I invite everyone to take a look around their lives and see how many people they know who are artisans—talented people who strive to create masterpieces from their various materials. You may think of sculptors, painters, photographers, actors, directors, musicians, conductors, writers, chefs, fashion designers, gardeners, etc. But try to widen the lens; in this lush valley it’s easy to include winemakers, farmers, viticulturists, sommeliers, restaurateurs, bakers, and butchers. I would go even further.
When I was asked to photograph food artisans for the Meet the Makers exhibition at Mumm Napa, I wanted to highlight the people who are leading us to “greener pastures”—the makers who see down the road to healthier, more diverse, more conscientious ways of eating. I had a great time getting to know chefs like Matt and Sonjia Spector of JoLe: Farm to Table in Calistoga, Karen Schuppert of the Local Food Advisory Council, award-winning author Janet Fletcher, as well as featuring some of my close friends such as Laura Levesque Page, a life coach and Registered Holistic Nutritionist; stylishly green Diane Padoven of Napa Farmhouse 1885; and organic warrior J Kirk Feiereisen of Yo el Rey Roasting.
Meet the Makers is a great way to draw attention to people up and down our valley who reach great heights in their fields and keep reaching. It is also an opportunity for photographers to interpret these subjects in their own way. I am joined by an amazing group of artists including Ron Zak, Robb McDonough, Israel Valencia, and Ashley Teplin who also took great care in selecting their subjects and representing them in masterful portraits. The result is a beautiful show that honors every kind of food artisans from famous chefs to unsung heroes.
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This Sunday, January 29th from 6:30-8:30pm at Mumm Napa, there will be a gathering like nothing that’s ever happened before—a joint celebration of the arts and the culinary world en masse at a gorgeous venue. It’s thrilling enough just to come for the people watching, but there will also be food from a dozen restaurants, sparkling wine, world music and dance, and chances to win your own photography portrait. This is all put on by the who always has their finger on the pulse of the artistic community. Come support this and other public programs sponsored by the ACNV by purchasing your tickets in advance: Tickets
Picture this…food, photography, friends, fundraising. Make it happen!
