The Newark Arts Alliance will be showing an exhibit of oil paintings titled “Cold Comforts” by Robert Francis James. The paintings depict a variety of foods using vibrant brush work and simple compositions. In his artist statement, Mr. James says “The parietal painters at Lascaux could have depicted anything: they chose food. Food has forever consoled us. We are what we eat, and what we eat often softens life’s edges—momentarily, at least.
Moms, grandmas, and food makers count on it. I’m lovin’ it, they hope we’ll say. It’s magically delicious. It melts in your mouth. It’s finger lickin’ good. It’s the real thing. But while food combats emptiness, it reminds us of la condition humaine: we are creatures of relentless desire, but our comforts, at best, are cold ones. They cannot fill our unending emptiness. Food is frighteningly fugitive.”
The show will be on display from February 1-25, 2022 with a reception on Friday, February 11, 6-8pm which is free and open to the public. Masks are required and vaccinations are encouraged.
