Previous Exhibitions

Nourish

February 6 – June 6, 2021

To nourish is to provide the food necessary for growth and health. It also means to listen, care, and support one another, our community, our land, our minds, our society, and our futures. Nourish will debut newly created artworks by twelve artists inspired by local food experts. Each artist and food expert team explored the possibilities at the intersection of food and art. The experts, who came from a broad range of occupations including farmers, chefs, nutritionists, writers, food justice and antihunger advocates, and more provided unique insight into the food culture of our region, the inspiration source for the commissioned work on view.

The exhibition and related educational programming encourage members of our community to forge new connections with each other and to gain a greater understanding of the challenges of filling our plates.

Filmmaker Jeremy Bates is creating a documentary to accompany this exhibition. Bates, along with Alison Byrne, Virginia MOCA Deputy Director, Exhibitions and Education, and Virginia MOCA Curator, Heather Hakimzadeh, has followed all twelve pairs through their process: learning each other’s stories, exploring bees, oysters, and farmland, the creation of the artwork, and ultimately the installation of the exhibition. “My passion for creation drives me,” said Bates. “The subject matter and creative people involved with this project are ripe for making a great film. I can’t wait to share it with everyone.”

Free admission to this exhibition is generously supported by PNC with additional support from Susan and Norman Colpitts, the Duncan Family Charitable Fund, the Ray Schoenbaum Fund, and Dr. Petra Snowden and Mr. Dieter Steinhoff.

Nourish Artist Pairings

ARTIST \| MEDIUM	EXPERT PARTNERS	PARTNER FOCUS
Clara Cline The Wild Wander Illustration	Yolima Carr, Conservation Landscape Curator. The Elizabeth River Project.	Environmental, foods and plants native to Virginia, nourishment of ecosystems
Betsy DiJulio Installation Art	Kevin Jamison, New Earth Farm & Commune	Environmental, sustainable farming, politics of farming
Ken García Oláes Drawing	Angie’s Bakery	Heritage, cultural and family connections
Andy Harris Mixed Media Collage	Chesapeake Bay Foundation	Ecological, waterway health for the fishing and oyster industries
Sam Hundley Sculpture	Virginia Beach Bee Club	Bees and local beekeepers
Nikki Leone Sculpture/Mixed Media	VB Scratch Kitchen/VBCPS	Food education in Virginia Beach City Public Schools
Carl Medley III Painting	Natalia de los Rios Food Rescue US Virginia Beach	Food insecurity, control, and helplessness with COVID-19
Marcia Neblett Drawing	The Farm Life – Ashley Grosch	Environmental, sustainable farming, chaotic and regenerative farming
Richard Nickel Ceramics	Ian Hock, Chef/Owner, Codex	Food as memory, family gathering around the table
Angela Douglas Ramsey Photography	Katie Abbott, R.D.	Self-Image, relationship with food and our bodies
Ying-Fang Shen Animation	The King’s Daughters Milk Bank, CHKD	Pediatric nutrition and the life-saving benefits of breast milk
Clayton Singleton Painting	St. Paul’s Community Development Corporation	Food insecurity/inequality, food deserts