Salvador’s Deli showcases art good enough to eat
A peek at the (mostly) edible offerings include All-American Girl by Caroline McCarter. (Nik Layman/Alabama NewsCenter)
A working chandelier made out of Jolly Ranchers and red licorice. A pile of toothbrushes created from chocolate.
S’Mornings in the Library by Margaret Winchester (Nik Layman/Alabama NewsCenter)
Willy Wonka, call your agent.
It all was on view at Salvador’s Deli. Held March 13 at the Birmingham Museum of Art, the annual exhibition and fundraiser showcased the most creative artworks imaginable — all made from food.
They included:
- A massive steer’s head using flour tortillas, beef jerky and cornhusks (“West” by Sarah Lopez);
- A library diorama with marshmallow couches, chocolate books and graham cracker walls (“S’Mornings in the Library” by Margaret Winchester);
- A motion device made out of gumballs and Skittles (“Newton’s Candy Cradle” by Brianna Fernandez);
- A 3-foot-tall replica of Birmingham’s City Federal Building made from gum, fruit rollups and fruit strips (“Fed Up” by Rachel Carnie).
“Without a doubt this year’s work is the highest quality. It’s exponentially up,” said Salvador’s Deli board member and acclaimed artist Gary Chapman.
“It’s a lot more creative this year,” agreed spectator Bill Cabaniss.
Event organizer Annette Taylor said about 90 artists, many of them college students, contributed pieces.
“It’s about the community supporting the artists,” said Taylor, who with her husband, Phillip, owns Forstall Art Center in Homewood. “This is for young artists, up and coming artists in schools.”
Proceeds from Salvador’s Deli, named for surrealist painter Salvador Dali, go toward providing art materials to greater Birmingham-area art teachers and students.
A packed crowd paid $10 per person to see the exhibits, hear a jazz trio and enjoy hor d’oeuvres, including pineapple cubes placed in dangerous proximity to an alligator made out of pineapple (“Untitled,” Manuel Bueso).
They also saw a display from 15 Birmingham elementary students who were finalists in the Refrigerator Art contest held last year by Alabama Power, a supporter of Salvador’s Deli. “They’re really awesome, beautiful pieces,” said artist Caroline McCarter.
Prizes were awarded to the best works. Graham Boettcher, the museum’s deputy director, judged them on artistic merit while chef Doug Allen, director of Pelham High School’s culinary arts program, judged their creative use of food.
Allen awarded his prize to Molly Johnson, a culinary student at Jefferson State Community College in Birmingham. Her “Butterfly Burrow” made from pastillage (sugar) was intricate, delicate and colorful.
“It’s all hand-painted, hand-sculpted and hand-cut,” she said. “I had a lot of fun and learned a lot.”
Boettcher’s grand prize winner was Kylee Williams, whose whimsical “Cavity” featured dozens of toothbrushes made out of chocolate.
Johnson and Samford University sophomore Kaitlin West (“Salt of the Earth”) also earned “People’s Choice” awards from the attendees.
McCarter, a UAB student whose tribute to Rita Hayworth and pinups (“All-American Girl”) won a runner-up prize, said the effort was worth it.
“It took probably about 80 hours altogether,” said McCarter, who is studying to be an art teacher. “I’m glad I got to be a part of it.”
