of Navel Gazing’ was held by Rowan Roscher in March, 2024. This meal included acts of incarnation, pink spaghetti guts, ‘jelly bellies’ and ice cream. The table setting featured a hand made ceramic cup, and elements inspired by Vanitas still life paintings such as mirrors and shell candles. Philosophical discussions of morality and meat-eating lead to the question (inspired by philosopher Jacques Derrida) ‘could there ever be a vegan president?’.
The second supper ‘Eating Our Feelings - Comfort Food and Uncomfortable Conversations’ was hosted by Robbie L. Taylor the following month. Robbie served mac and cheese, alongside a salad of ingredients scientifically proven to help relaxation, including nuts and leafy greens, followed by tea and biscuits. Robbie asked the group to consider whether it is comfort or discomfort that plays a greater role in each of our art practices, and why.
Fern Lovande hosted the third supper ‘Questions Around A Tablecloth - Art in the Everyday’. Fern served a delicious home-cooked meal of enchiladas atop a screen-printed and hand-sewn tablecloth of her own making. Fern lead an active conversation that continued late into the night, asking questions about the role art plays in everyday life; the dismissal of the decorative in modern art; and issues of accessibility to contemporary art for the general public.
We have been documenting each meal through film, audio and photography. The first supper club 'An Evening of Navel Gazing' was collated into a film by Rowan , alongside an installation for 'Because We Want To, That's Why!' at Generator Projects in March 2024. We plan to continue this project with the ultimate aim of a publication/further exhibition.
